Guitarist, Mix Engineer

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

A: In 2020 my largest project, also a first for me, was recording backing tracks for multiple country artists. I would also then build their Ableton sets to use live to run their shows. The tracks and sets I produced these artists were played everywhere from large summer festivals to stadium shows and even used at Madison Square Garden recently. I am incredibly proud of that work.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently I have been recording an EP for a band and helping the establish their sound in a way. I have also been playing guitar on the record. I am also mixing several live performances for an artist for a live EP to be released next year as well as used in content for Instagram and other social media platforms.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I think there is space for both of them. Analog sounds incredible, but it simply isn't always a possibility for a lot of young or even established artists. Modern DAW's are incredibly powerful and provide anything you could imagine needing for any sort of project. However, there is an undeniable appeal to tracking directly to tape with outboard gear. It creates a different feel and vibe and in my experience can even alter the direction you thought the project was going in. There isn't a right or wrong. Just be sure you're using the correct method for you and your art.

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

A: My promise is always to put you and your art first. Not myself or my ego. When you hire me I serve the song and your vision and will work as hard as I can to realize that vision.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the creation. I love that when I start there may not be a "part" for the song. Maybe there already is, but it needs something to frame it perfectly in the context of the lyrics or other instruments. I love that process, creating something no one has heard before and seeing their reactions.

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

A: I find that I am asked about "special" rates or deals quite a bit. I always get asked about turnaround time for a project. And it's a pretty easy thing to address for me. My policy for turn around times is typically 1 week, depending on my current workload it can be longer but I find 90% of the time or more I beat my 1 week turnaround. I am happy to offer discounts on a project to clients for whom I am providing more than one service. It depends on the job and what is being requested but there is certainly room for negotiation with multiple services.

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

A: The largest misconception to me is the idea that a musician is specifically a guitarist or a bassist or a mix engineer or a drummer. In the modern music industry a professional is typically 3 - 4 if not more of any of the roles you can imagine.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: It can vary, but some of the most common things I ask for a guitar session are: What is already recorded? Do you need acoustic, electric or both recorded? Do you have a work tape or any reference tracks you'd like me to hear? Do you have a signature hook in mind? What sort of feel would you like your guitar parts to have? Is there anywhere you specifically don't want guitar? (Piano, acapella sections etc.)

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

A: Make sure you are working with someone who is not only a professional and treats their craft as their profession, but work with a professional who makes you feel comfortable and sees where you want to take your project. Not with someone who doesn't get you and will take your project off on their own tangent.

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

A: I would bring my Fender Stratocaster, my old JHS double barrel overdrive, my Strymon Iridium, a small presonus interface I own and my Macbook. Essentially the setup I track with while on tour.

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

A: I have been a professional musician for 10 years. I've been recording professionally on my own for 5. I began playing professionally while studying Jazz Guitar at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. After playing for corporate bands, wedding bands, CCM/church bands and house bands for 2 years I moved to Nashville. Since moving I have been recording guitars and touring the last 8 years. Most recently I was lead guitarist and production manager for an opening artist on Luke Combs' "What You See Is What You Get" 2020 tour.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: As a guitarist, I try not to think of myself as a "blues" guy or a jazz player, or even a country guitarist. Thinking of myself on those terms doesn't necessarily frame it quite right for what I do. I am a sideman. If I'm playing for a bluesy artist, I will work into a blues guitarist sound as appropriate. Same for any genre, rock, country, pop, etc.

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

A: I would love to work with someone outside of my comfort zone like Childish Gambino, Matisyahu, Anderson .Paak or Vulfpeck. Mainly because I love their music, but not least of all because I feel it would be a challenge and force me to think of things I normally would not.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Do the necessary work on the front end to get good recordings. Always. It is incredibly possible to take music that are maybe bland or seem uninteresting and create something amazing when those parts are recorded well, however it's nearly impossible to take incredible music and translate that into a final product when the music wasn't recorded how it should be. Always focus on clean and usable tracks for the best results.

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

A: I have mainly worked in country music. However I am very experienced working with pop, rock, blues, bluegrass and CCM artists as well.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: It's strange to say this, but using my ears. Listening to the song. I am adept at quickly picking up on a piece of music and determining what I need to play at what time to make a song pop.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: The number one advantage I bring to client's music is my experience. I have been recording guitars professionally for 6 years in Nashville as well as touring for multiple artists across the nation. My goal isn't to use a clients song to show of my guitar skills or talents as a mix engineer, my goal is to use those skills and talents to serve the client, or more specifically the song. My job isn't to play the most amazing part possible to make myself stand out, but to determine what part is needed to make the song stand out.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Almost always, even when just mixing a session for a client, I start by charting the song. I find it much more difficult to go in blind or learn the song as I go. Once I chart the song I have a detailed road map of where to start, where I want to go and how to get there. If I am just recording guitar tracks for a client I will typically chart and listen a few times then begin tracking. If the client needs acoustic, I will typically track those first. If the acoustic has already been recorded which is not uncommon I will start with rhythm electrics. I almost always will do a left and right double of the rhythm parts making for a more dynamic and "bigger" guitar sound. From there I move to what would be called overdubs typically. This includes signature licks/hooks, adding a higher or lower guitar parts for chorus' and other sections as needed and lead guitar fills where/if appropriate. Next, if there is a spot for it, is to track a solo or add guitars to the outro etc. From there I like to listen to what I have and see if there are any spots to fill or anywhere I can add more character to the songs as a whole by adding or even taking away certain guitar parts. Once that is done, I send a reference bounce of the entire track to the client. If requested, I track any and all revisions necessary and agreed upon. Once given final approval I will bounce the guitar tracks out and send to client to be imported into their session and mixed for the final product. My process for mixing is very much the same in many ways. I begin by opening the session or importing the stems for mixing into my DAW. From their I will edit audio files in the session as needed. Once the stems are cleaned up and in order I like to get a basic balance before moving onto individual instruments. I try and listen to the song as well as instructions from clients and any references sent to me to mix it in a way that will align with the clients final vision. From that point, I typically bounce an A mix and B mix for the client to reference. Once we've decided which one is the correct direction for us to continue in, we revise accordingly and as requested to fulfill the client's vision for their song. When both recording and mixing for a client, they will see both sides of this process from start to finish.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My setup is the typical modern setup for digital recording. I use a Clarett 4pre along with preamps and some outboard gear to track polished professional guitars and vocals. I use plugins from Slate, Waves, Focusrite and many others to both mix and record for clients. I use both Ableton 11 and Logic Pro X for my DAW's.

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

A: Being in Nashville I have been surrounded by some of the most amazing musicians in the world. I began doing studio work after diving into the different records that guitarists like Brent Mason, Tom Bukovac and Kenny Greenberg had worked on. On the journey I learned about the role of a producer and mix engineer and discovered how one side of the art work supports the other and is quite simply essential for a finished professional project to be proud of. Producers and mix engineers like Dan Huff, Jonathan Singleton and CHris Lord-Alge have been huge influences on the way I approach producing a track for clients.

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

A: My normal daily work runs from tracking guitars to mixing, both live and studio recordings. The majority of clients sending me work are sending me tracks they need distinct guitar parts for. This includes thinks like a signature lick or hook, solos and overdubs as well as playing acoustic guitar on many of the tracks. I also mix sessions for clients as well. Typically I am sent the raw stems from their session and begin by editing the tracks as needed and then mixing the song. The most important aspect of any of my work is keeping in mind the client's vision for the song and any reference tracks while also coming up with original parts and ideas that make the song catchy and stand out while serving the song in the best way possible for the client.