Nick Philips on SoundBetter

Classical foundation. Electronic toolkit. A studio in Athens where those two things meet.

I studied harpsichord and piano before training in audio engineering and music production at SAE Athens. Years of work in Cubase, Ableton, and other DAWs mean the technical side never gets in the way of the music.

I've composed and produced more than 12 albums and over 300 tracks across genres - all available on SoundCloud and Spotify.

Whether I'm shaping your sound from scratch or refining what you've already built, the goal is the same - make it feel exactly right.

Send me a note through the contact button above.

Credits

Languages

English
Greek

Endorse Nick Philips5 Reviews

by Selvin Yaltır
One of Nick's greatest strengths is his ability to take a simple melodic idea and instinctively know which sonic world it belongs in. At the same time, he keeps the song’s identity and the songwriter's voice in mind. That is a rare balance. Beyond his technical skills, diligence, and meticulous attention to detail, what truly sets Nick apart is the way he connects with the artist and understands their intention.He has an incredible ability to create harmonic layers, and blend analog warmth with digital precision. The end result is a sound that feels contemporary without losing its authenticity
by Adam Hadd Jacobsson
Beside an amazing ear for the smallest details and professional skills in how to make said details pop to make the song better, Nick also provide pure joy in doing so. He shows and glows creativity in an inspiring way, which not only makes you appreciate the process even more but also inspires you to approach your own creativity with new perspectives and confidence. I loved working with Nick and strongly recommend him.
by Brian
I always like working with Nick, both in real time and through correspondence. He is straight to the point in knowing what a track needs sonically as well as musically. Whether it be a simple piano piece I have written or a more complicated orchestral score with several tracks, he knows how to balance and highlight each instrument so that the track as a whole sounds both cohesive and unique.
by Simon
i loved working with Nick, he is quick, has a sharp mind and knows what he`s looking for.
by John Athanasiou
Nick combines perfectly in his works musicality and technical knowledge approaching music production in a totally unique way.

Interview with Nick Philips

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: A fully licensed cover of "Dream a Little Dream of Me," cleared through Sony/EMI Music Publishing, with Selvin Yaltir on vocals. I handled production, sound design, mix and mastering, and it opens my site at nick-philips.com because it says everything about how I work.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: An original vocal single written and recorded with the Istanbul-based singer Selvin, and new instrumental material for sync.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both, without ideology. Analog for character on the way in, digital for precision and recall. The listener hears the music, not the signal path.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Honest feedback, clear communication, and a track that feels exactly right - not just loud, not just polished, right.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The moment a rough idea becomes a track the artist didn't know they had in them.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: "Can you make it sound like "x" reference?" My answer: I can take us to that neighborhood, but we're building your house there, not copying theirs.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That production is about adding things. Most of my work is deciding what the song doesn't need.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is the song about, what should the listener feel, and which two or three reference tracks live in the world you want. Those answers save us weeks.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Listen to the provider's work before you compare prices. If their sound moves you, the collaboration will work; if it doesn't, no price makes it right.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A piano, a laptop with Cubase, the Novation Peak, one good pair of headphones, and a field recorder for the sounds of the island itself.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I studied harpsichord and piano first, then audio engineering and music production at SAE Athens. Over the years that became 12+ albums, 300+ released tracks, and placements from SAT.1 to the IMF.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Emotionally direct, sonically restrained. Where classical structure meets electronic texture.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Any artist with a distinctive sound and an unfinished idea. That combination is where production matters most.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Fix arrangements before you reach for plugins. Most "mix problems" are two instruments asking for the same space, and no EQ solves that as well as a better part.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Cinematic, electronic and pop, plus a lot of instrumental music for TV and film through sync libraries.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Knowing what to leave out. Every element you can hear in my mixes is there because the song needs it.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: A classical foundation, an electronic toolkit, and the experience to know when a track is done.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I start by listening: your material, your references, what the song is trying to be. Then I build in passes - arrangement, sound design, mix - and send you versions at each stage, so there are no surprises at the end.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: A hybrid studio in Athens: Cubase and Ableton at the center, analog synths around them, including a Novation Peak and Moog and Arturia hardware. Enough gear to get any sound, few enough pieces that I actually know them all.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Ryuichi Sakamoto above all, for making electronics feel human. After him, an odd family: J.S. Bach, The Velvet Underground, Dave Brubeck, Manos Hadjidakis.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Full production from an idea or demo to a release-ready master, and standalone mixing or mastering for artists who already have their tracks recorded.