Music Producer

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both honestly. I’ve mostly worked in the digital space but I also see a lot of value in analog - especially for vocals and some synths.

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

A: I will do my best and work as long as it takes to get your song where you want it to be. My job is to make your song the best it can be and something you will be proud of for years to come.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Getting to see the excitement from clients when we “nail it”. When the song is exactly what they were hoping for - doesn’t get any better than that! :)

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

A: This is a great question! Make sure you take your time to interview your producer. You want to be sure you are getting the right one right from the beginning. This is no easy task - I get that. But there are some pretty simple things I would recommend doing to ensure you have the best chance at getting a great producer. 1. Speak to them on the phone and listen to why the want to do the project. You should hear some excitement in their voice! You don’t want someone who just looks at this as a business transaction. This is art. This is song more than likely is about something you are passionate about - be sure your producer really is invested in wanting the very best for you and your song. 2. Communicate as much as possible in the front end. Some pretty basic questions will probably come up that can really help a producer nail your vision quickly. Things like: -What sound are you going for? -Is there another song or artist that influences you as an artist or influenced the song? 3. Once you have your producer hired, HAVE FUN! Enjoy the process.

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

A: My Mac, a MIDI keyboard, a microphone, headphones, and internet (is that cheating?)

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Pop for sure. I am a drummer at heart. So for me, I typically focus on getting the rhythm right first. After that, really getting catchy melodies that will really support the vocal and message of the song.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don’t overthink the production. Simple is always better. There is only so much space sonically for a song so don’t overcrowd what you put into it. Figure out the key elements that will make the song great and then make those parts awesome.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Communication. My FAVORITE part is getting to communicate with the artist and throwing ideas out at them. My absolute favorite thing about producing is that magic moment when we both are so excited on a call about where the song is headed.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The first step is typically hearing the song as it currently stands. The artist will send me a demo or a scratch recording of an idea. I will then begin to sketch out some ideas and send the artist some ideas. Once we get the idea right, it’s often a pretty quick process after that. I begin working on the full production and any arrangements that are needed. The artist will send their recordings of the vocal and any instruments they’ve recorded. I will then create the final mix and master for the artist. And, most importantly, during this entire process I am sending ideas and demos back to the artist to ensure it is lining up with their vision. I’m not happy until they are happy. It has to be right for their big release day!

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

A: Ryan Tedder is a huge hero of mine. I love his ability to add very little in the production that adds a ton of flavor to the track. And, he does a great job of adding very small elements often so you never get tired of listening over and over again.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: For my DAW I use Ableton primarily but I can also use Logic and ProTools. I have a lot of plugins/VSTs I use including Native Instruments, Omnisphere, Arturia, Waves, Sound Toys, Vocal Synth 2, Melodyne, iZotope, and more. I love my monitors! I am using Focal Alpha 80s and Yamaha NS-10s. For my outboard gear, I use Moog Sub Phatty and Prophet Rev2. I also have a studio acoustic and bass when needed. Love the vocal change setup too - I run my vocals through my Neve 1073SPX into a Warm Audio WA76 and then into a Klerk Teknik 2A-KT. I use an Apollo Twin for my interface with a MacBook Pro.

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

A: Typically an artist will come to me with a song sketched out or with a demo. I will then work with the artist to develop production that fits around their original idea to help push the song to its full potential.