Alienate on SoundBetter

Artistic producer & mix/master engineer specializing in emotional indie-pop production—fleshing out demos into cinematic, resonant songs. If you have a demo with potential, I’ll help you turn it into something people remember.

I'm an award-winning multimedia artist and musician who treats every song like my own art.

Key credits: Guitarist in CMJ’s top unsigned act PS & former Island Records Britpop band Mach Five. Session guitar for EDM, soundtrack work, and sound design/score for short films.

I'm working on building up my credits again (after spending a decade focused on visual and performing arts), so my rates give you maximum value for the money.

When you work with me you'll get a true artist's touch. I love blending styles and genres and finding that "just right" sound or melodic line to complement the vocals, lyrics, and song as a whole.

Please note, for production, because I delve into the songs so deeply, I must feel a connection to the work that gets my imagination running at full speed. That means I have to be selective in who I choose to work with. It’s not a reflection on the quality of your music! You’re awesome! Keep going!

Typical full-stack process:
-Pre-Work: send me demos and references
-Intro call: demo analysis, goals, process overview, Q&A
-Songwriting: lyric and structure tightening, explore sounds
-Production: we write and arrange instrumentation, hire outside musicians if needed
-Editing: vocal and instrument tuning
-Mixing: getting everything balanced and toned
-Mastering: final polish and stream-ready loudness

Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.

Credits

Languages

English

4 Reviews

Endorse Alienate

by Sam Wheat
Verified (Client)
Realk pleasure mixing these tracks for the Shy queen guys. 3 great tracks and a really collaborative process.

Good luck guys!
by Sam Wheat
Verified (Client)
I love Nate's playing and musicality, he really has brought magic to the table. Everything I have asked of him he delivered, and with impeccable attention to detail.
by Douglas E.
I really enjoyed working with Nate on my latest song. He gave helpful input on my lyrics, structure and melody, then added some really interesting guitar and keyboard layers and finally mixed and mastered the track. Nate's approach was creative and collaborative throughout. He was easy to work with and took the time to make sure that every stage of production went well. Nate has a super-sensitive ear that is just "out" enough to give you that perfect sonic surprise you didn't know you needed until after you hear it. Bravo, Nate!
by Zachary Shaw
Nate has an incredible ear and a visionary insight into music and its magic. He takes the simplest of tracks and layers in dynamics I would never hear in my own head. But, he really listens to the artist—when I have not liked something, we just talk about it, come up with something different and move on. Nate has been a truly collaborative musician and engineer.

Interview with Alienate

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Sam Wheat! Mix and master magic!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love doing for others what I wish someone had done for me when I was starting out in music: having the artist's back and supporting them, and widening their vision whenever possible.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Nigel Godrich, Mark Ronson, Sia.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: A queer post apocalyptic fantasy pop band called Shy Queen.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will treat your song as if it were my own, with the same care and attention to detail.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That singer/songwriter music and production has to be pretty straightforward and tiptoe around the vocals with an acoustic guitar. Some folks love that, and so do I at times, but it’s not the only way to fill in the canvas.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: A lot! Why does this song exist? What influences you in music? What influences you outside of music? What DON’T you like? What do you hope to get out of our collaboration?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Be open to the process and be open with communication. As an artist, I experiment a lot and don’t attach my ego to my work, so I’m very open to feedback and want to ensure you're happy with our collaboration. Also, bring reference tracks!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: I’d have to go with performance gear: My 2001 Les Paul Classic, a Vox AC30, a 1996 Memory Man pedal, a Marshall Jackhammer pedal, and a Yamaha Rex50 FX box.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Cinematic. My arts background helps me see and hear music in new ways. Songs become stories that connect with listeners emotionally.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Sia and Graham Coxon. They’re both so inventive and powerful in different ways, I’d love to work on a project with both of them at the same time.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Don’t be afraid to take risks. The conventional “rules” on production and songwriting only exist because someone took a risk and tried something different, and people eventually liked it and copied it. Also, don’t be afraid to be conventional if that’s what the song needs. It’s all about the song, after all.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Music that moves. Whether it’s driving beats and guitars or gentle atmospheres, the song needs to go somewhere.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Bringing out the emotion of a song and keeping the listener's interest throughout. I'm strong on melody and dynamics. I love coming up with little hooks, complementary melody lines, and little unexpected moments.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: An open mind and a fierce creativity. I bring passion and dedication to bringing out the best in the artist's expression. I'll push back when needed, but ultimately it's not my song, and I respect the artist's choices. I keep my ego out of the process as much as possible.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I vary my process to keep things fresh, but generally, I listen to the song repeatedly and try to internalize it. I read the lyrics. I’ll talk to the artist and ask questions about why the song exists. Sometimes the song structure, melody, or lyrics can benefit from some refinement, so I’ll work with the artist on that. It’s all about pulling out what the song wants to be. Then I’ll start experimenting with foundational layers in Logic. I'll lay down some instrument and arrangement options for the artist to consider. Sometimes the demo will include loops or samples, so I’ll play around with those, editing as needed, or create scratch tracks for the artist to redo or for outsourcing to another professional musician.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Pretty simple. I use LogicX and virtual synths for flexibility and control, combined with some vintage synths and keyboards. I have a TR-909 and TB-303 clone I’ll break out once in a while. I love finding and using old discarded or odd vintage electronic gear, especially stuff that’s not considered desirable; you can get some nifty sounds out of those things, especially when you combine them in interesting ways with more modern gear. On the flip side, I have a gorgeous Les Paul and numerous boutique and handmade effects pedals or boxes (love the Rex50 by Yamaha) as well as a Taylor acoustic and Ibanez archtop from the 70s.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. There are benefits and drawbacks to each, so I try to find the blend that works with the equipment I have and/or the artist’s budget in terms of booking external studio or musician time.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started as a guitarist 20 years ago in NYC at the time that garage rock was reviving, then began producing and recording tracks for local artists. I moved on to focus on visual art and was successful in that, and was able to incorporate sound and music into my artworks. Now I’m swinging back into music.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I mostly work with singer/songwriters who give me a bare-bones demo and I work with them to flesh it out into a full production and finished song.