Mixing Engineer and Producer

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: digital. The new sound of todays up and coming music is all digital sounding. Digital plugins that were modeled after analog ones do a great job with just the click of a mouse. Digital is more logical and cohesive with most sessions I do day to day.

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

A: I promise to make your music sound the best I can possibly make it sound.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I can get easily inspired whenever I want to. I also can work from home and do everything on my computer.

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

A: How did you get good at your instrument? - Be obsessed with an artist and try to copy them. How do I produce a song well? - Spend hours on your daw making music until you know your sounds and plugins like the back of your hand.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What first got you into music? What are your expectations in the music industry?

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

A: Be patient and have fun with it. I will work WITH you not for you. Together we can change the sonic landscape...

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

A: Interface, Midi Keyboard, Monitors, Desktop, Headphones. (All the processing I need would be on my computer)

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

A: I have doing this for about 4 years now. I went to school for audio engineering and it was not until I graduated that I thought I would want to do this for rest of my life. I hope to work with many artists and help them exploit their talents and grow as a person.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: When making a song, it is quick and to the point. If something does not work, do not try and make it fit with the song. Take out the element and try something else. I have learned not to force things. If something feels forced I immediately omit it.

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

A: An unrealistic choice would be Harry Styles. I love the production and recording on his most recent album and would love to make a record with songs as good as that, someday.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: The easiest thing you can do, when producing a song, is take advice from someone else. I have gotten great advice from many different people when working on a song. It could be the artist themselves, my roommate, girlfriend, mom or dad. Music is subjective and getting insight from everyone is a great way to simplify things and think outside the box.

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

A: Recently I have been working Electronic music (House, Uk Garage). My musical background is in rock and singer songwriter type music so I am always keen to those genres as well.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creating melodies and instrumental parts of a song. I can come up with a vocal melody or a guitar part very quickly.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring listenability to a song. Artist have really good ideas, I just make sure the idea is translated into a "language" everyone can understand. Whether you are listening to their song in your car or in your apartment, I make sure the emotion is translated between each medium.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When producing a song with an artist I usually like to the start the session by listening to some music. This helps to get the vibe going and keeps both of us inspired. After the vibes are good I will let the artist play a song they have brought to me or we will start to make something up on the spot. If I am mixing a song for an artist I will start by organizing my session (i.e. group all the drums, synths, vocals, bass, gtrs, etc.). I then will gain stage the tracks, edit/comp the tracks where needed, then get a rough mix and start to add processing.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a sound treated room, a pair of Adam Audio t7vs as well as Rockit KRK 7s. I use a dual input UAD apollo interface and I am also subscribed to the UAD Spark. For producing I use a keystation 49 by M-Audio. The UAD spark provides me with great synths like the mini MOOG, Opal Morphing Synth, and PolyMAX synth. I use those for most songs that I work on.

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

A: Disclosure's song breakdowns have been a huge inspiration for my production and creativity. Musically I have been influenced by guitar players such as John Mayer, Jerry Garcia, and Jimi Hendrix. A professor in college showed me Eric Valentine and his youtube videos/mix process has been a huge inspiration for me.

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

A: I co-write, produce, mix and master songs for my clients.