Music Producer

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Freedom to produce when I feel inspired rather than classical hours.

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

A: In the past there used to be misconceptions from people that are only instrumentalists - "You're using a computer so it just writes itself". Quite amusing.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I usually ask why they have personally come to me, because usually there are questions relating specifically around style behind a client's approach, which usually ends up one (or both) of two things: 1) How do you get a dirty sound like that (client references a track) and/or 2) How do you compose/program something like that (references a track). That's a good basis to work from, understanding what interested them.

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

A: Where I fit into the equation for sound design and beat creation is someone looking to stand out from the crowd a little. For example, recently I was officially sampled by Che (10k Projects/WMG) because he was looking for something unique I guess.

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

A: Fender Jaguar, Roland Jupiter-8, SSL Duality Delta 48, Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field, 2 x Genelec 8341AP SAM

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

A: For 25 years, I've rarely concentrated on anything else than producing music. I started with 4-track tape recording until I upgraded to computers in 2001. I used various analog gear until I started touring a lot and then everything ended up "in the box" out of necessity. Through playing multiple instruments in bands I have a firm understanding of how things piece together and I've always been using recording equipment along the way. I've done this when there's money or no money involved. I guess that's a sign of a true passion.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Slowly becoming undeniable.

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

A: If he was still around, John Lennon, just for the big personality.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I almost always side-chain the bass/kick, sometimes noticeably, sometimes transparently. Whatever is best for the track.

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

A: fitting into a genre has always been a scratchy head moment for me. But if I really had to say - Electronically produced beats but also indie-electronic too.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Probably composition but also achieving a sonic palette that is gluey and a little dirty sounding