Mixer Drummer Synther more!

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

A: Destroyer - ken I was the producer, engineer and mixer on this album. I collaborated with Dan Bejar, who is Destroyer, on every sonic element of this album. A whole host of the things I can do are displayed here -- coming up with arrangements, recording them, playing a bunch of instruments, and mixing the end result.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I love them both, and ultimately it's whatever you have and whatever gets the job done in a satisfying way!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love getting to immerse myself in sound on a daily basis!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I want to know if a client has any song references that could inform the overall direction. Also I like to ask the client to describe the sound they want -- is it spacious? Tight? Intimate? Dense? Anything that helps me to get to what you are hearing faster.

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

A: I've been playing in bands my whole life, mostly drumming, but more recently I've been playing piano and synths. I got my big break playing in a band called Black Mountain. We recorded a bunch of our first album ourselves, and then got to work in incredible studios like Sunset Sound and Avast later on in our career. Inspired by those spaces, I really took to the recording process and always found myself being involved in any of my bands' recordings, whether it was from the ground up or just doing some overdubs. Eventually, I set up a project studio and have been at it ever since. I've been drumming for 35 years, engineering recordings for about 15 years, and started mixing 7 years ago.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Follow your gut, do what makes you happy, don't get too caught up in what someone else says is right and wrong!

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

A: I've worked on a lot of music that incorporates rock band and electronic elements. I love the sound of real drums and synthesizers working together! But I've also worked with a bunch of artists that play gentle, folky pop, and I love getting that warm sound for them and highlighting a voice. But really I am up for anything, because I like to learn and expand my horizons. I recently had the opportunity to record a psychedelic cumbia group, and it was so fun learning how to combine all the percussive elements for the foundation of this incredible music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is arrangement, and I feel I bring this to the table, even when I'm mixing another person's production work. I always try to think about what is important at any given moment; what needs to come through and what needs to be supporting it. I like to visualize the sound in terms of a stage and position the performers in the space, so that the moment is perfect.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to start a mix, get in in a good rough place without too much fuss, then come back to it the next day to complete the fine work of volume automation, detailed effects and tone shaping. Then I will leave and come back as many times as it takes to get it just right, listening on many different sources. I find perspective to be the thing that really helps me to know what to do.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: It's a one room studio with a professional DAW-based mix setup. Mostly in the box, but I do use outboard effects like my Korg tape echo, 1176-type compressor, WARM Audio tube equalizer, and Neve Satellite summing mixer. My room is also big enough to facilitate recording drums and I have a good selection of mics and mic preamps - six CAPI pres, one Retro 500, one Great River, 2 Chandler Germanium pres. I have some guitar amps and a bass rig for reamping. Also a bunch of keyboards: Wurlitzer electric piano, Farfisa Compact Combo, Sequential Prophet 600, Univox MiniKorg 2, Behringer Poly D, Korg Poly 61, Korg CX-3 Hammond clone, Korg SV-2 Stage Piano, Nord Electro, and many pedals!

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

A: Conny Plank, Kate Bush, Giorgio Moroder, John Leckie, Prince, John Congleton

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

A: I often mix songs that others have recorded, and add any elements they need to complete their vision, such as live drums, percussion or synths. And I love doing all of that!