Remote Producer and Mixer

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I listen first to what the client sends me, but before any mixing actually starts, I ask a number of questions so that I can be clear on what the client's vision is. I almost always ask for them to identify a reference song or two to help guide the process. After organizing the stems into my DAW, I propose an overview of what I intend to do during the mixing process in order to best serve the song in the style the artist wants. If that proposed approach matches up with their vision, then I begin balancing levels, applying EQ and compression, and adding other Mixing Techniques™️. The artist gets regular updates from me as well as a rough mix to listen to and give feedback on before the mix gets finalized. Alternatively, if I'm producing a song from the ground up, I go through the same beginning steps and then go to work creating the track that the client envisions!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I mix everything in the box on my computer. A trusty pair of Shure SRH840 headphones and KRK Rokit 6 RPG2 monitors are my constant companions in my home studio. Let's not forget the important part of mixing where I check your mix in my car, coming out through laptop speakers, on my phone, on a Bluetooth speaker...you get the idea! I mix with Ableton, ProTools, and Logic.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on mixing and mastering some stellar projects for a few friends and clients, as well as releasing my own original music.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both! Why not! I reject the choice forced by this question!! Analog just has that magical sound and gives you a creative box to work within, while digital opens the doors to endless possibilities and allows you to get wild results quickly.

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

A: I promise to help elevate your idea and bring it to the next level. Letting your vision guide me, I'll make sure you're completely satisfied with the final mix.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love delivering a mix to a client and seeing their excitement and joy, it feels great.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask if they're working with any deadlines. I also ask for at least one reference song in the target style to use while working.

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

A: Wow sounds like a fun way to create music actually. I really just need my laptop and headphones hehe. To bring it to 5 items, I'd also take a midi keyboard, a nice condenser mic, and an interface.

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

A: It's been about 15 years now since I first started making music! It began with youthful curiosity in drumming + piano and exploring GarageBand, teaching myself to play instruments and how to use different pieces of hardware. During middle school and high school, I experimented with these technologies on my own, then went through formal education in college where I got to learn studio techniques, how to use ProTools, the whole shebang. I combined the study of music production, music theory, and creative writing to design a degree in Songwriting. Since then I've toured nationally and internationally with bands, produced for those bands, working both at home and in professional studios. Most recently I've been fortunate enough to spend time producing in the PNW at the Hall of Justice (owned by Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie) and Ice Cream Party (owned by Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse).

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: It's a mixture between lo-fi and hi-fi. I'm well-versed in mixing with stems that were recorded in a bedroom studio and on virtual instruments. I'm happy

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

A: I'd love to work with Kevin Parker because of his great arrangements that he enhances with bold choices of effects.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Remember that our ears will automatically perceive louder as better! So when you add an effect or plugin, make sure it's roughly the same volume coming out as when it went in, that way you can more accurately tell if you're really improving the mix. And definitely don't just default to turning something up when maybe other elements/frequencies could come down instead.

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

A: Broadly, it's usually Pop. More specifically, the most common genre is a mixture of driving indie electronic + pop songwriter. I'm also comfortable going in the direction of heavier rock, acoustic, hip hop, and avant-garde.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: People tell me that I'm personable and fun to work with!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring 10+ years of mixing experience. If a song or artist needs some additional layers to be added, I'm capable of creating something that fits with what is already there. Or if the artist just has a simple voice memo, I can pitch some ideas to help flesh out the idea and build a song from scratch. Ultimately, I check my ego and work with my collaborators to best serve the track.

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

A: Stereomonophonic, Kevin Parker, Four Tet, Caribou, Jamie Lidell, Sylvan Esso, Stromae, Sofi Tukker, Rostam Batmanglij, Chrome Sparks, Jim-E Stack, Bibio, Mura Masa, to name just a few. While I love old recordings and the mixes of producers from the past, I'm just floored by some of the new music coming out by current artists who are pushing the art in exciting directions.

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

A: Most of my clients come to me with songs that they've created in Ableton or Logic. They have a pretty good idea of what they want but can't quite take the track their by themselves, so my work is usually to polish what is already there and make things pop through thoughtful mixing and mastering.