Producer and Mix Engineer

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I prefer analog because of the noticeable saturation and artifacts that it adds to a mix. It provides a certain warmth that is hard to achieve with digital (however many plugins do come close).

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

A: I was most proud of my college capstone project. I produced, wrote, recorded, mixed, and mastered a 7 track album between 2019 and 2020 which I released commercially on all platforms. The album is called "A to Z" and it features collaborations from some of my colleagues in college, including an artist who was a finalist on American Idol in 2020 (Julia Gargano).

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently producing and mixing an album for the artist N Game, as well as mixing for a variety of projects set to be commercially released in 2022.

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

A: To be honest, I am pretty new to SoundBetter, but I will definitely be on the lookout for people to recommend!

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

A: That we will get the product you're looking for, no matter how long it takes.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Learning more and more everyday.

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

A: Honestly the most common question I get is probably "how much do you charge?" I always respond saying "I would like to work within your budget, but I usually charge [insert price]."

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

A: Probably that this job is mostly technical and not artistic. In my mind, producing music is almost entirely artistic, knowing how to operate software and hardware is just a means to streamline the process.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What feelings are you trying to convey? What does this project mean to you personally? What music inspires you? What art inspires you? What are 3-5 reference tracks for this project?

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

A: Check out my credits. If the sound you hear seems like something you'd be looking for, then let's work!

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

A: -My computer (assuming it has all my plugins/vst's on it still). -Microphone (definitely going to sample some unique things on a desert island). -Midi Controller (drawing in MIDI isn't nearly as fun as playing it in). -Drum set (if I'm stuck on a desert island, I'm going to need a way to release stress). -Studio headphones (I wouldn't trust the acoustics of the island to bring my speakers).

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

A: For the first year and a half of college, I was a Percussion Performance major on track to becoming a professional percussionist. I changed gears in 2017 when I began producing and recording music and switched my major to Music Industry. It has turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life, as I now have a number of records released commercially, have worked with incredible artists, and get to do what I love.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I would describe my style as each sound being very intentional and produced with meaning. I try to focus on each little thing on each sound I use, and in return the songs have a cohesive and clear sound to them.

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

A: I would love to work with Tyler the Creator because of his ability to create an entirely new narrative and aesthetic with each album he releases.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: There are no rules... If it sounds good, it's good.

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

A: I typically work on Hip Hop, Pop, R&B, and House music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is my adaptability. If I do something for a client and it wasn't what they were looking for, I am able to go back to square one and approach the project in a different may in order to meet their needs.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I was trained from a young age in classical and chamber music, but growing up always listened to more contemporary music. I think this combination has allowed me to approach my productions in a unique way, using the theory I have learned through classical music, in addition to the recording and production practices I have heard on contemporary records.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: For a new production starting from scratch, I always ask what they want the song to be associated with. This can be a color, an adjective, a movie, a painting, another song, anything at all. Once I know that, I ask for 3-5 reference tracks and what it is about those reference tracks that they like. I then begin producing, typically with a chord progression, and textural sounds around that. Once I settle on a harmonic structure, I try to create the bounce with the percussion and other instruments to fill in the space. Once I have fleshed out the song, I arrange it in a way I think it will be the most impactful. I end my productions by adding any transitional/texture sounds to add to the momentum from one part of the song to another.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My gear includes 8 Focusrite preamps, a full Gretsch drum set with Zildjian and Bosphorus cymbals, Yamaha 8 inch studio monitors, a Neumann TLM 102 mic, a 4.3 octave marimba, a Kontakt Komplete Kontroller, a Maschine MK3, Audio Technica Headphones, LP percussion instruments, over 1 terabyte of samples and VST's, and much more.

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

A: I am inspired by anybody who goes against the grain and tries something new. In my mind, people who embody this trait include Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Flying Lotus, Tyler the Creator, and Kaytranada.

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

A: Most of my clients reach out to me for my unique approach to production. Sometimes that will just be drum production, or finishing touches on a track, or just an entire track from scratch.