Singer & Topliner for Hire

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

A: "Serenades & Odes to Cracked world (Part 1)": an original concept album that I created and produced from start to finish - from writing the songs to the recording and including the artwork concept. I also created the storyboards for the music videos "One", "Songs for the Oppressed (Cruelty Dies)" and "Living in Hell" and video edited the latter two into finished products.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently working on the follow-up to "Serenades & Odes to a Cracked World (Part 1)", as well as my current ongoing release "The Love & Loss Project". I'm also working on a future single "Pieces" with award-winning American producer Gary Gray.

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

A: You will always get my best work - no matter what project it is - and I will not finish a project until you are completely satisfied with it.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The variety. No two days work are the same and I get to pick and choose the projects I want to work on.

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

A: Probably the biggest misconception is that people think you can't make a living as a full-time musician. Of course it's challenging but, with the right knowledge and skills (and, naturally, a plan ;)), it's doable.

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

A: An acoustic guitar, my Macbook, headphones, an 88-key midi keyboard and a usb mic (eg. Rode NT1).

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: 30+ years experience as a singer, songwriter and musician. I place a lot of importance on melody and will always try to find the best melody to fit the song. As a singer I have the ability to sing a given song in a variety of ways (hard, soft, whispery, etc.) and can offer these as separate alternative vocal versions, if required, so that you can decide how you want your song to sound.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Do you have audio examples of what you're looking for? What is your expected turnaround time? What are your expectations for this project (eg. is this just a personal project or are their other interested parties or investors involved)? Will you be releasing the song/project? Can you give me some examples of clients you've worked with in the past?

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

A: Be honest. It's okay to think big and have a grand vision but just be clear what your expectations are from the beginning. That way, everyone is on the same page and misunderstandings can be avoided.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Pop-rock with elements of folk, blues and funk. I've also been known to dabble in other styles, eg. instrumental and film music.

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

A: I love Neil Finn. I think he is one of the greatest songwriters in the world and I love his sound.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Start simple - if a song can sound good with only a few basic elements, then it will be a lot easier to add later. If you add too much in the beginning you can get lost in the mixing process and it can be difficult to make it sound good. Some songs sound perfect with just one instrument and voice.

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

A: Pop-rock

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Singing (with songwriting being a close second).

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I usually start from a basic song idea (music and/or lyrics) and then proceed to create a basic backing track (sampled drums, bass, keys, etc.) as a foundation to which I can work from. As the song progresses, I will then add extra elements as needed (eg. guitars, vocals), mixing the song as I go along. Gradually, various vocal and instrumental takes will be comped together to create a finished product.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: 24" iMac (2020), Logic Pro X, iMovie, Yamaha usb mixing desk (10 channel), Audio Technica At2050 condenser mic, sE Electronics sE1000a studio condenser mic, Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro headphones, Yamaha HS5 studio monitors, Aston Halo reflection booth, sound absorbing reflection filters (wall-mounted), Novation Launchkey Mini, Kawai es100 stage piano, Martin XC1t Eclipse electro-acoustic guitar, Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, Fender Precision bass (4 string).

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

A: The Beatles, Neil Finn, Crowded House, Queen, The Police, Sting, Elton John, Damien Rice, Glen Hansard, Markets Irglova, Bjork, David Bowie, Tracy Chapman, Coldplay, Keane, Travis, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson.

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

A: Typically, I will be asked to take a basic song idea (music and/or lyrics) and turn it into a finished product. Some clients will already have some music knowledge, while others will have none and leave me with nothing but a set of lyrics to work with.

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

A: I started writing songs at 15 and at 16 I knew that music was the career path I wanted to take. At 18 I went off to study "Rock Music" for two years at Perth College in Scotland. There I learnt the various sides to a music career such as performance skills, singing and keyboard lessons, and recording. After playing in many bands, at 21 I took the plunge and went full time as a musician with no safety net, just a head full of songs and a desire to make the best music I could. Eleven years later I decided to further my studies and did a BA (Hans) degree in classical and popular music at the University of Liverpool which included, among other things, music technology (iMacs, recording, composing for film), music analysis (pop and classical), world music and singing lessons. After my studies I got a job as a workshop leader teaching children - through a combination of Apple Mac technology (MacBooks, Garageband) and creative writing tasks - how to create and record their own songs. Since 2013 I have been living and working in Germany as a freelance self-employed musician (singer, songwriter, performer and recording artist) offering my services both privately and publicly for a wide variety of engagements - for example, concerts (in-person as well as online), guitar and vocal coaching, songwriting (own projects as well as for hire) and recording (own projects and on-demand).