Music Producer

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

A: My clients most commonly ask me what genre of music I write and produce. I tell them that I work with many different genres and do not limit my songwriting and production work to one style. I am always trying to expand my tastes in and knowledge of different types of music.

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

A: I am especially proud of a project I'm working on currently, as a member of the DJ duo Rude Boys. We began the project recently and have one release, which is our remix of Dillon Francis - Anywhere feat. Will Heard (supported by artists such as Will Heard, Protohype, Baishaus, and JayKode). We have many original songs and remixes ready to be released, many of which I consider to be some of my best work. I'm excited to drop these tracks. Here is a link to our Soundcloud profile: www.soundcloud.com/rude_boys

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

A: Macbook Pro with 16Gb RAM, Focusrite 4Pre audio interface, KRK VXT8 studio monitors, M-Audio Venom synthesizer, and Novation Launch Pad... Assuming I had power outlets :)

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

A: I have not met other producers on SoundBetter, but would love to meet some and exchange techniques and advice.

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

A: The biggest misconception about what I do is that since it does not completely conform to all industry standards, it is not "correct." However, this is a part of the unique sound I capture while still putting out professional quality tracks.

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

A: Have an established idea in your head of how you want your mix to sound, so I can replicate that as closely as possible.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Right now, I am working on my personal project which is mostly house, dubstep and future bass. Over the past year, I've been trying to develop my own distinct sound and I have been promoting my music on blogs and social media. So far, it has been a very successful project.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: The biggest question I always ask is what artists or songs inspired the client's work in progress. I ask this so I can capture a sound that uses influence from these artists and songs but is also distinct.

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

A: Throughout my childhood, I was a member and manager of several bands. My favorite aspect of being in a band was the recording sessions, so I began to record my own music through high school. I have progressively been improving my music production skills over the years and I try to do something new every day. I've also interned at two major record labels (UMG and WMG) and have done audio editing for some of their roster artists.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Does it sound right to YOU?

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring personality to a song. I can take a simple musical idea and transform it into a full, professional-quality track with characteristics of its own.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When producing a song, I tend to think of a melody with a backing chord progression first. This can end up being any section of a song, depending on how it turns out and what other ideas I have for that track. I will write the melody and chord progression using certain instruments and then build upon that idea with other supporting instruments. Once I have the section done, I will continue writing a new section until I have a full composition. This is where I use effects, post-production editing, mixing, and mastering to finalize the production and prepare it for mass distribution.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: As for DAWs, I use either Logic Pro or Pro Tools. My hardware includes an Avid Mbox Pro, Avid Venom analog synthesizer, Akai MPD26 MIDI Pad, Mackie MR-5 studio monitors, and Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro studio headphones. My notable plug-ins include Serum, Nexus 2, Massive, Kontakt, Waves Plug-ins, Ozone 6, and Superior Drummer.

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

A: I am working for YOU. I won't try to look into your best interest for you, I will give you the final product that you are looking for.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Giving clients a final product that they were hearing in their head when writing a song.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I mostly produce house but am inspired by other genres such as pop, dubstep, EDM, hip hop, rock, jazz, and heavy metal.

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

A: I am inspired by a wide variety of artists in many different genres. I try to take something out of all music I listen to and I try my best to reflect that in my recordings.

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

A: The most common types of work I do include full song production, instrumental production, mixing, and beat-making.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I prefer digital. It is more convenient and more effective in optimizing my workflow.

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

A: I would love to work with Jauz. Our styles are very similar and I believe that my songwriting would mix well with his sound design.

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

A: My favorite styles of music to work on are house (most styles) and EDM. I also work on dubstep, trap, drum n' bass, pop, and hip hop.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is my songwriting and composition. I have a very smooth workflow in terms of building an idea into a full song.