Producer & Folk-Pop Singer/SW

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

A: I worked on an EP with a friend called “Letters to Our Loved Ones”. We co-wrote the songs (virtually) as support to our community and loved ones during the pandemic. We both sing on a couple of songs each and I really enjoyed working on the production, mixing and mastering. Working with my friend during a tough time was really meaningful to me.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on a personal EP project, which is still in the songwriting/production stage. I want to make sure the “world” of the album works before moving on to recording.

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

A: Yes, I have a few friends who work on SoundBetter as well!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: It has to be a combination to me. If I’m recording vocals, I’ll sing all the doubles. I’d love to have real instruments and real musicians for every recording, if I could. At the same time, budgets exist, and sometimes we’re looking for a sound that is more digital than analog, so I love my VST library too!

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

A: My ‘promise’ is that I want to make sure you’re happy with the final result :)

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Honestly, the songs. I much prefer working on music that speaks to me because I end up spending hours on getting it right.

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

A: Generally, I am asked about how long each project will take, which always varies according to what you are looking for. I try to balance deadlines with a reasonable amount of time working on a song. I am also asked a lot about contracts. I mostly do work-for-hire and am willing to sign them for you. We can discuss if you would like to feature my artist name on your release.

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

A: The biggest misconception is that client work is “just another song” for me—I like to work on music I’m inspired by, and that’s why I end up giving more than needed. I care :)

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I typically ask if they are looking for a specific sound, and providing reference tracks is very helpful for me. I also ask for deadlines and/or time restrictions to make sure I deliver when needed.

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

A: Go with the person that matches your enthusiasm for your music, especially your genre and the sound you’re looking for.

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

A: An AKG mic, my interface, an acoustic guitar, a MIDI keyboard and good acoustic treatment.

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

A: I have been doing music ever since I can remember. I started by falling in love with singing and piano and taught myself acoustic guitar later on. I started writing songs as soon as I learned a little music theory and got my degree with a concentration in songwriting and music production. Music is a lifelong love for me!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I work on singer/songwriter genres (including piano ballads), blending an organic acoustic feel and folk-pop music. I also love angling towards sync in a more cinematic arrangement with strings and other production elements.

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

A: It’s so hard to pick! Probably Julia Michaels and her incredible songwriting skills.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Work on the most powerful part of the song first, then build up (and down, if applicable) to that point.

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

A: I work on singer/songwriter genres (including piano ballads), blending an organic acoustic feel and folk-pop music. I also love angling towards sync in a more cinematic arrangement with strings and other production elements.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strengths lie in my creativity and bringing that into my work. If it’s vocals, I will sing each line in a way that brings forward the emotion in that line. If it’s production, I create the sound that supports both the client’s vision and what I feel works for what will bring the song to life.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I like to think I bring my love for the process! My favourite parts of writing are those little lines that hit deep, or getting the mix sounding full and emotional in the way I hear it in my head. I put everything into every project I work on, nabbing all the little details as if it were my own.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: From clients, I receive the materials (demos and lyrics/chord sheets when applicable, song references) and their deadlines. Primarily, I work towards a first draft: for vocals, this would be a complete first recording of the song; for production, this would be a first draft of the arrangement; for songwriting, this would be a first draft of the lyrics/melody. From there, I work with client feedback and adjust through next drafts as I keep working through recording, edits and changes until we get to the final.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My home studio works great for my style of work. My DAW of choice is Logic Pro, which I have been working with for nearly fifteen years. I use mainly my AKG C214 and AT2020 microphones and a vast library of VST instruments from Native Instruments and Spitfire Audio.

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

A: I love singer/songwriter and folk-pop genres, so I would say some of my earliest influences were musicians like Switchfoot, Michelle Branch, Sara Bareilles and Ed Sheeran. Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Noah Kahan, Brenn!, Julia Michaels and JP Saxe.

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

A: I do all sorts of projects for clients: recording vocals (lead, harmonies and stacks), writing original lyrics and melodies, full song productions, mixing and mastering. Within songwriting, I’ve worked to bring a client’s lyrics come to life with melody and harmony. I’ve toplined on producer’s tracks, coming up with the lyrics and melody, and recording my vocals. I also produce client’s songs and come up with arrangements for strings, piano, guitar, drums and more before mixing (adding effects, adjusting levels, editing) and mastering.