HQ Prod., Writing, Mixing

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I have my hand in a great number of projects at the moment. I am mixing 5 tracks for an upcoming project by 10$tacks, and I am also wrapping up the mastering process for Noloveij's debut EP, which I also engineered, mixed, and produced each song on. For my own work, I am composing an atmosphere drum n' bass collection for sync, and I am releasing the last single before my forthcoming project for ZOMBIE JOR, which I am actively working on now. Very busy, but I absolutely love it!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I enjoy everything about the process. Finding "that" sound that you like, no matter how big or small. Seeing the reactions of others when you create something timeless. Making lifelong connections and memories with/for people through an idea that almost didn't leave your mind. That's what I love, and it adrenalizes me.

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

A: I'm most commonly asked how I manage time considering all of the things I do, projects I'm involved with, personal life, etc. My answer is that I sacrifice more than anyone knows because I am more determined to make a career out of my love for music than anyone I know. Even when I'm away from my musical workspace, my mental gears are always turning regarding music so that when I'm back to work, I can be as efficient as possible.

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

A: The biggest misconception is definitely surrounding my rap-related work. Whenever I say I am a rapper, I feel as though my versatility is pigeonholed, I'm seen as less creative, and that people think my music is meaningless, or has the same subject matter as what they think most rap music consists of today. In reality, I am extremely versatile, I'm as creative as anyone you can name, and everything I do is with intention, thought, and even deeper meaning than people can understand. Also being a rapper is a powerful thing, and I extremely dislike that it is often dismissed as something everyone can do (well) and isn't worthy of great praise just because it's ruling the world right now and is seen by many as oversaturated.

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

A: I was born into music through parents with thousands of CDs, records, documentaries, etc. of all different music genres, so that was a great start! I began playing trumpet in 3rd grade at the age of 7, and I also began listening to various music on my own (Radio Disney thanks to my older sister, WWE entrance music, Slipknot's All Hope is Gone, tons of grunge/metal and much more). I played trumpet all the way up until high school and began developing love for rap music through my brother around the age of 11 and that love never left! I also started writing poetry at this time, which would eventually coincide with the amazing programs that my high school offered (Intro to Music Studio, Audio Engineering 2-year program). When I turned 15 in 10th grade, I began making/mixing music with friends, and I realized how much I loved it. Although baseball was always my primary career choice, by the time I was a senior in high school, I felt my passion shift towards music, and I haven't looked back since! So I've been a student of music for 16 years, and a creator/engineer for 9!

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

A: I am extremely proud of my EP "Fourhees Vol. 1: Machete" that I released on Friday the 13th in October 2023. I'm very proud of this tape because the songs came very naturally, and the project as a whole sounded exactly how I wanted. I was looking to emulate the sound and feeling of the 90's memphis underground rap tapes that I am heavily inspired by, while still having the subject matter, quality, and characterization of my brainchild, ZOMBIE JOR. I was able be creative with this all the way down to the way it was mixed, and I am very happy with how it turned out. I wrote, produced, performed, mix/mastered, and even created the cover art for it, and I usually do all of these things for all of my projects.

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

A: I am brand new to SoundBetter, so I wish that I did have someone, but I don't, unfortunately.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I know this isn't an option, but I'll choose it anyway: both. I believe every moment in music is situational, meaning that the recipe for a song might call for that analog color to create that feeling, or that digital plug-in that will make the synth sound that much fresher. It's all a matter of the creativity at hand... But digital. I haven't worked enough with analog yet to advocate for it.

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

A: My promise to my clients is that I will give my all in order to achieve the vision they have. As a completely independent artist, I know how hard money is to come by, and it's even more difficult to trust someone else to see and articulate your creativity properly. I promise to give my all to do just that.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask prospective clients how things have been for them recently first and foremost (only if they're comfortable with speaking about it). I then ask if there's any inspirations/sounds that they're looking to accomplish, and what their typical workflow consists of so we can work comfortably!! I also ask if they have any upcoming releases, or any deadlines that will affect the work so that we can plan accordingly!

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

A: My only advice is to be as transparent and clear with your intentions, ideas, and communications as possible. I am super understanding and have great intentions, and I truly want to see everyone I work with succeed, so I do my best to meet their standards.

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

A: I hope there's water! But I would bring my laptop, my Rode NT1 microphone, Kaotica Eyeball, Scarlett Focusrite interface, and my hard drives. I didn't come from money, so I've always been a firm believer in creating being more about your creative taste and how you use your equipment, whether than how many/much you have, so I would be great considering I do most of my work in the box.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I can only compare my style of music to a graveyard: although it is associated with darkness, it's full of energy and strong emotion, inclusive to all walks (and sounds) of life, and can provide as an unconventional, yet very effective means of comfort and inspiration in ways you wouldn't expect... yeah. I also make music for zombies (Bilecore). Zombies come from all walks of life (literally), create all different kinds of sounds, and are very determined and sometimes restless. That sounds exactly like me.

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

A: I would love to work with ZillaKami, or Ken Carson. Whenever I listen to their music, see their posts, or watch their interviews, I really feel as though I understand exactly where they're coming from as artists and as people. I also know I have creative ideas for them that THEY would see the vision in and like, not just me.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: One tip I would share for music production is to trust your originality. It's okay to start over halfway through something if you're not completely happy with it, and it's also okay to keep working if you're unsure. Listen to your body, specifically your ears, and trust that you can always make something else you're proud of, and you'll always love the process of producing the next best thing.

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

A: I usually work on various subgenres of rap music, such as the genres I've created (Bilecore: music for zombies, Undergrave: music for those affected by death), but I also have produced house music, grunge, trap metal, and can produce/write any genre of music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is listening and bringing the most creativity and meaning out of myself as an artist, or anyone I am working with. I consider this one skill, as they usually coincide with one another. Once people feel heard, they can then be understood, and this is essential in creating the best meaningful product.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring enthusiasm and intention to EVERY song. I always pride myself on not letting one element, lyric, pause, etc. go to "waste", meaning that any sound or process involved with the song should evoke some kind of emotion or thought for the person listening AND the person creating it (me or someone I'm working with), no matter the genre, subject matter, or situation. In my eyes, a song should make or enhance a connection between those who worked on it, as well as a connection between the listener and the creator(s) of the music. I bring my creative outlook not only to the music itself, but also the impact.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Considering that I am usually controlling the creative process from the thought being in my head all the way until the song is distributed, it can vary! I would say that the most common process I've seen is having an idea of a subgenre I'm inspired by and producing something I consider undeniable with my own flare to it. I then roughly arrange the music and play it on repeat while I experiment different melodies, flows, or whatever the recipe calls for. I then record it once I'm ready (could be days later), mix and master while testing the song on different output sources, organize the metadata, and get ready to release and market the creation for the world to enjoy!!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio setup includes an Asus Tuf Gaming A15 laptop, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Gen), KRK Rokit 5 Studio Monitors, Rode NT1 Condenser Microphone, Kaotica Eyeball, Audio-Technica M-50x Headphones, Ableton Live, and various virtual instruments/mixing plug-ins!! (I also have Pro-Tools experience and will be re-purchasing the software soon!)

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

A: As someone who quite literally listens to or creates music 24/7, I am inspired by quite literally hundreds of music professionals. Whether its acts who trust their own visions unshakeably, such as $uicideboy$, Tyler, the Creator, Black Flag, or Tricky, or producers/composers that completely encapsulate an artistic vision like Buddah Bless, Mark Mothersbaugh, or Hans Zimmer, it's very difficult for me to not be inspired by such determined, talented musical creatives.

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

A: The most common type of work I provide for clients would definitely be production and mixing. I feel that in today's world, there is a common misconception that "beat making" is "producing", when there is a strong difference. Production involves working extensively with an artist on a body of work to create the best possible product, and this is something I've always prided myself on doing, especially in an internet-driven world. This work involves helping an artist alter their lyric delivery timing, cadence, wording, etc. to enhance the performance, so songwriting can coincide with this as well. I commonly mix engineer for other artists too, as mixing a high-quality recording is great, but crafting a mix that complements the artist's character and vision is even better. My extremely creative approach to music allows me to also assist in creative direction for artists to inspire them to take their talents and products to the next level.