Dynamic Producer, Remixer, DJ

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: We need vocalists and singers! I have teamed up with songwriters and we are putting together a wide variety of music for our catalog. As of mid June 2022 we have over 50 songs and more than half are in pre-production.

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

A: Gabriela Flores for vocals. she is very responsive and has singing different styles.

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

A: I would love to work with unique voices such as Faouzia. However I think it would be fun to work with Anne-Marie for her cute sound. Charli XCX on a hyperpop track. Little Wayne for his genius talent. Tinashe for her RnB soulfulness. Bruno Mars, Rita Ora, Zara Larson, Bebe Rexha.

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

A: For vocalists, practice practice practice singing perfection of your song. Hire a vocal coach if necessary. If you still need to read your lyrics off paper, then you are not ready to record your final vocals!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I have experience behind the mixing board engineering live performances so definitely analog is best for live performances. For studio recording, I lean 90% toward digital. However some songs depending of the genre, deserve live guitars, horns and strings along with nice sound of analog filters and compressors.

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

A: Once I say this is just a "Rough Draft" of a music composition or production, it's often judged on how it sounds then and there as is instead on what it can actually become. Usually artists can't see your ability to flip a song until you actually flip it.

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

A: In the early 2000's we released a 12 album compilation called Evolutionary Vibes under my own Indie Label. I was the executive producer and I produced 7 of the 12 tracks on the compilation.

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

A: I will be very detail oriented with your music and I won't "sandbag" your project just to make room for others.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Creative outlet. Working with singers or songwriters that have a sense of humor.

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

A: Can you produce "this type" of genre? What equipment do you use? How much do you charge?

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Songwriters: Do you have piano or guitar cords played and composed with your song? Have your recorded anything that is available online? Have you ever written and learned an original song or do you just perform covers?

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

A: Laptop, Generator, Gas, Midi keyboard, Audio Technica Headphones

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

A: I was a Mobile DJ and Club DJ for 17 years. I created over 30 mixed tapes then. At first I just wanted to just remix songs to improve my mixes but then I was introduced to the local talent in the Bay Area of the 90's. I began producing my own music with singers in 1999.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Electronic Pop, Eclectic. "Surprise-factor" "I never thought my song could sound like that."

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The newer generations of millennials and gen z have shorter attention spans, Songwriters and Producers should use more chord progressions, music refrains and drops to enhance a song with durations more than 2:30 seconds.

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

A: All variations of pop music welcomed. I am establishing my own signature sound. Pop, Hyperpop, Hip Hop, Electronic- Hip Hop, RnB, Ballads. Sometime Reggae and Country.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Almost any song I hear, I can nearly replicate it and definitely remix it. A well composed piano or guitar piece would be difficult for me to copy or elaborate on it, however sometimes I can replace instruments and improve the track or quality of the song significantly

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring mainly creativity in production. Melodies are usually the most important part of a song especially in pop music. Today electronic sounds, arrangements with unique breaks and drops are important. I have very little music theory background but have a good ear so I can adjust chords and compose full piano pieces if necessary.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Songwriters usually have a melody , some lyrics and most of the chords composed. I start pre-production and create 2 to 3 idea tracks with a few basic instruments. Next is to record vocals, sometimes in a studio or even just at a home. These are rough tracks so I am capable of mobile recording at almost any location. Once I have enough vocals recorded, I will enhance the music production. If the project goes well, I can provide mixing utilizing FL Studio 20 including mastering if it's just a demo track. If the song is intended to be released we have several studios that we can outsource to.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: FL Studio 20. Midi Synth, Presonus AudioBox i2, Audio Technica Condenser Mic, Audio Technica headphones, reflector, stands. I have experience with analog equipment such as Mackie mixing boards, piano, live recording set ups and Disc Jockey Equipment.

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

A: Zedd, Marshmello, Timbaland,

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

A: Pre-production, vocal production, mixing, mastering