Multi-Genre Music Producer

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

A: I am very proud of the last three singles that I produced for Maya Vera. I wrote and recorded the instrumentals, integrated and co-produced her vocals and mixed the songs. We touched on three very different styles and they all came out amazing!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I have just wrapped up the debut R&B/Soul single for an artist called Anna Ballew. It is scheduled to launch in mid-January, 2024! I am also working on a comedy-music project with an artist called Short Jake.

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

A: While I have been writing, producing and mixing for many years, I am relatively new to the SoundBetter platform and am still getting to know the community. I look forward to meeting and collaborating with service providers and artists here, and will definitely share my recommendations when I have them!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. I am a big fan of analog because it forces you to really master the equipment and nail the performance, usually this is the best way to approach recording and capturing the right feeling in music. I love digital for precise control and nuanced editing and design - the granular way you can edit midi and sounds, even after recording, in the digital space is just incredible and very useful. In general I am going digital for drums, 808s and effects. I am going analog for everything else.

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

A: I promise that not only will they be 100% satisfied, but that they will feel that the products of our collaboration represent them more than the music they have created on their own.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: My favorite part of my job as a producer is working on music that I never would have written by myself! The most special part of every project is when an artist is really feeling themselves and stoked on what we are creating. This happens as a product of building a personal relationship, collaborating musically and taking the time and care to create music that the artist is truly fulfilled and represented by.

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

A: Customers are usually concerned with whether I have worked on music that is very similar to their own. I think people find comfort in my having executed similar sounding projects to what they envision their own music should sound like. My response is that I am an expert in adapting to any musical style, and committed to their satisfaction as both a client and an artist. If there is not similar music in my published portfolio, I have hundreds of unpublished demos that cover most genres of music.

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

A: One of the more interesting aspects of being a producer is adapting approach based on project/client needs. The biggest misconception is that we have a limited skillset that we apply in a linear way on all projects. I often find myself trying out new things and applying them, as needed, on a case by case basis.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: 1. What are your objectives for this project? (To understand what their goals are) 2. Why do you feel you need to work with a producer? (To understand where they feel they need the most help) 3. What is your artistic vision for this project? (I must understand this to ensure the music represents them and their sound) 4. What is your timeline for this project?

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

A: Assuming that there is electricity on the island... Laptop, Prophet REV2, Gibson SG, Fender P-Bass and Pulsar-23 drum machine.

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

A: My mother is an artist, so my sister and I both grew up in an environment where art was very present and respected. As a child I played piano and attended art camps every summer. As a teenager I played electric guitar and was fortunate to attend a school that highly valued and enabled the arts. I truly found my calling when I was 16 and learned how to layer sounds and create songs on my computer. I became obsessed with creating music, and that obsession never went away.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is both driving and etherial. I like the drums and bass to ground and move people, while the chord voicings and vocals to transport them to outer space.

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

A: I would love to work with Tame Impala. I have always had an aptitude for psychedelic and indie music and am obsessed with analog poly-synths!

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

A: I usually work on indie pop and rock, R&B/Soul and electronic music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is listening, not to music, but to the artist that I am working with. I create an environment where everyone involved in the project feels respected, heard and free to express themselves and their ideas. The more ideas being shared, the more opportunity for inspiration and collaboration. You never know when a random idea shared by someone in the room will change the course of a production for the better!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I often find myself writing material, performing instrument parts and helping to define the sonic aesthetic of my clients' music. Guiding my own creative process to align with their vision is essential for them to walk away feeling that the music is their own, and that we've created something that truly represents them. Everything that I do as a music producer is in service of the Artist's vision.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I live near the beach and work out of an attached studio with an ocean view. It is a special place full of new and old musical instruments, equipment, and a few surfboards as well!

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

A: Too many to list! I just love music that makes me forget what I'm doing and where I am haha - Pink Floyd, Nile Rodgers, Blink-182, to name a few.

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

A: Be honest and trust your gut. I want you to tell me what you love and what you hate about the material I am delivering. The more honest you are with me, the better the end result will be.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: It has to feel right, above all else. I would take a rougher performance that just feels right over a clinical performance that feels lifeless any day of the week! This is my approach to every aspect of a project that I work on. It has to feel right.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My process always starts with communication. It is essential that I understand a client's objectives for their project. After aligning on project needs, I ask my clients to send reference material that they feel represents the vibe they are seeking for their project. Once I have reviewed and discussed this material with the client, I get to work! My process is extremely collaborative with open communication throughout the entire process.

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

A: I am an experienced producer, multi-instrumentalist and mixing engineer. The most common type of work I do for my clients is a combination of all of my services. A client usually approaches me when they are just starting a project and want an experienced and dedicated producer to be a part of the project from inception all the way to master delivery, or when they've already written a demo and are ready to take their project to the next level.