Remote Indie-Pop Mixing

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

A: I'm so proud of one of my earlier projects when I recorded a band live in the basement of the house. A full EPs worth! I only had 8 tracks on my interface, so I had to get creative with the signal flow, but it all worked out nicely and the client loved the mixes. You can find the EP on streaming platforms. It's called, "Great Grey Owl" by Jessa Campbell.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I've been working on a project by a collaborative group called Postures. You can see what their up to on Instagram @posturesmusicnw. I will also be releasing a ton of solo material under the names T Kingrey(indie-pop), and King Rey(Ambient/Noise/Electronic)

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

A: Aaron Olsen and Paul Harrison are both great engineers whom I know are on Soundbetter. When I come across any others I'll be sure to give them a shoutout!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: We live in an age where the reliability of digital and the characteristics of analog are becoming more immeshed. We are now able to digital capture the characteristics of our analog gear which benefits not only the sound, but also makes our workflow more efficient.

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

A: I will provide exactly what I've committed to provide you.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love creating new sonic experiences and working with new songs. It's like raising a child!

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

A: Q: Do you master? A: I can provide a finalized product for you. However, I always recommend clients consider hiring a dedicated mastering engineer. Q: Do you use analog gear? A: I do have and use analog gear, but my primary workflow is done "in-the-box".

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

A: Often mix engineer can be mistaken as a music producer. Though mix engineers can provide extra services for you, are primary is to take the material you have given us and use a variety of techniques to help create an appropriate sonic space for your work of art.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Why would you choose me to be your mix engineer? What inspired the music you want mixed? Is there a particular sound from a work of music that you want to replicate?

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

A: Go with a mixing engineer who's material you really like. Don't put the dollar amount first in your decision making process. Make $ your final box to tick.

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

A: an acoustic guitar, novation rhythm tracks, pcm handheld recorder, an sm57, and pencil & notebook(the two make one, right?).

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

A: I began as a musician in various projects playing guitar, drums, keys, and singing lead and backup. I've always self recorded and have been obsessed with using sound like paint on a canvas, blending colors and creating imagery. Along with working in the live production world, I've been doing this for just over 9 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Big ambient and full, yet clear.

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

A: I'd love to work with anyone who is creating indie pop, like Twiceyoung and From Indian Lakes. I'm also working on some projects currently that have hints of Softcult, Superheaven, and Modern Color. I love the combination of heavy and ambient.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Label, label, label! It is so key to be as organized as possible when you are producing a project. This not only helps you create more efficiently, but if you are going to bring in a mixing engineer it will really insure that your music is being handled the way you want it to be.

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

A: Punk rock, pop rock, ambient electronic, indie-pop.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I am very meticulous and this not only manifests in the technical, but also brings my attention to the emotional content of a piece, caring for every movement, every word, and to what is trying to be expressed by the artist.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: As long as the door is open, I bring my creative perspective with me when I listen to a song. If a song could use a little more spice or substance in certain areas, I like to let the client know. I really care about people’s creative ideas. I'm also a songwriter and I can help advise and contribute to the writing process.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: After I've received and organized a rock project using on of my mix templates, I begin to find a balance that satisfies the client's vision and my professional tastes. For rock projects, I stick to the conventions mostly as far as what to prioritize, but I enjoy being experimental. I’m easily inspired and I want to see each project meet it’s potential as time and budgets allow.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I come from a very DIY background. So the home studio setup is mostly how I roll these days. I’m an Antelope Audio and Focusrite user. I use both Logic and Pro Tools interchangeably, but I do most of my mixing in Pro Tools these days. I use some analog outboard gear and I even have a 1/4” reel-to-reel that I like to bust out every now and again for special moments.

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

A: Lately, I’ve been digging the bands Tigercub and Turnstile. Radiohead will always be at the very top of my list of artists who have inspired me the most. I love what producer/engineers Vance Powell, Tchad Blake and Shawn Everett have done and are still doing.

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

A: Over the past 8+years I’ve been filling a number of different roles for clients. From tracking vocals and live bands to mixing and mastering for local independent artists in my region of the Pacific Northwest. Collaboration is a major aspect of my style and I’ve had the privilege of coming along side a handful of artists to aid in obtaining a satisfactory end product for their vision.