David Williams on SoundBetter

I am a student pursuing a degree in Songwriting and Producing. I like dark and heavy music and warm and emotional music. I draw orchestral influences from composers like Koji Kondo and Nobuo Uematsu. I have a grasp of the song as a whole from lyrics, music, and arrangement. I have composed for video clips and written contemporary songs.

I can help with your music needs. I think music has a large impact on things, and music can have a lot of color and emotion within it. I like my music to flow and be cohesive. I have taken lessons and gone to school over the years, so I am proficient in music theory and how songs work.

I started on wanting to be a drummer, but took guitar class in high school. Eventually, I was able to buy a drum set and take lessons. I learned the basics of how to record and put songs together. I think putting together song structures is fun and interesting, figuring out parts and piecing them together to create something bigger.

I finally decided to start getting my Bachelor's degree and started attending Berklee College of Music. I've learned so much more about music theory, harmonies, melodies, chord progressions, recording, mixing, audio effects, mastering, writing lyrics, and what it means to be an artist.

I can provide what I've learned and different approaches, and how these tools can get different effects. If needed, I can even offer sheet music for any work I do.

My specialties are acoustic, rock, metal, and orchestral music. I'm willing to try and branch out, but I will openly admit if something is not up to my skillset.

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

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Interview with David Williams

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: My girlfriend told me about a painting she wanted to start working on, and she told me the concept behind it. I immediately started getting ideas of how a piece of music should sound and feel, the emotional weight of it and the journey it would take the listener on. I was proud of this because the idea came to be quickly and I was able to capture it easily. I sent her it to her in its nearly completed form and she loved it, and started to influence her in her own process of painting.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Whatever sounds best. If you can make the music sound amazing on your type of gear, that's what you should be using.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I enjoy creating the piece the most. The work and attention I give it, writing it and seeing where it goes.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: My drum set, my Schecter Hellraiser 6 string, my Blackstar amp, an acoustic guitar, and my iPad to compose music on.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I am attending Berklee College of Music pursuing my Bachelor's in Songwriting and Producing. My goal is to write music for a fantasy I am writing as a sort of soundtrack and concept album. I would also like to compose for other projects as well.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: The first thing I’ll do is figure out the mood or feeling of the piece I’m trying to write. I’ll figure out an idea of how it should sound and start with writing to that. I’ll add layers if needed, and work on it until it is nearly complete, then see how my collaborator feels about it and adjust as needed. From there, I’ll do mixing and add effects if needed, then do some mastering.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a home studio using Pro Tools with a Yamaha keyboard, a 6 string and 7 string electric guitar, and Blackstar amp. I use mostly DI inputs or virtual instruments for bass, drums, and orchestral ensembles, but plan to be able to record drums live in the future.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Video game composers Nobuo Uematsu and Koji Kondo are big influences on me for orchestral pieces.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I can provide songwriting and lyrics with chord progressions up to a complete song without singing. I can also provide composition work from a guitar or piano on up to small orchestral ensembles. With that, I can do some mixing and mastering of the piece.