Groovy Duck Studios

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Listening. Listening, and Listening. I listen to the artist so that I can understand how they want their songs to sound and feel. I listen to the artist' demo mixes over and over so that I get a sense of the sound they want to achieve. I listen to reference tracks and other songs by the artist I'm working with to get a sense of the style and flavor they are going for.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Pre-production is key. I tend to want to spend more time in the songwriting and arrangement part of the process, then have a clear idea what sounds I want to achieve, then record those sounds as close as I can get them to how I want to hear them. This means when it goes to mixing, I spend my time enhancing these sounds to make them shine instead of trying to 'fix it in the mix' afterwards.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: It's a single room studio, very cozy, and comfortable with seating for up to 5 people in addition to the engineer. It is also a very creative space, There are well maintained instruments everywhere ready to pick up and play. and at least 3-4 microphones are connected and ready to record at any time. When you're ready and inspired to lay down drums, guitars, keys, vocals, or anything else, I don't want any delay, I just want to be able to hit record and go.

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

A: In no particular order... Warren Huart (The Frey, Aerosmith) a lot my production and mixing techniques, I learned from Warren. Sylvia Massey (Tool, Sublime, Smashing Pumpkins, Melvins) Andrew Scheps (RHCP, Adele) Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree) Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Them Crooked Vultures) Mike Patton (Faith no More, Mr Bungle, Fantômas, Peeping Tom)

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A lifetime of over 30 years of musical experience. I have involved myself in as many aspects of the music industry as I could. I've written and recorded albums with bands, I've played countless live shows across the U.S. I've worked as an instrument builder, And now as a studio owner, I'm using that experience to help others. When mixing, I focus on the big picture or the vibe/feel of a song, and at the same time bring out the small details of different instruments. I put the extra time in to automate everything to maximize emotion, and impact. And I always keep the artists vision in mind with every move I make.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: In my humble opinion, it doesn't matter as long as you get the sound you want.

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

A: I'd love to work on any projoect Mike Patton is doing. He's so creative, and I feel like there would be so much I could learn from him.

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

A: I generally work on songwriting, arrangement, and tracking instruments and vocals when clients are in the studio. Then I do the editing, additional instrument tracking, and mixing on the days I'm alone