Singer, Composer, Topliner

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

A: My covers are my own spin on songs. Indie, which gives me flexibility. I try to do as many kpop covers as I can, but also many songs from lots of genres starting with the 1960s through now.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill will be my singing abilities. I can create different moods with just my vocals.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Not only do I have skills in playing and singing in groups, I have spent decades listening to everythinng from the Beatles, to Stiff Records, to Destiny's Child, to New Order, to the Faint have given me a near-infinite pool of inspiration to draw from. I understand a lot of the music theory behind what makes the difference between a boring song and a catchy tune.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Pick a song I want to cover. Start with drum loops which I usually mix a few and delete lots of sounds I don't like or change sounds. Sometimes I create drum loops by playing several separate tracks or by drawing in a 2 bar loop and varying it. I pick a key that works for my voice and feel out my new tempo. I then start with lead vocals and next I play out the bassline of the verse. I record very short vocal sections at a time until I have a complete verse. I then go back and add pads, arpeggios, winds/strings/guitars, and lastly backing vocals. I repeat section by section and actually wouldn't "comp' the vocals til after all parts of the song are complete. This is because with a cover song it is very important to decide how to change the phrasing and to practice the new cover song and then go back with lead vocals to comp them, then go back again and comp backing vocals. Then time to do a lot of listening tests: car speakers, monitors, phone speakers, etc.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Macbook Air with the m2 chip, ableton live, scarlett solo suite, akai mpk, pop filter & sound dampener.

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

A: I have been singing, playing instruments, and listening to countless genres of music for decades. I have over 100 examples of my work reimagining original songs. I can do everything from singing to playing synths. If you want to work on a cover song and have it dazzle in a new light, I am the person to work with.

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

A: My cover songs I am proudest of are "Levanter" by Stray Kids, "Dynamite" by BTS, "The Bike Song" by Mark Ronson, and "Ask The Angels" by Patti Smith.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I have 15 instrumental songs written in ableton in the past few weeks. Several are so catchy that they would make the most amazing title tracks.

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

A: I recently met Krysta Youngs through networking, and she makes truly inspiring art.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: My goal is to create an analog sound digitally. Digital. I played the cello for years, and I sang in choir for years. I just love how much fun it is to hear and create things from midi controllers and sophisticated effects on samples.

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

A: I love music of so many genres and I will work tenaciously to make our collaboration a success.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the feeling when I walk away from a song I have finished for a few days and hear it again and it sounds good to my ears.

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

A: People are surprised at how many songs I have covered. (125 so far)

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

A: When people think of "cover songs" they are probably not thinking of someone who remakes or reimagines full arrangements of a song. There are so many ways a song could be shaped and come out sounding like a different work of art.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I would try to find out what type of music is their favorite, what they are passionate about listening to, what they have released before, and what are they wanting to create now and in the future.

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

A: Go over to my soundcloud page and click on latest tracks. If you see a song title or thumbnail image you recognize, click on the song and see if you like my version.

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

A: My AKAI MPK, an expensive Macbook with high ram, an Avanton CV-12 mic, one nice preamp, and a nice set of studio monitors.

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

A: Over 2 years ago I downloaded Music Studio app just to play with it. I figured out I could make little songs in it. Then I figured out I could make whole entire songs with it. I just kept going. I was in the learning process, and I just kept going. I would hear a song I was working on and think it sounded just ok , but then I would drive aroundlisten to it again and realize I like it. I have since made over 100 cover versions of songs you may know!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My personal style I would describe as space orchestra elecro-rock.

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

A: I am a huge fan of many music artists. Dream artists would be any major kpop group or up-and-coming kpop group or soloists. I know this could limit me, but I feel passionate about this genre.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Try laying down some vocals (after creating an intro and looping out drums for your "click track") before adding in your bass and other instruments when writing a song. This way you can use your ears as you are making your first section to pick instruments that really compliment the singer's voice and the vibe of the song.

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

A: lyre group, charlotte wilson, krysta youngs, versachoi, wonstein, dj raiden, lna does audio stuff, taetro, seids