Rock & Pop Music Producer

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

A: The most common question is: how effective and smooth is working remotely? The answer is that although it is not exactly the same as in person, it also has great advantages, such as not having to waste time traveling to do a work session, or also the fact that you work when inspiration is there. active, 100%, no time is wasted trying to produce the song when the energy is not active, that and other things. But ultimately I had and have great production experiences working in this way and the artists are really happy when they finish the work, and that is the greatest achievement for me.

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

A: The Sun Makers without a doubt. It is the band in which I can experiment without limitations, and the result of the synergy with the musicians makes amazing things come out. Here i fulfilled several roles, Musical Producer, Composer, Singer, Guitarist, Keyboards, Mixing and Mastering Engineer.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently producing a complete song for an amazing songwriter, who has a fantastic song on her hands, we are about to record vocals and mix and master. In parallel I am mixing the latest song by the band The Sun Makers, a very good one by the way. And I'm also producing a song for an alternative rock band that, after producing an album they released last year, trusted me again to release a new single.

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

A: I couldn't name a single one, there are renowned artists on Soundbetter and it's crazy to have the chance to work with them, the best in the world, working for your music, that's amazing!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both, each one has its advantages and you have to take advantage of them.

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

A: That I will give 100% of my abilities, creativity and that I will pour all my experience so that your musical dreams and expectations come true.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Music production allows me to release 100% of my creative energy, which is a lot! That's fascinating to me, there are moments when I'm composing songs or producing a song and I feel like I'm in a room where there is no time or space, only music. It is incredible to me, I am blessed by the life that this profession gave me.

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

A: It is very common to confuse the Music Producer with the mixing engineer or the mastering engineer; sometimes clients tend to believe that music production includes all professional services and many times this is not the case. Although many producers know how to mix and master songs, these services must be budgeted separately because they are different jobs, and clients must take this into account.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: First, what does the song refer to and what does it represent for them? Then how do you imagine the finished song. And also what artists do you like or if they have any songs or albums that you have as a reference for this new song, whether in audio, or in aesthetics, or just for its mood.

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

A: Let them first take the trouble to listen to music produced by these producers, and then start a conversation about music and vision about the song they want to work on. There you already realize whether or not there is "feeling" or if they are on the same page.

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

A: Shure SM7B, Apollo Twin, Macbook Pro, A midi keyboard/controller, and an Spanish Guitar.

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

A: Although I have been making music since I was 15 years old (and I am 37) playing guitar, bass or drums, singing, but I could say that I have been working as a producer for 15 years, since I formed my first professional rock band, and started meeting artists that They asked me to collaborate on their albums or to produce songs for them, or to work with them preparing their songs for their albums.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My productions are emotional, with a lot of atmosphere, but also concise and powerful. I always look for strong contrasts in the music, and I think that makes the music I produce have a "brand" so to speak. Likewise, I always try to ensure that there is not so much of my imprint on my music, but that the artist can express what he feels or thinks, that is the most important thing. I usually give a lot of freedom to the artist, I don't put creative barriers on myself and I'm very communicative, so that's part of my style too.

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

A: First "Paramore", it happens to me that every time I listen to their music I feel a great synchronicity in judgment and their ideas seem great to me, I feel comfortable with the genre. Second "Artic Monkeys", I think they have spectacular ideas and they are constantly renewing themselves and that inspires me and awakens my creativity, we would make a great team. And thirdly with "Lady Gaga", I would make a pop rock album with her that I'm sure would be crazy, she is incredible and pushes the limits of creativity constantly.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The secret to success in production is learning to listen, but learning to really listen to what is happening in the music and with the artist behind the performance. Assured success.

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

A: Although I get hired a lot to work on all rock subgenres (alternative, hard rock, indie, punk) and Songwriters, I also work a lot with Pop and contemporary R&B artists.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creativity and practicality without a doubt.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My goal as a producer is to polish the diamond, not create it. This is why I make an effort to see what is really in the songs, to bring out what is there, trying to shine, trying to come out. That is my job, to maximize the ideas, concepts and emotions that are in the music or that the artist feels, with all the tools that I have at my disposal and the knowledge and experience that these almost 20 years of career have given me.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The first step is very important and is the dialogue with the artist, to try to interpret their desires and goals with their new work. Once the direction and the artistic concept were established, I took a few days to make a demo of the song, to show the artist and see if we are on the same page. If everything is ok, I proceed with the recording of all the instruments and the production itself, and if the artist is a singer, in parallel we work on the voices, the melodic lines, the expressiveness, and looking for the guidelines so that the vocal recording is the best possible. Once the track with the music is finished, I send it to the artist so that we can make the last adjustments that are required before moving on to the mixing process. And finally, many artists also usually leave me in charge of mixing the material, so we continue in fluid dialogue to complete this task and get the maximum potential of the song, ending with mastering that I do in my studio. This way of working is the best for me because I can take safe steps since I am in direct contact with the artist, a real teamwork.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: In my studio I have a Motu 1248 interface which has incredible converters that allow me to get the most out of my set of 4 ART PRO MPA tube preamps (with high-end tubes) and 4 API clone preamps, which are fantastic too, added to the 4 pre of the Motu. I also have an ART VLA II Optical Valve compressor, excellent for mix bus or mastering. And in microphones a little bit of everything, several Shure SM57 and 58, Beta 52, AKG D112, a matched pair of Rode Nt5 and Nt1 (beautiful old version), among others. And I also have an acoustically treated environment to respect the natural sounds of the instruments and voices. And I have a Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II XL+ Impulse Response Digital Amplifier, with which I can achieve any guitar sound in a very natural and forceful way, incredible equipment.

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

A: I adore and admire multifaceted musicians like Dave Grohl (Nirvana-Foo Fighters), Sting (The Police) or Jacob Collier, and also producers who put the artistic above all, like Rick Rubin, Butch Vig, Max Martin, amazing people .

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

A: The work that is most requested of me is the production of complete songs, from the creation of the music to the recording of all the instruments. Also with mixing and mastering included. Luckily it is the job that I enjoy the most and in which I perform best.