Producer, Mixer, Remixer

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

A: I worked on music anonymously, and everyone thought it was a project by a famous electronic duo. It sold quite a lot of copies. I composed and arranged everything, and then mixed and mastered everything. It ended up on vinyl and was sold by a large electronic music label

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: 3 different albums, and mixing some tracks for another artist. I'm also sending music for Sync.

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

A: No. I'm new here.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, because I love the ability to recall patches, setups etc.....but virtual analogue is becoming indistinguishable as computers increase in power each year. The lines are becoming more blurred.

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

A: I don't make promises. Sometimes a promise can't be fulfilled, due to unforeseen circumstances. I'll work to the very best of my ability.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: No 2 days are ever the same. I never have creative block, ever, and I never have off-days. Sound is inexhaustible, and for that reason, I'm never bored with it.

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

A: I tend to get asked when I'm releasing more music. My answer is always "very soon"

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

A: That I'm a DJ. I'm not a DJ. They generally just play tracks. I make them from scratch.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: what is your goal ? How do you hear this in your head ? What reference tracks can you point me to, to give me an idea of what you're going for ?

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

A: Please be down to earth. Just be yourself

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

A: A generator with additional solar panels, otherwise nothing else is going to work. My djembe, my Ibanez electric bass, MY NI Mikro drum machine, my mobile phone as I can make and record music on it, and it's light enough that it won't sink the boat I'd build as soon as I sit down in it.

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

A: My career path has always been music. I've had other jobs, but was never interested in jumping through hoops for managers and getting an employee of the month badge. The best part of every job I've ever had was getting home to work on my real career....music.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Interesting cutting edge melodic electronica. The tempos vary as I've done everything from ambient, to acid house, and everything in-between. Strong melodies are important. I attempt to make music that people will want to play on repeat, because the melodies hook them

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

A: I know he's no longer with us, but I would've loved to have worked with Prince, because the guy was a genius and a music machine, and an absolute perfectionist that I would have learned so much from. I'd love to work with Roisin Murphy from Moloko as she has such an eclectic approach and makes really unique songs, and has such a great voice.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Colour everything, and use the same colours for every single track. The second you load a track in, you'll instantly know exactly what every part is without even needing to hear it. Its a great time-saver.

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

A: I usually make music that's a combination of melodically strong, interesting, cutting edge electronic music and Detroit Techno.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I can't read or write music, but I can instinctively understand melody and the harmonies that will go along with it, and have a great sense of rhythm and can tell when something is even fractionally off

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I understand how to write a good catchy melody. I understand groove and rhythm. I like to think that after creating 500 tracks of my own that I now know what is important in a song structure.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It depends on the nature of the project, as mixing a track for a client is different to doing a remix, which requires less input from the client. When mixing for a client, it's important to listen to what the client wants...to what they hear in their head, and their references. Then i'll listen to the track and take a lot of notes for things that jump out at me on first impression, along with knowing what needs to be emphasized, or de-emphasized until the track is balanced.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have only what I need, and most of the hardware is made by Native Instruments and Behringer. I am a serious VST collector, and if you can think of it, I probably own it. It's very much an obsession.

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

A: I listen to all kinds of music, and listen to anything from Japanese singer Meiko Kaji, to Cuban samba, to Prokofiev, to Warpaint, Audioslave, Boards of Canada, or even Pavarotti. There's great music everywhere, in most genres. I draw the line at yodelling though....

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

A: I've done a bit of everything, and whether it's remixing a track, mixing from stems, or mastering, I enjoy all of it, and never have off-days.