Remote Pop & Rock Mixing

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

A: I produced a showcase that was maybe over $100,000 production wise. As an undergraduate student at the time, being able to say that I made this show happen and booked the artists and still know and work with them, is super cool. Here's the YouTube link if you're interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qebeoNB-x0

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on portfolio pieces right now. Whether it be mixing or sound design, those both bring me a lot of joy. Feel free to ask about them by the way I'm more than happy to tell you about them.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Oh gosh that's a big question. There's always warmness about analog that I love that digital can never quite get right. But yet again digital takes up no room (other than my hard drive which is begging for more space). If I had the room and the money I'd go analog, but digital works just fine :)

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

A: I promise to be honest with you. I'm a guy who thinks honesty is the best policy and in the music realm I think there's a lot of yes men. If you want to know something I'll be honest with you because you deserve honesty, trust a professionalism.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get to be part of something bigger than myself. I've always been told that you should leave something better than how you found it. I think that's a big part of who I am as a person.

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

A: I think the biggest misconception is that what I do is easy. Don't get me wrong it's not like rocket science or anything (because let's face it I'm too dumb to be one), but audio engineering requires you to listen. We as people hear, we don't listen. Close your eyes and take a second to really listen to your surroundings. Tell me what you're listening to. The listening bit requires our utmost attention and that is what we do every day, all the time.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What artists are your inspirations in terms of your music?/What sound design is your inspiration in terms of your project? What's the coolest bit of your project to you, the part you're super excited to share with the world, and how do you wanna go about highlighting it?

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

A: It's okay to ask questions! In fact I encourage them! I think audio engineering and the process of mixing a song is one that should be educational and should be truly unique experience.

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

A: Oh gosh. Assuming there's power I'd take a Neumann KM 184, my kalimba, my omnichord, my ukulele and my laptop and I'd be set. I'd record the birds, the waves, the swaying of the trees and be the best loft artist in the world. Too bad no now would know I was on that island though,

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

A: This is my career path. I'm currently a Master's Student and have working in and out of studios ever since high school. I like freelancing because it gives me the freedom to do what I wanna do and make new connections.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I'd describe it as neat. If a mix needs subtle it needs subtly, if need some extra oomph then that what it needs. My style is to cater to other styles and accent on the best parts of those styles and use what makes them unique.

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

A: Laufey. 100%. That would be a dream come true. To work with her alone or with a symphony? That would be awesome.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Color your reverb. Why just use a standard reverb when you eq it and get something much more desirable out of it?

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

A: I like pop and rock. I'm really starting to get into jazz mixing too!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I have really sensitive ears so usually I hear things that no one else does. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I try and make sure that no matter what I'm working on that it has to be perfect.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a new perspective. I write music in my downtime and I've toured before as part of an a cappella group, so I am very familiar with the music world and its own landscape along with music composition. Along with this I also do post production and I think any engineer should learn any aspect of audio engineering and put that to good use.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When it comes to mixing I personally try and limit how much I solo something, because overall it's all about how it blends together versus individually. I'll work big first and then get narrow and go small.

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

A: Ben Folds really inspires me from a lyrical and compositional standpoint. Queen has also been a huge inspiration to me. Currently though in the current music landscape KALEO and Laufey have been huge inspirations.

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

A: I mostly do mixing and mastering for my clients. I do some comping, vocal tuning, and give feedback also to my clients.