Vocalist, producer

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

A: My first project was entitled "Rhythm of Heartbreak" and is available on all major streaming and digital purchase formats (shameless plug). I'm proud of it because it was the first project. I did about 90% of the the producing and arranging, as well as all lyrics and vocals.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently, I'm working on my second recording project. I've been demoing tracks and am traveling to finish the demo phase of the project.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog. Bass had tone in analog.

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

A: Fulfillment. I will not abandon a project. If the job I'm doing isn't up to par for them or what they wanted, or even if the creativity just doesn't mesh, then that's something we'd have to figure out. However, I'm not in a position to pick and choose my clients. I'm still very new, and very willing to work with people.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like the freedom of creativity. There's nothing like a blank space on logic that you can fill with your own ideas and work.

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

A: The biggest misconception is that we all want fame. A lot of people I know think I'm blindly trying to achieve pop super-stardom. I don't know about some people, but I work a regular job (I'm a waiter at a restaurant), and I do music because it makes me happy. Eventually, yes, I want to be able to live comfortably off of a music career, but until then I'm not gonna let shiny ideas lead me.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I would ask prospective clients things like what kind of message are you going for? How much time and effort are you willing to contribute? What are your hopes for the project we work on?

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

A: I would say that what I lack in experience, I make up for in talent (at least as a vocalist). If someone were to hire me as a producer, I would not want it to be a cut and dry thing, I want to get to understand and know that person's style and artistry. Collaboration works best when people know each other. Also, I would want them to know that doing this is fun. I don't view it as a business transaction, it's making art (despite the industry).

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

A: I've been singing for about 3 years. I began in musical theatre and after graduation from college with a degree in theatre, I found that I was writing more than I was auditioning, so the move to a singer/songwriter was very natural. I'm still rather new to a lot of the production side, but as a vocalist I boast the experience.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is simple. I don't want to make outlandish, busy music that is devoid of a message. I want to make good music, with good lyrics and good vocals.

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

A: I want to work with an artist that has similar goals as I do, and has composition skills that are better than mine. I identify more as a singer, not as a composer.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The biggest tip I have, considering I'm still a novice to some things, is that patience is extremely important. Rushing a project just to have a product out is not going to get you results. No matter what part of the process you are, take your time with it.

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

A: My first EP was strictly pop. As I'm working on new material, I find I'm touching on more of the R&B roots I grew up with. I usually work on music that follows current trends, but has touches of old school here and there. It might come up in a drum beat or a synth patter, but I like to blend the new and old.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is my voice. I have 3 1/2 octaves on most days and have a strong chest voice. I'm trained to sing classically (light opera and musical theatre), but I grew up singing to the radio, so I have a strong sense for pop as well. As far as vocal type, I'm a melismatic baritone.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I think the most important thing I bring to a song is variety. As a vocalist, I want to bring originality and versatility. As a writer, I want the ideas to be relatable and important in some facet. As a producer, I like to use older sounds with twists of current popular trends.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Typically, I start a song with something elemental, like drums or a synth, sometimes even a vocal line. A lot of the songs I've worked on have started with the most basic of tracks, and then from there I'll add starter vocals. Songs should build, so my process definitely reflects that.