Drummer/Producer/Mixer

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

A: I co-wrote/ and played most of the instruments, drums, guitars, bass, percussion etc on the late Alvin Stardusts last album, after which, he sadly passed away, but it was an honour and a priviledge to work with the great man for 2 years

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on various project at the moment including an album for an artist from Canada, an album for a young up and coming artist from Birmingham plus a studio build and all the usual session work and writing colabs that keep continue to flow (thankfully!)

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

A: I know a few folk on here (music is a very small world!) and I would and always do take great pleasure in putting fellow muso's forward

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I love to combine the two. Everything presents an opportunity/ choice. It's up to us to discern with our ears what works for the record. Sometimes just the physical process effects our performance positively. Its more fun to be open minded

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

A: I won't be happy until were both happy. Thats the way I work.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: When both you and the artist are buzzing about the sound you've created together.

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

A: Q: Would you work with me on my creative project? A: When can we start!

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

A: Biggest misconception = 'Music isn't a real job' Some of the hardest working, most courageous folk I know are musicians. It can be tough and very unpredictable out there!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Who is the target audience? Single or album track or is it just for your own pleasure (which is 100% fine also!) Whats do you like to listen to? What made you choose me?

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

A: Preparation, preparation. Spend some time on youtube/spotify etc hunting down the sound/ feel that you would like and then drop me a line and we'll go from there :)

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

A: A drumkit. A piano. An acoustic guitar. A trumpet and a record player with 'A kind of Blue' on vinyl. (The record and vinyl are one item btw...is that allowed?)

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

A: I first picked up a guitar at the tender age of 6. My career began at the age of 12 playing drums semi-professionally in a band with my brother (Mark Ralph aka 'Club Ralph'). Since then I have picked up many different instruments over the years and become an accomplished songwriter having been signed to publishers such as EMI and Nottinghill Music and worked alongside Trevor Horn on Robbie Williams triple-platinum selling album 'Reality Killed the Video Star' co-writing 3 of the tracks including the single 'Morning Sun'. I currently have a career spaning 30 years plus (which is scarey!)

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Groove. Individual.

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

A: Stevie Wonder. One of the most incredible musicians to walk the earth.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: We make music with our ears. Take time to listen before you start twiddling or hitting things...develop a vision first and keep referring back to it.

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

A: At the moment I have projects all the way from country pop to neo-soul stretching right over to avant garde poet-based sound scapes. All special in their own right. I'm drawn to other peoples energy and creativity.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Working with others creatively

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Groove, energy, and hopefully something unique. In most cases a song should take you on a developing journey that holds your interest from beginning to end and as a producer/arranger this is something I am acutely aware of

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to start with a chat just getting to know each other and where were both at musically. Next it's listening time which is the biggest and most crucial part of any musical process as far as I'm concerned. The track itself of course but then I always ask for reference material maybe 2 or 3 tracks that fit the bill in one way or another vibe-wise. I then like to get an idea tracked and fire it over to be sure that were on the same page. Bounce some ideas together and then ping any revisions or new ideas in the mix. I like to work closely with the artist and I see my job almost as being a 'musical detective' in order to nail the desired sound.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio setup is packed with industry standard mics and pre's from Neumann to Neve and from API to AKG. Wall to wall with everything from an original 1960's Hammond C3 with Leslie speaker to an original 60's vibrophone plus reams of guitars/ banjo's/ lap steel and bags of percussion and much much more! The studio is acoustically designed throughout as acoustics is a personal study of mine (acoustics...thats when maths equations actually started to make sense!). I also have access to various shapes and sizes of studio as my work takes me to numerous studios across the globe my most current being the studio I am building in the Portuguese mountains.

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

A: Nile Rodgers, Trevor Horn, Mark Ralph (Yes he's my bro!), Bernard Purdie, are all inspirations to me in many ways but particularly in their natural inquisitive approach to music unafraid of boundries and constantly looking for the the sound that works for the song regardless of origin.

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

A: Artists usually have a fairly strong idea of what they want but appreciate a producers/ arrangers ear which is always a natural starting point for me and thats where the fun begins!