Singer, Songwriter, Producer

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I use the highest quality preamps, plugins and instruments so you can have high quality material for your productions. GEAR & PLUG-INS: Interface: - Universal Audio Apollo Twin Quad Core - Universal Audio Octo Satellite Microphones: - Shure KSM44 Large Diaphragm Condensor mic - Lewitt LCT 140 Small Diaphragm Condenser mic - Shure SM57 Dynamic mics - Shure SM58 Dynamic mics - Shure SM58 beta Dynamic mics UAD Unison Pre-Amps: - Neve 1073 - API 212 - UA 610A and 610B - V76 - Helios Type 69 UAD Compressors: - UA 1176 Collection - Teletronix LA2A Collection - Fairchild 660 & 670 - SSL G Bus Compressor UAD Reverbs & Delays: - Lexicon 480 - AKG BX20 - Pure Plate - Real Verb Pro - Precision Delay Other Notable Plugins: - UAD Studer Tape Machine - UAD Oxide Tape Machine - Melodyne - Soothe 2 - MPX Lexicon - Valhalla Delay - Valhalla Supermassive Reverb - Valhalla Frequency Echo - Ozone 9 - An array of Izotope plug-ins - UAD C-Suite Acoustic Guitars: - Martin OOO-RSGT - Recording King 318 (Martin D18 replica) - Sigma by Martin DM1 - Takamine SG - Yamaha Classical Guitar 
Electric Guitar: - Fender Stratocaster American Standard Bass Guitars: - G&L L2000 Bass Guitar (like a Fender Jazz Bass) - Washburn Bass Guitar Speciality Guitars: - Yamaha Silent Guitar - Spam-jo - Washburn Backpacking Guitar DAW: Logic Pro X

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

A: 1) A knife for survival stuff. 2) A fire starter cuz who wants to sit there rubbing sticks together when it'd be so much easier with a piece of magnesium. 3) Cordage because you can do and make a lot of things with strings and rope, like shelter and food traps. 4) A tarp for easy shelter and rain collection, and 5) my Martin guitar for peace of mind and spirit. Definitely gotta bring the guitar!

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

A: For current day musicians, I'm probably most inspired by the band PHISH. I think they're masters of musical improvisation. I think that ability to create complete pieces of music in the moment as a band, that ability to musically express in harmony with the other bandmates while not really knowing what each other is going to play, is one of the most musically freeing places to be in.

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

A: Frankly, I'm super proud of my own productions in which I wrote the song, sang and performed all the instruments, arranged, mixed and mastered myself. You can learn so much when you take on all the roles in the production of music from start to finish because you can see the big picture and how each role affects all the others. Because of this you become like the conductor of an orchestra, moving all pieces as one, and not just any single instrument player. Through the process of taking on the various roles it forces you to step out of your own biases and to critique the music unattached and pure, thereby leading you to make better musical choices faster.

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

A: They usually ask, "can you do ______?" My answer is usually YES. If I can't personally do it, I'll know or find someone I trust who can.

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

A: That you have to be born with it. Perhaps there is an element of truth in the idea that we don't choose the things that interest and inspire us, that we're "born with them." But as for the ability to do what it is that inspires us, I KNOW you don't have to be born with it. Growing up I could not sing at all. I hated how I sounded! At one point I gave up thinking that you must be born with the ability to sing. It was until my friend who took a vocal class explained to me that the voice is just like an instrument. In a sense it's not much different than playing a horn or a violin. It just takes awareness and right practice. And from that perspective it became clear that I could learn and get good at singing, something many people believe you must be born with.

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

A: As an ex-Financial Advisor, I was on the path of literally "dying with the music still in me." So I put EVERYTHING on the line, sold my business and just about all I owned, and took that leap of faith to follow my true callings. Music is a major part of me. Been making and playing music for 35 years. After I sold my business and nearly all I owned I signed up for music school, dedicated my life to music, and never looked back. I bring this passion and authenticity into the work I provide for you.

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

A: I can't recommend anybody just yet.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your vision? Who do you want me to sound similar to? What references, if any, do you have? Please provide examples (check out YouTube for references).

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

A: It's good to review their past work and see if you like it or it fits your project. Also check to see how professional your potential hire is. Are they punctual, responsive, communicative, clear and helpful? After all, you're hiring them not only to bring you quality work but to save you time and headaches.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently working on my debut album of Indie Folk Rock music, which is set to be released in the winter of 2023. It's a musical journey of heroic tales and profound mysteries, supported by a lush tapestry of hair-raising harmonies, acoustic guitars, keys, drums, and an array of ear candy instruments. It's an experience that makes you forget about your surroundings and completely takes you away for the moment. I'm in the process of bringing this music to life and am documenting the journey. Check out MICHELLION.com to get a taste or follow along.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. There's something about actual electrical currents being pushed through rather than just 0's and 1's - it just feels alive. But digital also provides benefits that analog cannot, which provides another level of quality. So you can have the best of both worlds. I like to record/track nearly everything through the Universal Audio Unison pre-amps (works as an analog signal with their impedance and component-level circuit behaviors), then mix through high quality digital plugins. That way you still get that warm, 3D, live sounding analog vibes but with the next-levelness of digital.

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

A: I promise to deliver you quality work that's to your satisfaction in a timely manner.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Music comes easy to me. I can spend all day working and never notice the time passing by. I can play music and disappear from my own awareness, if that makes sense. The joy I experience making music gets imprinted on the recordings I send to you.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Rooted but expansive, unique but familiar, a pleasant balance between the unexpected and the anticipated. As far as genres go my style fits best with folk, folk/rock, rock, EDM, pop, acoustic, americana, and singer-songwriter. I'm also frequently hired to be the unique and authentic vocalist for people's songs.

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

A: Trey Anastasio from Phish. He's one of my most important inspirations for where I am musically today. He showed me how to be musically expansive and musically playful.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Serve the song. Everything should serve in delivering the song and its emotion - the lyrics should match the music and tempo, the time era, the attitudes should match the characters and his/her inflections. For the most part they should all align for maximum impact. A song is a package of emotion. Emotions move people.

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

A: Folk, acoustic, and rock music. It can range from a sparse mix to a very dense one.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I make music catchy but not cheesy. That and strong fundamentals.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: For vocals tracks I make things catchy without making them cheesy. I bring strong fundamentals - phrasing, pitch, rhythm, feel, tone, dynamics, clarity, matching the style and attitude and, of course, "serving the song." On top of that unlike most vocalists I'm a multi-instrumentalist who also knows music theory. This means that I can offer a wider range of ideas, and a more interesting, more professional product for what you're looking for. Because I'm also a recording multi-instrumentalist and a producer who also mixes, I'm well versed in how all the various instruments and roles fit and interact with each other. This saves you much time and headaches from having to clean up or fix the tiny flaws most others might miss or not consider. The tracks I bring to you are polished and ready, saving you the struggle from dealing with the little things.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: 1) Once you sign up I'll have you answer a few questions or we can chat over Zoom or Facetime so I can get to know your vision. 2) Please send me links of songs or recordings you like for me to reference (multiple references are fine). You can check YouTube for examples to use. 3) I'll get to work and do my magic. I adhere to principles such as "servicing the song," and bringing the emotion out of it. I'll polish your tracks and deliver them to you complete and ready to be plugged in through your audio chain. I can also provide a mixed version as well for an additional charge. 4) Along the way I'll send you draft mixes/recordings and you tell me what you like and don't like and what to change. 5) After you're satisfied I'll bounce the track(s) in a 16, 24 or 32 bit .wav or .aif file (or any other file format you request), and send them to you. 6) You're stoked, and I'm stoked that you're stoked. Everybody's happy and digging the new sounds, and you now have a quality piece of work you can be proud of. Congrats!

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

A: Most of the work I'm hired for is for vocals, full song and demo production, mixing and songwriting. People hire me because I have a lot of experience in all the roles throughout the production of music and can tie them together - songwriter, producer, arranger, singer, instrumentalist, and mixer. Because of this I understand how they all relate to each other, and I understand the little things it takes to bring you quality material. This means that you will save a lot of time, reach your vision quicker with less struggle, and will have professional, quality material you're proud to show off.