Lyric and Melody Producer

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

A: There was so much to learn when making my 1st EP. Every step, I would bemoan how there is someone who ONLY does this one tiny (or huge) aspect as their full-time job. I appreciated all the hard work it took to get it from my brain to a CD and when I listen to those tracks now, I still marvel that I DID THAT and I still love all the songs!! I wrote, recorded, produced, mixed, mastered, and distributed that EP from the tearful beginning of songwriting to its tearful I-can’t-believe-it’s-finally-over end.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I’m currently working on writing melodies to poems and verses my clients would like to easily memorize. I am also working on my second EP and am at the place to record vocals. Yay!

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

A: I don't know ANYONE, as far as I know, on SoundBetter period but if there was someone whose services I used or had worked with on the site, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital! If I couldn’t work digitally, my music life would look very different. I wouldn’t be able to work quickly and share! What a drag to have to go find someone in a town I can get to that does what I want! The internet is amazing!

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

A: I promise to hear what you have to say and work my absolute best to get you what your music deserves (within my abilities).

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Creating songs really does feel like magic.

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

A: Can you sing in Chinese!? The answer is, “Yes” I can, but I don’t like it. It feels like studying and work. Would you rather sing in a second language or your heart language?

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

A: The biggest misconception is that I write and think about songs all day. While I am heavily invested when I am working on a project, I feel like the most important thing in making music is making a life so that you have something to write about.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the feel you are going for? Fast, slow, happy, sad? Do you have any reference songs for your lyrics? What are the 3 most important things you want to make sure this song has?

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

A: I would ask them to make sure their words count and mean something.

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

A: Do cables count and how long am I there? Handheld recorder, batteries, and a piano (notebook and pens don’t count as gear, right?)

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

A: I originally wanted to lead a band at church! I ended up moving overseas and running a BnB but still love music and continue to do it. I’ve been involved in songwriting, band leading, b-up vocals for the last 20 years. Production work for the last 5.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Easy, stripped down impression; rhythmic and deceptively complicated.

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

A: I would love to work with Sarah Groves; she was the first artist I listened to that sang lyrics I could really relate to in a very real (it’s not ALWAYS Friday night, let’s go out!) sort of way.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Getting a great recording is key and always start with your beats and perc. once you’ve got your basic lyrics, melody, and chord progressions.

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

A: Indie pop, soft pop, acoustic piano/uke

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Finding the threads in the lyrics and weaving them all together.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring the heart and backbone. Lyrics are a great start. I love lyrics and I love poetry and appreciate the quality and meaning of words but when it comes to making a song, the melody and progressions are what really breaths life.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Lyrics first, followed by chord progressions (prefer piano) and song structure, record piano and add perc, ambient, and strings (in this order), record ukulele (if needed, live), record vocals last, mix and master.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a basic home-studio set up with basic soundproofing.

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

A: Lauren Daigle, Andrew Peterson, Paolo Nutini, Barbara Streisand, Anita Baker.

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

A: I’ve mainly been asked to come up with melodies with someone else’s lyrics but I enjoy doing both for myself.