I record, edit & mix. Well.

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

A: Recording and Mixing on an album by an artist who went by One Ton Tomatoes. It was the first full album project that I brought into the studio (while at Sony), where I did it all (due to budget I was the engineer, the assistant and a co-producer), along with the artist Mike. We formed a strong bond early on and made a great record together. He went on to produce the next one himself, with my input as a consultant (maybe I give away too many of my secrets?). I was super proud of working on such a deep album of past trauma, present pain and resolve.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Recording and mixing an album of original music for a band called The Big Ones, consulting on new projects for Aloysius Murphy & The Ubiquitous Experience and Strange Eclipse. Oh, and working on getting a new recording facility up and running, but keep that between us.

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

A: Anyone that worked at Sony in NYC - they're here.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: The jury is still out. Tape is expensive. Big consoles are fun, but also expensive. Regardless, I use a mix of both - as many of us do here.

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

A: To make your music as important to me as it is to you. I take my job very seriously, so that's always a given.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Collaborating with others!

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

A: I don't get common questions - maybe I get all of the common stuff out of the way when I do the talking.

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

A: That I wake up looking like this. Did I mention my sense of humor?

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: The easy ones first (needs, timeline, budget), then I like to get into the nitty gritty about what the vision is. Sometimes that's easily determined by listening to their music, sometimes we have to talk through it - which I also love.

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

A: Talk to a few of us. It's not always about price, or about credits, its about working with someone you feel that you connect with. Typically, you create music to connect with people, and the folks you collaborate with should be the first of many.

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

A: Guitar, drums, bass, vocal mic and a multi track recorder. Gotta have live instruments - don't you?

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

A: Started out in live sound and producing demos for friends, then landed at Sony Music Studios to polish up that gorilla style of doing things (okay, so I had a style). Been at it for about 25 years. I'm 26. BTW, these questions are out of order, so this joke probably landed flat.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Serious, with a sense of humor - if you didn't get that already. But I'm not sure I have a style - my job is to be transparent to the music.

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

A: I like to say that I've been fortunate enough to have worked with everyone from A (Aretha) to Z (Zeppelin). Okay that was a Robert Plant session - but that counts, doesn't it?

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Hire me, and I'll probably share all. Seriously, I think that this is a business of creating what you're hearing in your head and hoping it translates for others. So, get input from your friends and people you trust along the way.

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

A: Rock. But if I worked on Polkas, I'd probably have a ton of Grammys - because there are so few releases each year.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Compromise (the good kind). I've been married a long, long time.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Whatever is asked of me and whatever we have decided on as the "sound". I often draw on sounds that I've heard in my head all of my life that I pull out when I understand what's needed to make the music sound it's best.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Listening. I listen to what the artist's needs are, then listen to their demos, and then listen to what's in front of me that I'm working on. It's simple, but effective.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My desk faces East

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

A: I find inspiration in so many of the artists I work with and I'm always stoked to be a part of the process!

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

A: Mixing followed by recording. I know that's not the order of things, I'm just answering the question.