Mix and Mastering Engineer

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

A: My favorite project yet was one I worked on with a singer named Shadi, an artist from Sweden. Her style and sound is very eclectic and refreshing to the ears, and that pushed me out of my comfort zone, to take her song to a different place than I usually would have. Really enjoyed that whole process! I was the mix engineer.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Mix and mastering projects with singer/song-writers. Post-production for Snoop Dogg's GGN Podcast.

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

A: Not at the moment.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: For my workflow, working "in the box" is just better and smarter - the ability to recall a project instantly makes the whole process come along faster and easier than using outboard gear.

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

A: I'll give 110% effort that your project deserves.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Working in a creative space. And delivering work the client loves.

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

A: "What's your rate?" I have a standard rate, but it can vary depending on the work needed.

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

A: Actually, a lot of people have no idea what an engineer does, so let's start there... lol

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: "What genre/artist/song have you been listening to a lot lately?" and "What is it about that music that you love the most?"

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

A: I like getting their honest feedback along the way. I want to make your project the best it can be, so your vision about where the song should go, from the start, is really important to me so I can help take it there.

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

A: Pultec EQ, SSL channel strip, my laptop, a decent pair of headphones, and coffee.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Sonically, I want to add to the overall sound and production, if the song needs a little more excitement. I love adding elements in the mix process that are interesting and fun!

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

A: Pop, Pop/R&B, downtempo R&B, and urban sub-genres.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My attention to detail/work ethic. No edit or fade is too small or less important to the success of the song.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: "in the box" with a couple different sets of monitors to A/B with, and extensive plug-in collection.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My own taste, experience, and ability to listen to a client's vision - and deliver on it.

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

A: There are a few different mix engineers I look up to, including mixedbyAli (Kendrick Lamar).

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

A: Mixing. Mastering. Editing. Vocal recording. Tuning. Post-production.

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

A: At the age of 25 and after getting a degree and working in field that I couldn't get excited about, I went back to school for audio production. Since graduating in 2012, I have worked as a studio manager, assistant engineer, and freelancing while still holding down a day job. My path has not been easy to navigate and required a lot of tireless hard work, but because of the experiences I've had, places I've been fortunate to go to, and people I've been lucky enough to meet and call friends, I wouldn't change it for the world.

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

A: Dr. Dre. The amount of knowledge you could take in from working with someone like him would be priceless.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: "Less is more"

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The first thing I like to do, because it is essential to the success of the project, is to understand what vision the client has for the song or entire project. Sometimes they may ask for me to construct the entire mix with my own style and taste, and other times things just need to polished up. Having that sense of direction makes the goal clearer and the process in achieving that vision simpler.