RnB Songwriter and Producer

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

A: My most proud project is BLVCK VIØLET, it's my own personal project and I am the co producer, songwriter and singer on it. We came top 5 in BBC Introducing Competition and are starting to make waves across the UK.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently working on building my portfolio for sync publishers and licensing.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Despite most of my equipment being digital I would vote analog. The natural feel and slight difference in tone you get from analog equipment can never be fully matched by digital.

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

A: That I will deliver high quality work and if it's not what you're looking for I am willing to keep working at it until we get a product you're happy with!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Being able to earn money doing what I love, I wouldn't cope at an office job so it's perfect for me.

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

A: That it is a pipe dream. So many people believe music is a hobby and it can't be made into a career but I do not believe that at all and I have proved to myself it's not!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What exactly they're looking for lyrically and directionally. How much free rein they want me to have/if they want to give me a specific brief to stick to.

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

A: Don't dive into the first provider you come into contact with, do your research, ask the questions you need and then work with the one best tailored to what you're going for as we all have our own styles and how we go about making music.

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

A: My piano, computer, mic, speakers and a boat load of food!

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

A: I have been in the music industry for 7 years now, I started in school and then went on to study it in sixth form and university. After that I started selling myself as a freelance songwriter and that is what I have been since. I am building my portfolio to delve into sync and library music.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I would mainly describe my style as a smooth RnB artist influenced by 2000's and modern trap music.

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

A: Bruno Mars has always been an artist I've wanted to work with, his vocal range and melodies he creates are off the scale and to get into a studio with him would be a huge learning experience.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: A professional tip for music production I would say is mastering dynamics. Dynamics is heavily important for the feel of the song, whether it's a string section or just vocals but the dynamics will give it a different feel depending on what you do every time. A bonus personal tip is to not be too hung up on what you "should" be doing and just have fun and do what feels right!

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

A: I normally work on RnB and pop music however I am not confined into these lanes and have worked in almost every genre.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'd say my strongest skill is songwriting. Lyrics and melody are the most important parts of a song in my opinion and the production around that is the support system. So I like to take my time in making sure there is a story told in the lyrics along with a catchy melody that people can hook onto quickly.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a modern take on all genres of music, having studied commercial songwriting in university I am used to working with lots of different people and to a variety of briefs. However I am also a massive fan of classical, orchestral music so it is something that I delve into very often.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: If I am making a full song my work process will be to start with the production and song itself and then I will write the lyrics and melody over that. I tend to write melody and lyrics in tandem as I want both of them to make sense throughout the song.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a home studio kitted with 2 HS7 Yamaha Monitors, a Rode NT1-A microphone, iMac with Logic Pro X as my chosen DAW. My plug ins include Omnisphere, Soundtoys, Ozone 9, Spitfire Strings, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Portal, Valhalla Reverb, Melodyne and much more.

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

A: Santino Le Saint is one of my biggest influences when it comes to the RnB/Pop world but on the more orchestral side of things I am very into Ludovico Einaudi.

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

A: The most common type of work I get is top lines for DJ's and producers.