Record Edit Mix Master Create!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My years of experience, a different perspective and a fresh pair of ears.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: My job is always new. Every client comes with his very own approach to music, and I need to adjust. This keeps my view on music fresh. And sometimes I hear things that are just wonderful.

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

A: Most common question: what is the cost? My answer: It depends. :-) Honestly, I need to know all about what you want me to do, the material you will provide and what end product you want from me before I can tell you any pricing. Without that information, I can only say that I am affordable and competitive.

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

A: If you make mediocre music, it will remain mediocre music even after an extensive and expensive production. Or in other words: I can not make you a better musician. I can make you sound good, but that will not make your music better. If you like me to give me some advice, I am happy to listen to your tracks and give you some hints on what to improve before spending money on proper recoding, mixing and mastering.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: First I usually try to find out what services the client is looking for. I offer a wide spectrum from "just mixing" to recording, editing, producing, mastering, etc. So we need to clarify first what is needed. Another thing I ask often is: Do you have any reference tracks, something I can use as a guide for the sound you are after?

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

A: Two things. First: is your stuff really ready for the next level? Look critically over your works and consider whether they are good enough. If yes, then let's work together and record, edit, mix, master or whatever you need from me. Second: Please give me as much information about what you want, what you need, and what you desire with your stuff. Communication is critical. I can only fulfil your wishes if I know as much as possible about them.

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

A: A fridge, a fan, a blender, an ice machine and a piano. I mean, who needs to record something when no one can listen to the recordings? I would play live for the monkeys, crocodiles and sea turtles. Guess the tune...

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

A: I would like to work with the one musician that nobody knows yet, the one that uses the power of his music and makes the world a better place.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Close your eyes. Trust your ears. Commit to your guts.

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

A: I love improvised music of all flavours, acoustic, electric, standard jazz, fusion, rock-jazz, free-jazz. But I also love the blues and some Rock'n'roll. But I also work on electronic music of all kinds, meditative music and speech recordings. A nice variety - but for me, the most important thing is that the music tells a story. Everything else is almost irrelevant.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I have a feeling about what supports a track. I was a jazz piano player for decades, and I played a lot of intuitive music. I always needed to decide instantly what to add to make something work. So I think I have a good feeling about giving something a direction, committing to it, and then making it work.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is at the Algarve in Portugal. Better suited for surfing, swimming or just sitting on the beach, but for me it's the perfect environment to be creative. I have a small studio, acoustically treated, with decent hardware, great ATC speakers, some Neve preamps, 32 channels worth of UAD Apollo audio interfaces, a lot of modular gear and some classic microphones. Everything I need to record and produce music with a vibe.

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

A: Well, I love to learn from the old guys. Al Schmitt had so many stories and knowledge to tell, but Andrew Sheps and Sylvia Massy are so innovative and creative that I also find them very inspiring. Anyway, any good-sounding recording inspires me. When the music is there, they did something right...

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both! Digital because of its recall-ability, workflow and control. Analog because of the real knobs and sometimes unpredictable creative results. So I like to use both all the time. Digital as the precise tool and analogue as a source of inspiration.