Byrdsongs Studios on SoundBetter

We produce and mix artists from all over the world! 20 years as a studio guitar player. We are a veteran owned business. We have produced Sony artists, and multiple Indy acts. Let me help you make yourself heard!

You are the hero of your own story at Byrdsongs Studios! We strive to get the best from every artist, and release a powerful record that you will love! Our background is Country and CCM. I served 20 years in the Air Force band, and played on hundreds of records for people all over the world. Our specialty is building good, hard hitting, epic arrangements, and taking you to the next level! We will help you release your songs, and get yourself heard by industry professionals.

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

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Interview with Byrdsongs Studios

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I produced a mashup for a former Sony artist that she released with a video in memory of one of our biggest mentors. It was great working with her, and lots of old friends. The song was amazing, and her voice is amazing, and those players... well... amazing! I was the producer, mixer, mastering engineer, arranger, guitar player, and one of the background vocals.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: An EP for a Christian band in Virginia, a couple of singles for an artist in Boston, a summer song for a hip hop artist, and a record for an educational curriculum for a local DC area music teacher.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Today is my first day!!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Kind of both. I am mostly digital, but I have a few analog preamps. And all my instruments are real. But you can't beat digital for sheer numbers of tracks, and editing. I am in the process of summing in analog now. Technology is good enough now, that it's really hard to tell the difference.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: We are going to have a great song! And we will have plenty of fun along the way!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Hearing new music! Watching people create. Being part of such an emotional process.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: How much does this cost? I usually answer with a pretty good ballpark. How do I get this on Spotify? I always help them to find an aggregator to get their music to all platforms
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That I actually make a real living helping people record their songs.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are your goals? Have you worked with a producer before?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: There has never been a better time to start making a good living in music. It might not seem like it is, but the "Do-It-Ourselves" model is really helping artists get their music out to new audiences, and making it easier to generate enough fans to sustain a living!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: My Strat, my Tele, a Wampler Hot wired pedal, A Fender Twin, and an SM 57
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started as a music major in college in the 1990's. I studied jazz, and classical arranging, and took all the music theory my school had to offer, while being a guitar player for a blues band, and a Dave Matthews cover band. Then I spent a full career in the Air Force band. 20 years of touring the world as a guitarist. I played with Kid Rock, Brad Paisley, Daughtry, sang duets with Kelly Clarkson... so many people.. Then I started working in studios as a guitar player, and fell in love with production. I got my degree from Berklee in music production and haven't stopped since!
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Country rocky jazz soulful blues playing.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Brad Paisley. He is one of my favorite guitar players. I love how his songs sound, and I really love the mixes and arrangements of his songs!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: The top 5 most important things about songs are 1. The Vocal 2. The Vocal. I'll email you the rest. - -Don Was
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Country and Contemporary Christian and Rock
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Getting emotional and strong performances from vocalists.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring a couple decades of being a band leader, and arranger. I also really focus on bringing out the emotion of the song. We need to get to the heart of WHY we are doing this!
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I will help the artist make a demo. When we're happy with the form, and the key, and the tempo, I'll send that demo to my musicians who will put their parts on it. Drums, Bass, Keys, Sound Design. I usually do all the guitar playing. Then when the parts all come back, we will get together, and make a rough mix, and work through the vocals. I LOVE producing vocalists!!! Then we mix, and master!
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I'm a home studio, and I am currently in the process of building a nicer, bigger studio. I have a control room, and can do guitars and vocals from here. Typically, if I have to do a full band recording, and they want to play at the same time, and not overdub, we will get time in a nice commercial studio. I also have a network of professional studio musicians that will record all the parts people need. So I mostly do mixing and overdubs from here.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I studied with Brent Mason for 3 years. His playing inspires me. My favorite producer is Don Was. I love how he pulls the real emotion from the artist.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I usually produce and mix my clients. Sometimes we record at my studio, or sometimes we go to where they are, and sometimes we use local commercial studios.