PRO VOCAL SONGWRITER TOPLINER

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

A: Hmm.. I released a song I wrote/sang called “Believe in Love” with Diego Miranda & DJ duo/twins “Le Twins” that garnered over 1 million streams on Youtube within the first week of release. And others- from charting top10 on the iTunes/Spotify viral charts on various occasions, to winning an International Portuguese Music Award for my song “I Keep Coming” with DJ/Producer Michael Teixeira (“Best Dance Performance” also nominated for “Song of the Year”). Also my music video for "Good Day" w/ Tom Enzy graced the airwaves of MTV Portugal, as well as notorious radio stations such as Kiss FM. “Good Day” was also hand-picked by Diplo/Major Lazer as a finalist in the 2018 Bacardi/Soundcloud "Music Liberates Music" competition. Just a few that come to mind right now! Send me a message and I'm always happy to tell you some more!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Recording vocals/finishing writing for a catchy pop/rock track! I have a live show next week, so I am also preparing for that, as well as finishing up a music video/single release plan for next month. I split my time between keeping my own chops up as an artist, and being isolated in the studio with many projects!

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

A: Austin Leeds!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital! Easier when on the move to record anywhere and everywhere a great idea comes to me!

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

A: I won't stop until it's everything you've dreamed of. (within the realm of sanity and respectfulness haha)

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That it feels like I am fulfilling my purpose with every project I work on. To be creative and to actualize music & art into the real world.

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

A: I get asked a lot of things. One question I get a lot, after finishing a song, is if I want my name in the title (if I've done the vocals for the song). Once I put the amount of myself that I do into a project, it's often hard for me to say no!

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

A: That I am being hired for a job like someone who retiles your kitchen, or fixes a car. This is not the case. I need to put my personality, soul, and essence into all pieces of art I work on. Otherwise it is robotic and not believable. It is very different than the term "work for hire" in the classic sense. When we agree to work together, it is a deeply personal experience for me. This is what yields the best work. Being vulnerable and authenticity.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What feeling/message are you looking to invoke with this song? At its current stage, how does it make you feel right now? Is there a difference? Let's connect the two.

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

A: Do research on past work, testimonials, and overall feeling they give you when communicating. A collaborator should bring fresh energy to a project; not a melancholy and bleak business conversation.

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

A: Acoustic Guitar, Ukulele, and my recording equipment listed above!

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

A: I have been singing/writing/performing in the studio and in front of live audiences since I was 14. Previously, I was the front man of a band whom attracted millions of views on YouTube, played at music festivals, and performed on national television. Since then, I have gone out on my own, writing/collaborating and singing for many talented producers, songwriters, and DJ’s- as well as my own solo project. I have been doing this going on 20 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Some words I would use to describe my writing/singing style: Dreamy, Moody, Tonal, Uplifting, Captivating, Honest

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

A: I'd love to work with any of the influences I listed earlier because of what their work has done for me as an artist!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Anything you do production wise will sound 1000 times better if the core performance elements are superb first.

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

A: I work on a LOT of electronic based stuff. But I have an extensive resume in indie/pop, pop, r&b and rock as well.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Singing/vocal recording, Songwriting, tracking instruments, and co-producing!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: No matter what I am being asked to do, in one way or another, I bring a voice. A voice can mean many things. It can mean professionally recorded high quality vocals including leads, backups, harmonies, adlibs etc..., hashing out a rough idea you might have, or the writing of an entire song including lyrics/melodies/arrangements + anything in between.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My typical work process usually involves preparation before anything else. What I mean by that is, I diligently study the idea, track, lyric etc... that is being provided to me. I sit with it until it becomes internalized in my brain and life. From there, I let the creative juices flow. Whether that means opening up my DAW and riffing on melody/lyric ideas, or taking out my acoustic guitar to start arranging it from scratch. It is very important to me that my starting point comes from the original vision for the song. I love taking an idea and then going full throttle with it!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a home-studio where I record all of my work. I currently use an iMac+Logic Pro X, Universal Audio Apollo Twin X DUO, Neumann TLM 102 Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone with DT 770 PRO 32ohm headphones and Arturia MiniLab 3 25 Slim-key Controller.

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

A: I am inspired by anything that's notably artistic and tonally unique. To me, it's less about the chops and more about the heart that can be heard behind the work. Besides radio top 40 stuff (always listening to what is current either way) some of my influences include U2, Swedish House Mafia, Max Martin, Rick Rubin, Avicii, Ryan Tedder, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Incubus, Kygo, Benny Blanco, Coldplay, Third Eye Blind, The Chainsmokers and more!

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

A: I take an idea; whether it is a lyric, a melody, a music track, a poem, a title- anything! And I develop it until it's a ready made commercially competitive recording and song! Most of my work includes taking an initial idea and turning it into a smash! Whether that means recording all the vocals, writing the entire song, co-producing/writing various elements, or tracking instruments, turning the idea into a polished and completed work-of-art is what I do!