Producer, Mix/Master, Musician

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: That´s a good question. In the school where I studied to become a sound engineer, we had at least 6 months long courses about digital- as well as analog-style studios. So which one to choose for your project? Both types of studios are different and are great for different purposes. If the band is so well trained, that the band plays their tracks without a single mistake, even when blindfolded in a dark room, you are definitely ready for analog approach. Also different genres works better either in analog- or digital. For ex. electronic music I would choose digital and for a rock band who have done their homework, would get better results with analog. For acoustic music I´d also choose analog. Golden rule that I use is that, if you know your tracks from inside out and can perform them even while standing on your head you are ready to go analog. And If you want to book an analog- or digital studio for your recordings, please contact me. I can arrange both places for you and for affordable prices. Only thing is that these studios are located in Tampere, Finland.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: As important as starting the actual work, is to be able to take a break when the body starts to show the "warning" signs. After resting a while (body, mind and ears needs it) it´s time to take a look at that previous track again and listen it carefully with fresh ears and clear mind. Working like that minimizes useless work.

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

A: Proud is not a right word, but in one week I wrote and played all the instruments for an 8-track reggae album. I´ve finished that job, so It´s our vocalists turn now. I also played bass for approx.15-20 different rap beats. These rap-backgrounds were recorded for Juma-Henri / Mörssi Records. Finlands Nro.1 rap-artist if measured in record sales. Also that reggae album will be released via Mörssi Records. I´m not proud about that label or it´s artists. I´m just glad because I´ve wanted to record a reggae/dub-album for a long time already. And I´m interested in hearing what kind of rap-tracks Julma-Henri makes out from all the bass riffs/beats I sent to him. Time will tell.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Just today I said yes to a band from Brazil. We are planning to do some collaboration track with him. Pretty deep and hard stuff coming up i bet. Yesterday I finished editing a music video for one garagerock band. I am also searching for some new, interesting and professional sounding Downtempo-, Trip Hop-, Ambient-, Chillout-groups who are interested of taking part for an upcoming Samsara Exit Records "chillout"-compilation. And the search is still on.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: About the possible deadline, cause I´m not gonna miss that, never had. What they are thinking the sound engineer should do and how they want their music sound. What kind of instruments they are planning to record and how many tracks. Enough for me to get started. Now I can plan what should be done at the 1st day and what the second and so on, if longer session.

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

A: A laptop full of music to listen, USB-soundcard and a proper microphone. Solar panel for laptops electricity. Guitar and my tenor saxophone. On a desert island I might finally have enough time to learn to play that sax properly. But hey, there´s 6 pieces already. Do I really need to drop one? Getting hard now.

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

A: Working with music/audio has always been my path that I´ve followed. My brother thought me one simple guitar chord when I was bout 5-years and that´s how the whole thing started growing in my mind. One chord was just enough to be able to play along with The Ramones or with some other punk bands. Little me was sold right then, right there. No way of turning back anymore, kid. So, I just continued and haven´t regret. How long I´ve been doing this? That humble awakening of mine happened almost 40-years ago. I started recording bands when I was bout 10-years or so. It happened with my friends old 4-track Tascam cassette recorder. Those were the days.

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

A: For ex. Reggae/Dub, Hip Hop, Ambient, Rock, Metal, Doom, Electronic. It´s a wide scale and I´m not gonna put these genres in any order. I love working with all genres, so I see no point of counting those things.

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

A: No names, but all musicians/pros who wants to explore, stretch their "limits", artists who perform with their souls and hearts. Basically all who dare to step into the unknown territory, away from the comfort zone.

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

A: Most common might be when I work as a session musician. Usually I play string instruments, percussions, synths, make drum beats or even vocals. It´s not that rare. Usually my work includes also mixing and mastering. Done all kinds of things for my clients, but this is probably the most common scenario for me.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I´ve been interested in music since a little kid and I´ve always wanted to learn more about anything that has even a slightest connection to audio/music. I´ve learned some basic ,but important lessons about live-recordings already when I was a child. And when I grew up a bit I went to the University of Applied Sciences located in tornio for 3 years to study music engineering much more serious way. Hard to say what is my strongest skill though. Maybe the fact that I hate to give up. Sooner or later I´ll reach my goal. Just my nature, so it´s not that hard.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: What client wants me to bring. If I work with the client together and I´m not producing, I´m not pushing my ideas to a client too hard. I´ll be calm and I let the artists to be in a creative role. When I´m producing my role is different. I´m still not a pusherman with my ideas, but I throw out much more new ideas. Even in that role I never forget to listen my client. I´ve always been a quite good listener, so it´s natural for me. I feel that listening is as equally important skill as speaking. So after all, the final product should sound like the client wants it to sound, so of course I will listen my client. When I´m working alone, I trust my feelings and ideas and try to continue on that path as straight forward as possible. Getting stuck into small details right at the beginning makes progress hard. "Big lines" first and the smaller details later. Simple rule, but could be surprisingly hard to follow. I feel that I´ve learned that lesson by now and I´m getting better in avoiding that mistake.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have my own private studio where I usually work. I can do pretty much everything there, except recording a bigger bands. In that studio I have Yamaha N12, Sennheiser, Shure, Rode mics, Genelec monitors, Orange/Marshall amps. Etc. So I can do small recordings there, as well as surround mixing. I also have an access to a bigger, a professional studio, with a quality hardware that I can use. Larger recording sessions happen there digitally. I have access also to another big studio and it´s 100% analog one. From there you can get that unique analog sound which is absolutely great and impossible to imitate in digital studios.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First I listen for what my client wants me to know and what kind of ideas he/she has for the upcoming project. And if not first, the second step is to listen all the tracks I´m going to be working on. Usually I listen the whole set for 2 times and at the same time my purpose is to find out the most essential things from the music. What I don´t wanna loose. While listening I also make plans for what I´m actually after and how do I get there. After that the actual work begins. What happens next depends on what kind of project I´m working on.

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

A: My promise to my clients is that they´re gonna get 40% discount from all the services we are offering. I´m not gonna leave you unsatisfied. No need to pay upfront. I´ll give you a sample of the product for free. Fair and 100% safe for a customer.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I´ve loved music for all my life, and now I enjoy a privilidge, which turns my childhood dreams into a proper work place. Yes, I´m happy about that. My hobby turned into a work, but It still doesn´t feel like work usually does. Enough reason to keep on smiling. And what I like the most about my job? Surprise!! The music itself, the love of my life.

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

A: The price should not be the only thing in mind. I know it matters, but other things matters too. What kind of and how long career? What he/she has to offer? What kind of hardware is used? Does communication work? Basic things like that.