I make music and I make magic

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: My latest project "Family Ties". I worked really hard on it and my blood, sweat and tears were involved. I created it from scratch and it is my own piece of art. I love it.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on my 3rd album, as well as a few other projects. I also am the music superviser for a Late Night talk show called Late Night At The Plaza. I create music for them to use on their shows. Audiences 200+ every week go, It is in Calgary and it's a lot of fun.

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

A: Not at this moment but I am looking forward to what happens on this website, it seems like a really great idea with great opportunities.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I have done Analog, using both Digital and Analog and using just Digital recording. It depends on the type of feel you want for your song. For a fuller more classic feel, where it sounds like you are actually there in the room listening to musicians play in front of you I would choose Analog. I have done it a few times and had to use tapes and do one track takes. It was challenging but with enough practice you can get it done cost effectively. I love the mix of using both Analog and Digital and I think that music should never let go of technology that has been used for a long time because I believe there are just some things that Digitally you cannot duplicate like what Analog recording can achieve. Though recording just digitally is great, that is how I recorded my latest album. It has gained radio play and new technology keeps on getting better. I love all ways of recording music, every way is different, you have to have an ear for it.

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

A: I promise and guarantee you will be impressed and very satisfied with my work.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: How much freedom I have without having someone over my head telling me what to do. I am my own boss of creativity, I love the chance to practice and create music out of nothing and give something to this world that people enjoy. That is the greatest feeling.

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

A: Question: You created "Family Ties" this all yourself? Answer: I was the writer, multi-instrumentalist, singer and Co-Producer with the amazing Sound Engineer Bret Killoran who also Co-Produced the album. I created the concepts and ideas at my home studio and I hired one of my Sound Engineer contacts that I trusted to give me what I wanted in order to sound professionally.

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

A: The understatement about how much work there is when creating a finished and quality song or project that appeals to people.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the project that you are working on? What services do you want from me? How many days do you have booked/want booked? What is your budget? Will I receive royalties/credentials? My schedule is really busy at times, are you willing to work around it?

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

A: Take chances and do your research. There are a lot of talented people out there, I am one of them.

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

A: A ukulele, a piano, acoustic guitar, bongos and a solar operated keyboard.

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

A: I have been playing classical piano since I was 4 years old. When I was 15 I started creating my own music. When I was 19 I started creating my album "Paradigm" I finished it in 2010 and it reached underground success. Playing shows across Canada as well my music was heard all over the world, on the web, on radio stations. I independently was my own booker, manager, promoter and marketer. In 2015 I released my album "Family Ties" which is still being marketed and promoted by myself. Currently working as a freelance artist as well on new projects. I have been a professional musician for 10 years.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Finish your song concept, than do it professionally at a studio from the ground up. (Record what you needed to record from start to finish, whether its track for track, doing ghost tracking, or off the floor) Whatever the type of feel you want for your song. Be prepared and just get it done. If feels good knowing you created and finished something.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Whatever style and genre, I can create it. I like to make music that doesn't exist yet. I like to tap into new sounds and making them pleasing to the ear and soul.

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

A: I would love to work with Beck, he is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, experimentalist, producer etc and he inspires me to do what I do. Another artist I really enjoy is Tame Impala, their music influences me.

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

A: Indie pop/rock/experimental

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Singing

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring the feel, energy and creativity to what a song needs. I create a piece of art that will be timeless and will have an effect to the person that is listening to it.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I create the idea, concept, theme and feel with the artist. From there we start inventing melodies from the either and record them. Meanwhile talking about the style, chord progression and expanding the vision of the song or project. I work very experimentally and like to create songs with a free mind and having fun while doing it. Once I finish a song or have a good idea, I go to a sound engineer and we perfect it making it sound 100 times better in terms of quality of sound that is radio, film and mix media worthy.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: For my pre-production I develop concepts on Cubase 6 before going to a professional studio. I use Cubase 6 with a Tascam US122 and MPC 1000. I have microphones, stands, instruments that plug into the Tascam US122. I have been using Cubase for over 10 years.

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

A: Beck, Postal Service, Radiohead, Joy Division, The Cure, Bret Killoran

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

A: I work closely with the artists to develop their song or project until the project is to fruition. I work hard and alongside the artists by including my visions. Together we turn our vision into magic and a piece of art. I am capable of steering the ship, where your weaknesses lie, my strengths are. Although together we are a full package. I make hit songs.