Songwriter

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on a song I wrote the original idea for back in 2006. I found an amazing co writer who is currently living in the U.S. to write some lyrics and a melody for it and now I am getting a pro to sing on the record so I can get an old relic out there once and for all.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analogue. Because there is nothing like a 15 min reel of ampex 456 2" tape squashed out on the studio's 24 track tape machine.. That's just the cream...

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

A: I'll do my very best, every single time.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Music has always been an enormous part of my life, right back to when I was old enough to hold a Fischer Price tape recorder to my ear and hold it there for days listening to anything and everything I could find in my dad's cassette collection. From there going through his 50's and 60's records and spinning them up on the old Technics turntable. What I love is that however many years later it is, those experiences led me to where I am today spending my time creating and playing music is simply my passion.. the best job in the world.

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

A: Without wishing to sound bigheaded, I'm better than I think I am :)

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

A: Start looking for the providers that have lower fees and pick your favourite(s) from there and ask for previous examples of work. Start small and work up to the pros, you'd be surprised how many great talents are lurking in here with lower fees not properly reflecting their abilities. There's no point spending all your money before you start making money from your music.

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

A: Pencil, Notepad, Small Midi Keyboard, Solar Powered Battery & Macbook Pro. There isn't much you can't knock out with those basic tools.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Focus on getting the ideas down in full before you start fiddling. This stems back from when I learnt at school about typing up a word processing document. You could spend hours formatting it a million different ways and never really finish getting the document written in the first place. The same applies very much to the writing & recording process.

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

A: I strive to be able to tackle any request and enjoy the challenging projects where a piece isn't my main genre of specialty. That said, my main musical influences are rock, pop, easy listening & blues however I very much enjoy listening to and appreciating almost any other genre from classical, swing, soul, funk, disco and even jazz. All of these make their way into my music somehow.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I started playing the guitar 27 years ago in 1990, and from there I have developed in many fields. I have a diploma in music production & audio engineering, grade 7 plectrum guitar & grade 5 theory of music. This grounded me with a very rounded knowledge base on which to build my experience.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I always try to bring what ever I am asked to bring to a song. Trying to fully understand the scope of the project and what is being asked for, then interpreting that and getting as close to the brief as possible, while still applying my own style if required.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: That's hard to answer as every project has a different approach and it depends upon which stage I enter the process. Sometimes I start a piece on the guitar, sometimes using the keyboard, bass or even humming an idea. Other times I get sent an a capella demo and then add the harmonies to that or I get a completed demo and simply add some improvised ideas from which to build. Every project is very much unique and individual.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Instruments: Patrick Eggle Berlin Pro electric guitar, Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass guitar, Yamaha APX-8A electro acoustic guitar, Electro Mandolin. Controllers: Axiom AIR 61 MIDI controller, Roland TD-9K V-Drums, EWI USB MIDI wind controller. Microphones: AKG C414, Shure SM57. Amp: Vox AC30C2X Blue Bulldog. Monitors: Alesis Studio One MK2 Audio Interface: Avid Fast Track Duo all attached to a solid Macbook Pro running Logic Pro X

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

A: Roger Waters will always remain one of the best writers of our time in my book. For his persistance and strength to do whatever he felt right, regardless of whether or not it would have mainstream appeal. Bob Dylan of course for the seamless ease in which he continuously and effortlessly pops out tunes in which there is always a purpose.

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

A: Mainly I end up writing instrumentals or individual tracks to which my clients use as a base for developing their ideas further. Sometimes I just add a bit of whatever they need to an already finished idea, from a bit of lead guitar to a full blown orchestral arrangement.

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

A: Rihanna. Purely because she has a fantastic vocal range, pure vocal talent and the ability to sing on a range of different musical styles. She makes it sounds so effortless I would love for her to rock up, bash out a few vocal takes and apply the finishes touches to a song that the world will enjoy for generations to come.