Hip hop, RnB, Pop Producer

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

A: Recently finished a Latin pop project with up and coming songwriter/ vocalist Aria. My first Latin project. Aria has an amazing voice and I had a great time creating something new with her. I’m proud of the vibes we came up with and the ease in which it all came together.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently working on a RnB project, Emo trap project, hip hop project and Latin project all for tv/ film sync.

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

A: Mickey Shiloh, great vocalist and songwriter

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, analogue is great but I love being able to hit save and everything sounds exactly the same as how I left it.

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

A: I promise I’ll treat your work with the care it deserves and do my best to improve on it and make something we’re both proud of.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get to create vibrations that communicate emotion. Best job in the world when you make something people can feel.

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

A: I think some people have unrealistic expectations on what producers can do with their songs. If the songwriting and arrangement isn’t solid going in from the start it’s hard to create something valuable and lasting out of it.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Who musically excites you? What sound as an artist are you aiming for? Where do you see yourself growing as an artist over the next 5 years?

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

A: Find somebody who is willing to work with you on developing your sound. You have to ultimately live with the songs so it’s best to work with somebody who’s gonna hear you and be a partner as opposed to just do their thing and send files back.

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

A: MacBook with Protools, Ableton, plug-ins and sample/ sound catalog loaded. MIDI controller, my Manley Ref C, Preamp and Yamaha speakers… All I need

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

A: I’ve been producing for over 20 years, I was lucky to get an internship at an early age for a multi platinum and Grammy winning studio called Tarpan Studios owned by hit maker Narada Michael Walden in Northern California. I ended up working there for over 10 years as an in house producer/ sound engineer and got to absorb the songwriting and vocal production techniques of a master with over 50 number one hit songs. I also learned from amazing engineers all the ins and outs of professional studio work.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is clean and versatile, even when I’m getting dirty with more organic and raw sounding hip hop I know how to deliver industry standard music.

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

A: Drake, he’s so versatile creatively. From melodic RnB, Afro to harder hitting rap, he knows how to put together these giant songs that you can’t help but love.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Spend time on finding the right drum sounds: kick, snare/ clap and hi hat combo. It’s a lot easier to get a mix banging if you pick the right sounds as opposed to trying to fix them in the mix in post. The right drum sounds are everything.

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

A: I usually work on pop, RnB / hip hop styled tracks. Recently been getting into Latin pop/ trap and it’s been a lot of fun branching out internationally.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is beat production and project completion. It’s a joy for me to see a song through to its final form.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I think I bring a polished ear and ability to focus on bringing out the best in an artist sonically and creatively. I have a knack for completion and know how to get from demo stage to final product intuitively and enjoy the process of watching song ideas come to life.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to get with an artist and hear what they like, what inspires them creativity wise to write to. Then create an original track for them, and work with them on flushing out a top line melody and basic arrangement. Once we have something melodically that everyone is feeling I let the artist plug in words to fit the melody and help guide the song towards something I feel is the strongest interpretation of our idea. After we record vocals I’ll spend time cleaning up timing, pitch and backgrounds and make sure everything sits right in the pocket then mix/ master everything.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Macintosh, Protools 13, Ableton Live 10, Autotune Pro, Melodyne, Manley Ref C Mic, Apogee quartet A/D, Focusrite pre, Yamaha HR Speakers

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

A: 40 (Noah Shebib), Cardo, Hit-Boy, Mike Dean, Kanye West, Murda Beatz, Tyler The Creator, RedOne, Boi-1da, Hitmaker Tainy, Mike Will Made It, Dr Luke

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

A: Music Production, vocal arrangement, mixing, mastering