Digital Sound Designer/Vocals

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both; For me it’s best to be adaptable and knowledgeable in understanding both concepts. My belief is “Can’t go wrong by being versatile.”

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: It would have to be, What is your overall goal in what you (as an independent creator) would like to accomplish and what visionary approach you see yourself taking with your future projects.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I don’t necessarily focus on my strongest skill sets. I primarily challenge my weaknesses in order to understand where I stand towards supplying my skill sets with others.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Inspiration. Like any other artist, lyricist, composer, vocalist, sound technician, etc who follow and disperse positive influences. Granted there are illegitimate and unethical patterns even though they publish different point of views, which I respect their belief systems; However I choose to direct projects that are morally based on rational and logical principles. In addition I have work with certain projects that are subjected to fictional illustrations. By the way this is in reference towards idealized concepts when authoring. Ultimately it is the listener who would put it into their own perspective terms on what it means to them.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: If shared, then someone else would gain or profit from my process and attempt to replicate. Can’t classify yourself as “unique” if someone else is harvesting and capitalize from your ethics and procedures.

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

A: Honestly there aren’t any promises that should be made, because sometimes you achieve the clients requests and sometimes you miss the mark. I’ve been in contractual negotiations where projects work smoothly where in other cases you or the team fail to successfully comply with their expectations which is unfortunate. Because I see it as a challenge in facing those obstacles in determining if they can be achieved. Pushing those complexities can provide an overall benefit from those challenges, in addition while obtaining experience, knowledge and even have a overall understanding towards your skill sets and possibly become more effective than what you originally thought you could become. But in the long run if the team are incapable of fulfilling those obligations all funds would be redirected back to the client and as a courtesy, I would provide a recommendation or referral to another experienced provider that would be beneficial towards what the client is targeting.

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

A: No unfortunately I do not have a reliable and reputable supplier. I’ve had my own techniques in which worked for sometime without utilizing social media sites, but for awhile I needed to adapt into engaging on social sites, so I’m pretty optimistic on networking with others.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Working with others on the creative processes. To be able to collaborate, discuss, and develop ideas and just really having fun with it; is by far the best part of the career. Honestly it’s not a job nor a career if you are passionate and carry the love for what we do for others. When you’re working with the right people who share the same values, understanding, principles, mutual respect and beliefs I think the creation of making tracks or even just sitting around and discussing ideas for lyrics has its benefits. it’s pretty amazing what conversations take place (laughing). A stress free environment is the way to go in my book.

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

A: I think it would be, the representation of how I put either the mixes, remixes, or tracks in combination especially lyrically where most people would overly analyze them. We live in a society where listeners over embellish what they hear, sometimes they create a story out of it, I mean honestly they literally just run with what they listen too and create a controversy because they enjoy the drama they create within their own fantasy mindset. It’s disturbing. But on the bright side it can be a beautiful disaster where you get to witness something spectacular happen when you’re surrounded by positive emotions in celebration when they feel your vibes.

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

A: I would have to say aside from the traditional questions, it would most likely be “who have you worked with?” Or “have I heard of your work?” Most people don’t recognize that they’re tons of artists, master producers, digital techs, lyricists out there who aren’t popular by social standards because for the things they do is not about being popular nor famous, or if you don’t make ““X” amount of money”, or if your not known publicly then who are you really? they give you that questionable look, or the rolling of the eyes; you know. But I’ve had the privilege of working with creative developers and their teams where it was mostly about the message or the creation of the music, which honestly I believe sets us apart from what the rest represent. Don’t get me wrong not insinuating anything negative about other artists which for the most part they crave the vanity, fame, the attention, and so on. I just don’t represent myself that way. Sometimes it’s just business to put on a gimmick to capture the audience and listeners attention, but realistically that’s not our persona.

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

A: Oh Geez; Really? are we actually doing this right now? (Laughing).. I think I’ll pass on this question if you don’t mind.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Various compositions with various artists.

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

A: Traditionally my career path was more in the lines of being behind the scenes, applying my unique methods in assisting other musicians to come up with different styles and variations of rhythmic tempos, lyrical statements, etc.. but now it has become differentiated, where I had to alter my approach and be much more versatile and design something entirely new and authentic. I’ve been working on my professional career for about 15 + years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Nostalgic

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

A: I’m all about worldwide music making, the more challenging the better. However even though I’ve always had a deep passion and appreciation for all sorts of genres I would have to say a crossover between hip hop, r&b, techno, trance, house. I think those are my strongest qualities that I’ve been working on.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: For HomeStations: Pioneer DDJ-1000SRT Digital Turntables (poss. switch over to the Rev7) with rekordbox sub controller and other components. Subwoofer w/ PA loudspeakers For Travel: Pioneer XDJ-XZ iPad with digital applications and sound mixers. Digital turntable display with digital controllers. Programs Used: Mixcraft & PreSonus, Algorithm Platform, Ampify, MixVibez; in addition to alternative platform systems.

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

A: Too many to list honestly, I mean I grew up in an era where music was the highlight and probably at its peak. I was educated at a young age about all sorts of music genres and the entertainer’s,artist,producers,writers, etc. From the roaring 20’s and up.