Music Producer, Mix Engineer

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on a collaboration with a songwriter in Daegu, South Korea which has been a great experience for me. I am currently working on my first release as a solo artist, which I'm really excited about! I am also in the process of recording with a rock solo artist, with COVID restrictions, it has made this project an interesting challenge, but it is progressing really well!

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: My mentor, George Donoghue is a fantastic producer and engineer who specialises in Alt-Rock and Metal, his works have contributed to over 5 million Spotify streams and he is incredibly knowledgeable and a joy to work with.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, the feeling of Analogue gear in a studio can be inspiring to an artist or producer and that feeling is not quantifiable. That being said, the ease of use and convenience of digital models and software along with the accuracy now, makes it unbeatable. Being able to travel and continue to produce music, is a dream made possible by a digital workspace.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I promise that you will get 100% of my effort throughout the whole process, I will always communicate throughout the project and ultimately, if either myself or the client feels as if something is not working, I will try everything in my power to get everything the way the client needs it to be.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love collaborating and working with artists that continue to inspire me, the satisfaction of an artist loving the final product is a great feeling for everyone involved!

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Will the song be radio ready? - If the song is good to begin with, I can undoubtably lift it to the level of radio and Record labels.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: There's two sides to this, some people believe we just press buttons, others think we can work magic. The truth is, mixing or producing just adds to an already fantastic song to make it more polished and to bring out the best elements of the artist's vision.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always ask which artists inspire them, their career goals and for more detail about the message their song/s are aiming to convey, this context allows me to be able to connect with the artist and be on the same wavelength creatively.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Have a conversation with the person you're wanting to hire, if they aren't genuinely interested in your project and seem like they're out for a profit, they're the wrong person. I believe attitude and enthusiasm outweigh a long list of credits, if the person with a longer list of credits doesn't care as much about your music.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: My MacBook, Headphones, an interface, a guitar and plenty of drinks

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I began at 15 learning Ableton before enrolling into music college at 16, I've played drums and guitar in both original and cover bands, also gaining experience as a sound engineer in the process. I've created songs as a solo artist and I've produced for mainly rock and pop artists. I had an internship at a local studio which helped me gain experience recording and I am now continuing to study music everyday.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is simple, I don't have an ego when it comes to music, my purpose is to serve the song and do everything in my power to help the artist achieve their goals. I love music across the genre spectrum and I mainly go off of feel more than stats and numbers.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: I would love to work with FINNEAS, between his experience producing himself, Billie Eilish and writing for others like Rebecca Black, he has experience beyond his age and his philosophy towards music is original and he's not afraid to be himself and he encourages artists he works with to think the same.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I'll give three! - Trust your ears, not your eyes. If something looks like it is applied too little or too much but it sounds balanced and how you want it to, it is the right amount. -Take breaks, refresh your ears and mind - If the recording and idea is not good, the mix/master won't be either. You can't mix a bad song into a good one and that must come first.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: I predominantly work on Alt-Pop or Pop-Rock music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is my ability to listen. I don't assume every track needs heavy compression or an EQ removing the majority of a sounds qualities. My view is that if it sounds good, it is good.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a fresh perspective, through the eyes of a musician and producer. I bring my energy and communicative ability to listen to the needs of the artist and help them achieve their goals.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My approach to mixing is to first remove any unwanted sound, before accentuating the elements which should stand out. I ensure to trust my ears first, and make decisions based upon what I hear and what suits the song. If the song doesn't need much added, I will only add what is needed.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My setup is simple. I use a MacBook Pro, Logic Pro, Audiotechnica headphones and Genelec monitors. I wholeheartedly believe when you work with an audio professional, you pay for their experience, knowledge and skills, not necessarily what gear they use, although it is important. My setup is minimal and I know my gear extremely well which allows me to make the best quality music.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: In terms of musicians: Jeff Buckley, FINNEAS, Joji, Post Malone, John Mayer and Daft Punk are all huge inspirations to me, particularly how versatile and musical they sound. In terms of audio professionals: Andy Wallace, Andrew Watt, Dan Lancaster and Rick Rubin inspire me through their innovation and longevity of career.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I primarily mix tracks from scratch for my clients. If I am producing a track, I will collaborate with a client to take their song from any stage, whether an idea or near finished product, and work together to complete the track.