UK/NL Top 40 Songwriter + More

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Digital for convenience and ease of use coupled with analog for sound. That's why I use outboard preamps when recording and an analog summing mixer that gets closer to a console sound. Digital can work better for electronic music but it still feels a little cold and clinical at times.

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

A: To take their music to the next level, as in molding, polishing, fixing things that might seem like weaknesses. Bringing out the best in a song and the musicians/tracks recorded.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Brining my creativity and energy to a project and collaborating with people I may never meet in person, creating something amazing, better than I or they could have alone. Creating music that moves and uplifts people is my favorite thing overall.

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

A: That anyone with a setup/gear can record or mix or produce a record.

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

A: Be clear with what you want and are looking for or ask questions if you don't know. It's worth it to spend that $50 or $100, etc more on a mix for better quality. This is your music, and it will likely stay online forever if ever released! Invest in it. Don't skimp. Don't eat out a few times and spend more on your music! Haha

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

A: 15 years. Songwriting and recording since high school. Mixing since college, etc.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: If a song sounds good with just one instrument, then you don't need to overproduce. Simpler with the right parts/instruments is often better. Spend the time on the arrangement and try different things. Don't be afraid to test ideas. Better to have more ideas than less and then not use some when it comes to mixing. Listen with your heart, close your eyes. Hire great musicians and a great mix engineer and your record can sound like a million bucks!

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

A: Acoustic, Pop, Dance, Urban, Country. Anything but hard hip hop and heavy metal :)

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Getting a song, mix, production to feel good, feel right, do what it's supposed to do! :)

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My ears, my heart, my talent. I LOVE music and to me it's not a mental or technical process. While those elements can tie in, music for me is based on feeling and emotion.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: MIXING: I listen to the song first with general volumes set and decide what the main focus is and start with that, but I'm always switching and listening to tracks alone and in context of the whole song. I use my ears and my heart when working on music....if it feels right and good, I am doing my job :) I then always check mixes etc in the car and with different headphones.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: New Black Apollo 8 summing into a Vintage Maker Neumann summing amp/unit with Haufe transformers.

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

A: Online work: Mixing and Mastering. In person work: Co-writing (I am a UK top 40 and Netherlands Top 40 songwriter), Vocal producing, Mixing...

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Mixing 2 projects and songwriting with DJs and Producers all over the world as both a singer and for other singers.