Ghostwriter Producer Lyricist

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

A: I was a main songwriter on a handful of tracks I made with a rock band called "Otherwise". I learned a lot from the producers for those albums as well, I loved learning from the big boys back then! When my songs hit the radio and got millions of streams, I was so happy. Still super happy because it's still getting plenty of streams every day!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I always have clients now, plenty of local musicians here in Vegas. Currently, a pop anthem, a country/western ballad, a nightclub dance track, and a demo for a popular hard rock band for their upcoming album. Between projects, I'm also focusing on creating a small library of trap beats and pop vibes for advertisements and TV show placements.

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

A: Ryan Whyte Maloney is a seasoned professional (The Voice, Team Blake, google him) who has proven to me time and again that he's ready to write and record on a pro level, 24-7. Go check him out!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. Because not only is it more affordable for the client, but it's also part of the *sound* of today. Analog is obviously incredible because it's more real, but not everybody wants real. I like both. But for recording? Now? In 2021? Digital for sure.

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

A: I promise to treat my clients with top priority. All clients are super-important, especially because I hold the power to change your life by bringing your song to life! Also, I promise interpret your ideas to the best of my abilities, I feel like I can do that very very well. Clients often have a hard time describing what they specifically want, so I like to dig deep with them until we find that gem, and it clicks like - *A-HA!* now I see what you're going for, let's do it!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The reactions I get from my clients, it's always worth all of the hours I put into it, and worth all the years it took me to get here.

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

A: They ask me "can you make my song sound like this song?" My answer - "YES. But let's get more specific shall we?"

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

A: That producing requires a big expensive studio with a high dollar amount attached to it. That was true back in the day, but here in the future (especially with today's music) you can do it with a little computer and a LOT of knowledge.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What's the dream? I know you can hear the song in your head, and you know what you want to do with it, and the demographic you're aiming for - the people who's lives you want to change. It's OK if you don't have the know-how to create it on a professional level, so why not take the leap and give me a shot? =)

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

A: I've been a jack of all trades for long enough to back it up, from clean technique to wild ideas, from music/jazz theory to slammin beats, from hard rock to beautiful ballads - I got you. I live in music, day in and day out.

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

A: Well, technically I would say laptop, interface, guitar, bass, mic! Or Strat, Peavey Classic 50, Boss Blues Driver w Keeley Phat Mod, cables and a tuner!

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

A: I have been writing and creating music for 15 years. After a long decade of performing professionally in Las Vegas, and eventually being hired on guitar for Blue Man Group, all while writing and recording songs with friends, I eventually got my first clients in 2017 and never stopped.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: FUN. I make my music fun. I'm fully capable of serious, dark, pretty, soaring, elegantly understated, etc.... but I definitely prefer fun, if you let me have a blast and make a fun song for you *my way*, I will try to make it the most fun song you've ever heard in your entire life.

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

A: I would like to work with Brockhampton or Girl Talk because the production is truly without limitations. They don't make music for the radio, they make music for themselves - and the *sound* that this creates is what makes me love it intensely. They're the punk rock of hip-hop and pop music.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: My production tip - always remember to try something non-musical or illogical. Whisper the whole vocal track, just so I have it, maybe I'll use it in a way you never imagined. Grab the vocal take and reverse it. Put a pumping effect on that heavy delay/reverb. Put distortion and flanger on the tambourine. If the song or the songwriting process seems boring, remember everything is a toy! Then make it all work somehow and mix it like a pro =)

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

A: Country, pop, rock, trap, dance, singer/songwriter. I usually work on songs that have a heavy pulse or groove, but I've also done my share of beautiful soaring EDM.... and of course rock, I love to make rock music that slaps.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I write and create fearlessly and uniquely, I'm quick to say "chop this vocal up manually for a fun effect" or take all of the music out of the intro to see if it creates a *moment* that most people wouldn't think to try. Always try the weird idea, if it doesn't work, you'll know it after you hear it - but most of the time it works!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a truly unique mix of fun ideas along with a strong understanding of music and hooks and structure, but mostly I excel at giving the ears what they want to hear. I do well at interpreting the client's ideas into what works best for them.... safe marketable timeless songs or unique mold-breaking ideas that set the song apart from the pack.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I work fast! My superpower is formulating your idea into a full song spread very quickly, and my ultra-fast workflow allows me to layout my ideas without missing a beat.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Neumann or SM7B for vocals, and I use the top shelf analog software like Neve 1073, API, Helios, Manley Voxbox, LA-2A, Fairchild, Antares Auto-Tune Advanced, Melodyne Studio, 1176, Studer A-800, Ampex ATR-102, EMT 140... etc.... and of course I have Soundtoys, Plugin Alliance, Serum Wavetable Synthesizer, Fab Filter Suite, Native Instruments, all the pro stuff! Fluent in Logic and Pro Tools.

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

A: I'm inspired by any music that steps outside of the norm, or anyone who does "the norm" so well that they dominate the genre. I'm a huge fan of many different producers and musicians - Brockhampton, Norah Jones, Justin Bieber, Royal Blood, Sublime, Luke Bryan, Doja Cat, Blu De Tiger, Lewis Capaldi, Girl Talk, etc.... too many to list =)

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

A: I create vibe and build a song idea to fit into a genre. Usually I'm asked to write the lyrics and create the overall sound. Often times my client has a basic idea with vocals and maybe guitar or piano, but they always want that "producer magic" with samples, synths, instrumental hooks, and of course a killer beat or groove.... then turn it into a full song. That's where I come in.