Iwan VanHetten on SoundBetter

Remote Mixing & Production in a world class SSL Recording studio. Get in touch!

I am a 20-year band member & musical director, keyboard player and trumpet player of the Brooklyn Funk Essentials. I've performed, written and done numerous tours around the world this NYC outfit. In addition I have been the MD/keyboard player with Sister Sledge for around 15 years.
In addition I have toured/recorded extensively with other artists such as DoeMaar, Candy Dulfer and Sister Sledge and Paco Sery to name a few. Currently I am part of the band TRIONIQ which features myself, Rob Harris & Paul Turner (both from Jamiroquai)

I own a SSL recording studio where I mix, produce and write for other artists where I have mixed & produced numerous albums & songs songs for artist within the wider spectrum of the music field. I will mix your album or song with greatest care and attention to detail on a pristine SSL analogue mixing console, with loads of outboard gear with ProTools at the centre including a host of UAD and Waves plugins.

Being a keyboard/piano & trumpet player I also provide horn and string arrangements for most contemporary musical styles.

Please feel free to reach out and let’s discuss and see if and how I can get involved in your next project.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

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Interview with Iwan VanHetten

Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Firstly, always think about and work towards the bigger picture, the song, the composition. Being a musician, songwriter, is a huge benefit for me as a producer & mixer. I therefore always operate towards the song. Getting stuck in a plugin or a sound is no guarantee to achieving a better end result. In addition, mistakes and imperfections can be great assets to work with. Lastly, technology is there to serve the performance and ultimately the music and not otherwise. Technology is great, but music comes first! Sorry 3 tips instead of 1..
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The freedom!
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Everything starts with one or a few (long) conversations with the artist either on Zoom other video call where I try to find out what the artist is truly after. My job is to magnify the vision of the artist. In this early stage I try to find out things such as sounds, artistic direction, dos and don'ts, so that I get a clear sense of where to go. If an artist wants me to mix, then sending me a demo mix (the rough) if there is one is absolutely crucial as it tells me where the project currently is and where I should take things sonically. I am there to enhance the project. After receiving all stems, I get to work and send over the 1st version to the artist. I try to help tell the story of the song trough the mix and or trough the production. With production or songwriting the initial process is the same. All starts with a good conversation in which I try to find out where the artist wants to go and what sort of production the artist is looking for.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Through the experience of being an MD, and having worked with many different artists I have been able to develop the skill to actually listen, get into the mindset of the artist, and translate their ideas into concrete results. In addition I am comfortable as a multi-instrumentalist playing Keyboards/Piano, Bass, Trumpet, Drums, and arranging (notating and reading) music for strings and horns. I have access to 5 star musicians in our industry whom I can bring to table if needed.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My studio consists of a Control Room and a separate Live Room big enough for drums, vocals, keyboards etc. The setup is a hybrid of analog and digital. Everything is centred around my trusty old SSL analogue mixer modified with all 3 types of EQs (black, brown, orange). There is also a 19" rack with some analog preamps, compressors etc, with a range of hardware sound modules, and a stack of hardware keyboards like Fender Rhodes, Hammond, Roland keys, korg keys. The digital side of the studio includes the latest ProTools with a host of amazing Waves and Universal Audio plugins. Not to mention a collection of cool mics!
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: A whole lot of musicality.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Any hardworking Musician/Artist who believes in their craft, chases after their dreams and at the same time are a joy to work with. I believe in the combination of hard work & human kindness. In other words: work super hard, but be kind and be cool.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both are great in their own way. They are two completely different entities albeit bringing a host of non-exchangeable values to the table.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: My studio work is a mixed bag of Mixing, Producing songs, and Songwriting.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: More than 25 years!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop, Jazz and World Music.