Grammy Award winning Mixer

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

A: There's a bunch but Hayes Carll's "Little Rock" comes to mind. It's a great record that went from "What are you doing tomorrow?" to finished within 2 weeks!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Resurrecting a spacey rock project we started 20 years ago.

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

A: Dillon Napier...because he's one of the best humans and drummers Ive ever met.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital mostly by nature of modern workflow and availability. Analog is the most fun, but its not always possible to have all the humans in the same room as the machines which is how analog works best.

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

A: I genuinely care about making the best music possible.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Seeing dreams become realities...and the people.

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

A: Whats your rate? How much ya got? I kid:)

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

A: That I just sit in a chair listening to music all day.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: If you're dreaming big, what does this look, feel, and sound like to you?

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

A: Have a conversation about it.

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

A: Water de-salinator, tent, lighter, rations, and a sat phone. Because you can't eat, drink, or get shelter from an 8068.

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

A: I attended C.R.A.S. after high school thinking I would do live sound but found I liked air conditioning and rewind. I eventually started working at Oceanway Nashville where I was able to learn from some of the best producers and engineers in the world. While working at Oceanway, I was also recording and producing bands outside of work. One of those bands was a local rock outfit called Stateside. Members of that band went on to back Ryan Adams in both the Pink Hearts and the Cardinals while others have seen great success with solo careers and as producers. During that time I met steel player and producer Bucky Baxter (Steve Earle, Bob Dylan). This began my independent career and marked a bit of an exodus from Music Row and the commercial studio scene.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Modern Organic

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

A: I'd love to record Justin Timberlake with a huge live band because I think it would be a blast!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Listen...to both the music and the artist.

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

A: Roots music mostly. Americana, singer/songwriter, classic country, and rock.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Bringing the right people and circumstances together to make the best possible product.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Sound and events...what should it sound like and what does the listener need to stay engaged. That and genuinely caring that the song and artist's potential is being realized.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Depends on the project. I like to say that we talk about it, dream about it, make a bunch of rules for the project, then go in the studio and break them.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a home set-up for editing and mixing along with a commercial space and a few favorite studios about town for live tracking.

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

A: There are so many. I'll spare you the classics. I am really enjoying Jonathan Wilson lately and my daughter is hipping me to the excellent work Butch Walker has been up to.

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

A: I primarily mix along with start to finish productions that include pre-production, recording overdubs, and mixing.