Producer, Musician, Mixing

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

A: The project I am most proud of at the moment was a behind the scenes fashion video for a good photographer friend of mine. We teamed up on a photo shoot where he recorded a lot of video footage to show the happenings behind his photo shoot. My role was to create the sound track for the video. I am so proud of the project in its entirety. The song came out brilliantly and it worked so well for the video. It is something I'm not used to at all and was thrown completely out of my comfort zone. But the results speak for themselves. Also I am so happy with the mixing and mastering of the final track.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am mastering a song which I produced in collaboration with Katrina Barr. She has a unique vocal style which I truly enjoyed. With the release of the song I am going to be choreographing a dance video. This is an exciting personal project as I get to show off my composition; mixing; mastering; guitar and dance skills.

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

A: Passion for my job, hard work, creativity and quality. With the utmost dedication for each project I work on.

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

A: Q: What is that instrument? A: It was an instrument I engineered. Q: How long did this project take you? A: It took me (project time as per DAW) hours. Q: Where did you learn your craft? A: I am self taught and have learned through countless hours, days and nights of grueling practice and experimenting and collaborating.

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

A: Let the provider's work speak for itself but listen, really listen. Don't be afraid to ask for examples of work.

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

A: I was a software and web developer for 7 years. I have been involved in the music industry from young, for 12 years. I have now been a full time producer and musician for 3 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Soulful, daring and somewhat experimental without being convoluted.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Composition and Mix Engineering.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It depends on the project at hand. Generally I begin at composition (writing the music) with a simple beat followed by writing the lyrics. After composition is complete, I begin with tracking and recording. I then move on to, instrument selection, composition and arrangement (percussion inclusive). At this point making mixing decisions (pre-mixing) and editing (for recorded instruments). Once the project is complete I then complete a final mix for post (mastering) Finally I master the track 5 days after the final mix.

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

A: I am very new.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. It is the way I learned to produce from a young age. It is familiar and with the right decision making, experience and wisdom you can closely create a sense of analogous production ins a song. Digital has revolutionized music and has created a new study in the industry.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Collaborating with creative minds to make something out of nothing.

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

A: That the job is easy and that anyone can be a producer these days.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Do you have any references for this project? Have you heard of (suggested artist/producer/album)? What are the creative limitations? Which do you prefer? (when sharing comparisons with options i.e. melody 1 or 2; mix 1 or 2; lyric 1 or 2 etc) Did you enjoy working with me?

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

A: My guitar, my laptop, a solar powered generator, a mic (to make new instruments) and a sweet pair of headphones

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

A: David August, because he is a musical genius that composes songs that create a sense of journey and he brings it all together perfectly in his overall production and mixing choices. Especially in and for live environments.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Equalization is important when selecting instruments (both analog and digital) and can be a huge factor in arranging and mixing your instruments together.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I use my musical understanding and experience to share a piece of my soul to create emotions. My understanding of various genres allows me to take parts of music that would otherwise not fit together to paint a broader picture. In my instrument selection, arrangement and finally my mixing process is where this understanding shines the most.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio setup is humble but includes a Focusrite audio interface and pre-amp. My preference is digital production for various reasons. I have a small but comfortable recording booth dedicated to recording vocals using a Behringer C1 condensed mic. Also dynamic mics for acoustic recordings. I have a Samson midi-keyboard, a Jackson electric guitar and an acoustic guitar in studio with access to electric bass and indigenous percussive instruments.

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

A: Too many to mention but my favorites include: Stephan Bodzin, Stimming, Tool, The Black Dahlia Murder, Aesop Rock, Black Coffee, Casper Nyovest, David August, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran

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

A: Mainly full song production. From song composition, recording and instrument arrangement to mixing and mastering.

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

A: House Music and Heavy Metal