Indie-Pop-Rock Producer

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

A: My Taylor acoustic, a U87, MacBook audio interface and headphones - sorted

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

A: I've been in music for for over 15 years at this point. I was named the UK's best unsigned live act by SKY TV. I went on to get a scholarship to Berklee College of Music for Production and engineering where I studied with industry experts such as Prince's engineer as well as Outkast's producer. I was offered a job in New York City at one of the most famous studios in the world - Avatar (now called Powerstation) where names such as Paul Simon, Mick Jagger, NBC, Disney and Warner have all come during my time there. I now work out of The Walrus Studio in London and I still tour and write as an artist.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I perhaps answered this in my answer for why would like to work with Dermot Kennedy but I would describe my style as moody but not sad, mainstream but not boring, dramatic but accessible.

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

A: I achieved my dream of assisting a Mick jagger session but in terms of modern artists perhaps Dermot Kennedy due to his appetite for storytelling, dark soundscapes and taste for the dramatic.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Let it breathe

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

A: I find myself working on singer-songwriter music with and edge mostly but I have also engineered and mixed Jazz greats, broadway casts and rock bands.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Whether producing or mixing a song for an artist, it's important to understand the emotional arc and purpose of the song. I start there and then we pull together an idea of how we might achieve this sonically. I'll throw ideas back and forth and get the song to a point where I think it sounds good. From there if an artist is local we might spend some time together in person finalising things or if they are remote we will go through some critique and revision to get it perfect.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: A Neve 51 is at the heart of my studio - I still think there is something different about how a real mixer makes you work. I monitor through the ATC SCM25a's as well as the 'trusty' NS-10s. I'm a musician at heart and so the studio also has a Steinway Piano (same one that was on the titanic!), DW drums, Gibson, Fender, Yamaha and Taylor guitars, plenty of guitar amps and a respectable mic collection including Neumann U87s, Telefunken tube mics, some AKG mics and some character ones i've built myself.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I am also a songwriter and musical artist so I bring a strong musical sensibility to every task. I understand the artistic process and have been on both sides it - writing and performing the music as well as recording and mixing for others. Hence I bring a sensitivity to artistry that not all audio guys can.

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

A: Producing music that is more organic. Drums, piano, guitars, vocals, strings and of course electronic elements to supplement.

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

A: Simply reach out... you will learn from everyone you talk to. There's no obligation to hire and a world of expertise on this site to tap into and find the perfect match for your project.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is getting a song to really rise and fall - bringing out the emotional journey of a song that is already there.

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

A: I'm only happy with a job once you're happy with it!

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

A: I've been inspired no end by my former mentors - Jonathan Wyner, Susan Rogers, Enrique Gonzalez, Prince Charles, John Whynot and Jason Stokes to name but a few.