Mixing, vocals, guitar

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I just finished my next solo album, which I recorded at my studio, played all the instruments on (including drums), and mixed. I'm also producing tracks for a few other artists.

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

A: Nope! I'm new here.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. I love Pro Tools and can't imagine having to deal with tape for edits. But I think thoughtful integration of choice pieces of analog/tube outboard gear that you love the sound of (like my Bricasti and STA Level) helps to achieve results that (to my ears) sound better than what digital alone can achieve, and in less time.

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

A: For mixing: I will help you sound like the best version of yourself!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: With mixing: I get to help people turn their artists visions into a concrete reality that they can share with the world! Doesn't get much better. :)

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your goals for the project? What do you want this to sound like when it's finished? I might suggest different approaches and go for different aesthetics depending on whether a client is trying to get a song on Top 40 charts, versus for niche college playlists.

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

A: The better the raw performance, the more I can do to make it sound even better! Also, I can work a lot of magic and solve a lot of problems with Pro Tools, but I can't read minds. Sometimes (especially when working with someone for the first time) it takes some time and communication to get a feel for a client's sonic tastes.

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

A: Of the pieces I own: my 1971 U87, BAE 1073, Retro STA Level, Bricasti M7, and my Martin D28 of course. I think I could do just about anything with that stuff ...assuming I have the other bits to record into! ;)

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

A: I've been doing this about 11 years. I wanted to be a novelist in high school and then I picked up a guitar and realized music was a more fun way to tell stories! I started learning about engineering in my first rock band, then completed a Bachelor Degree in Audio Engineering and Sound Production at JMC Academy in Melbourne. I moved to the US in 2015 and was playing and engineering in NYC for several years before I decided to build my studio in the woods in PA.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Naturalist indie rock.

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

A: John Mayer! It's always cool to work with artists that have awesome technique and a clear vision, so you can focus on helping them evoke and capture that instead of having to 'fix' things.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't cut corners. It has to sound amazing with no processing to sound amazing when it's finished! And everything you add should be done with thought and consideration.

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

A: I produce a lot of singer-songwriter material: acoustic, indie rock - usually things with live instrumentation (though I'm open to try anything).

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I think my biggest forte is vocal production, and I pride myself on giving the attention to detail required to make a track sound polished and evocative while preserving the natural qualities of the performance.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I've been playing and recording music for about 12 years. I'm a vocalist and guitarist. I also play a bit of bass, keys and drums for arranging. So I understand how different elements fit together in an arrangement. Vocals harmonies come really naturally to me.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I try to get the raw material sounding as balanced, polished and dynamically consistent as possible by going through each track in fine detail. Then I work to glue everything together cohesively and adjust the song at a wider aesthetic level with effects and other pieces.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a fully treated studio space (products provided by GIK Acoustics), primarily geared toward mixing and vocal/guitar tracking. I'm running a Universal Audio rig (Apollo X8P, 8, Twin and satellite) into an iMac Pro with Pro Tools and Logic. I have a core selection of outboard units that I love - a Bricasti M7 Reverb unit, Retro Instruments STA Level tube compressor, Hairball 1176 clone (that I built), Warm Audio WA2A, WA76 and EQP-WA, and a number of preamps (BAE 1073, two Avedis MA5s, a Focusrite ISA 430 MKII, and a AEA RPQ). I also have an extensive mic locker and guitar collection, a vintage 1966 Vibrolux Reverb, a Fender Rhodes MKI, and a Sequential Prophet REV2.

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

A: John Mayer, Jeff Buckley, Phoebe Bridgers, Justin Vernon/Bon Iver, The National, Bruce Springsteen, Nick Drake. Anything with great songwriting/lyrics and cool vocals! (And generally guitar)

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

A: I produce and mix tracks and albums, and also do vocal work.