Producer, Mixer, Musician

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

A: I produced and mixed a Christmas EP for an artist last year, and both of us are so proud of that project because we were able to get a great product with such a small budget!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently producing a 12 song live worship record.

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

A: Jason Earley - what an amazing human, songwriter, and vocalist.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital - digital can do what analog does, but analog can't do what digital does.

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

A: I promise to listen to and address every desire and expectation you have for your project.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love being able to chase down sounds until they are perfect.

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

A: Many customers ask me for clear timeline expectations - which i'm happy to give. Clear expectations keep everyone happy.

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

A: It's common for people to expect producers or mix engineers to fix audio problems in their entirety. We can fix many things! But there is only so much we can do about a vocal recorded in a room with no treatment.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your expectations? What is your timeline? Do you have any resources (your own demos, recordings, chord charts, etc)?

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

A: You don't have to be an expert producer, but if you invest some time into learning production basics you'll find that communication is easier, and you'll be able to handle small jobs on your own. Instead of having to reach out to your provider and wait an extra day or two just for a small edit, you might be able to save the time and energy and fix it yourself in a few minutes.

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

A: Tele (it's my signature piece!), acoustic (great for songwriting), computer (production, mic, etc.), Slate Mic (it can do everything!), Universal Audio Interface (the centerpiece of a studio!).

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

A: I began touring at 19 as a guitar tech with Kelsea Ballerini. From then on I've toured with various country acts including Josh Turner and Smithfield. When I transitioned to Christian music, my world opened up to various live and studio opportunities with all the artists listed in my credits. It's been five years since I began this journey as a professional.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Big drums, strong bass, lush acoustic, intimate keys, saturated guitars. That's it!

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

A: I'd love to work with Pat Barrett - Love his sound!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Keep it simple. No one likes overcooked food. Don't overcook your songs by overthinking it and adding too much.

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

A: Worship, I produce this on a daily basis. Worship has strong rock influences, however. This translates well to rock, indie rock, indie pop, country, etc.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Versatility - that's what enables me to produce songs my clients and I are proud of. As far as instruments go, I'm most developed as a guitarist.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring expert sounds. I've spent years crafting guitar tones, keys patches, drum editing workflow, mic-ing techniques, etc.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First, I listen. Most clients are able to express what they need - so I have to be careful to catch onto their priorities and desires. From there, each project is a little different. In a full production, usually programming and MIDI is the first to go onto the track. That gives me a great start to begin adding audio to.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a setup that is comfortable, well equipped, and close to home. I prefer a minimal setup - it's easy to get lost in gear.

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

A: My greatest musical inspiration is Ed Cash. Growing up, I listened to everything he produced without knowing it. It was only recently that I discovered he was the mastermind behind most influential songs in my childhood.

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

A: I most commonly produce full productions or demos for my clients. Second to this, guitar sessions take up most of my time.