Producer/Session Musician

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

A: I recently wrote and produced a song for a Nashville band called Whiskey Cash and Roses. It was a really vulnerable and raw song and was an honor to produce. It is gaining some traction and so many people have been able to relate to the songs message. It's called Who Am I To Her and can be found on all streaming platforms.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently working on a song for a commercial for a company called Truck Hero. It's an aggressive rock vibe song that is different than what I'm usually working on and is a breath of fresh air.

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

A: Yes! There are some really great studio musicians I often use and love. Tim Denbo is one of my favorite bassists to use. I also use drummer Matt Crouse and he is so great! Vocalist Matt Dame is also a favorite of mine. There are so many to choose from and also probably many other musicians I use on the site that I don't know about.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: They both have their place. My favorite music was all recorded to tape and it really called for the artists to be ON when they were cutting albums. For me, I'm a digital guy. The world has a shorter attention span and artists have to be constantly creating and releasing music. At any given time I have dozens of projects in different states of creation. With digital, the possibilities are endless.

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

A: To communicate clearly and treat every project like it's my own.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Being constantly immersed in making music. I also love playing a final version for an artist and seeing how proud they are of what they created.

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

A: Usually who have you worked with? Or can you make me sound like... insert famous artist here.

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

A: I think the market has gotten so saturated with bedroom producers that is hard to be seen and stand out. Sometimes we creatives get lumped in with people just having a good time. Don't get me wrong I LOVE MY JOB, but there are some of us who treat it like the business it is and want to be professional.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: How much do you want me involved? What is my roll in the project? Producer only? Artistic contributor? It's important to have clear communication before any project is started.

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

A: I would say the most important thing is to make sure they listen to what you want. If you want the producer to take it and run, tell them that. If you want them to really involve you in the process, be clear on that as well. Also be open to the fact that many artists want their songs to "sound like" a certain song - and there are so many variables to a song that it is often hard to make that happen. Be open to what the producer is telling you about what elements make sense and which ones dont.

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

A: My custom acoustic guitar (Kinscherff) A computer and UAD apollo. Probably my Mojave MA201 mic and some Senheisser HD600 headphones.

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

A: I've always been in music since I can remember. I used to play weddings and festivals with my Dad when I was younger. I moved to Nashville in 2009 and have been doing it professionally since 2010. I have done everything from touring with a band to playing writers nights, playing in the studio and producing music. I've taught lessons and written jingles. All of it brings me joy.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Organic, singer songwriter, melodic, clean and intentional.

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

A: I mentioned these names before, but I would love to work with Ryan Tedder. He is just a hit maker unlike any of heard. I would also love to work with John Mayer. I think he is a brilliant artist that has made epic records over his career, each one different from the last. One of my favorites of all time. I think my biggest would be to work with James Taylor. He is one of my biggest writing and guitar influences and he makes me look at music a different way.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: One of my biggest tips is to take your time. One thing that seems so obvious but isn't always, is to make sure everything is in time AND in tune. Often times artists elect to use friends or their own musicians and while that sometimes captures a magic - other times it can bring the track down. I recommend investing in experienced studio musicians whenever possible.

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

A: The majority of what I do is in the country and americana genre. I love organic and acoustic driven music, but I also have a soft spot for pop and love that modern country is fuzing the genres and doing a good job of it.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is probably writing and singing. But I've worked over the last ten hone my guitar, mixing, and production skills. Watching my heroes and mentors become some of my peers has been so amazing. I love the Nashville pro network and feel very grateful to be a part of it.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I like to go all in with my projects. I listen to music with a producers ear and take note of the things I like and love learning how to deliver whats hot with my own twist. I understand the anatomy of a song and can help steer it in the right direction. As a writer and session musician myself, I can come at production with more than just a sonic approach. I don't want to just finish a project, I want to make it the best it can be.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: If I'm just doing overdubs or session work for another producer, I go out to my studio with a cup of coffee and just get down to business. If I'm tracking a record, there is much more prep. Doing preproduction with the artist, making charts, hiring the proper studio musicians, setting input list and getting each session ready. Then its go time when its time for downbeat.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a studio on my property with a nice cozy setup. I have a beautiful red Pearl drum kit from the 80s that I've had tuned and are always ready to track. I have a couple apollo rack units for inputs and own most of the Universal Audio plugins. I have MANY guitars and auxiliary stringed instruments hanging on the wall ready to make things interesting. I use focal studio monitors for mixing and love tracking with various musicians in my space.

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

A: There are so many. Genre specific, for country I love what Dave Cobb and Jay Joyce are doing with organic sounds. But I'm also a sucker for Dan Huff clean and perfect track as well. In pop music, I'm a HUGE Ryan Tedder fan. I think he is a brilliant writer and just a prolific hit maker. My current favorite artists and song writers are: Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Sara Bareilles, Tori Kelly, and John Mayer. My all time favorite song writer and who I humbly believe is the best there has ever been is the iconic Joni Mitchell.

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

A: The majority of my work is producing music for songwriters and recording artists. Sometimes just a nice guitar vocal track for pitching purposes all the way up to radio ready release for recording artists. I also do quite a bit of session work, guitar and vocals for other producers.