I am a classically trained musician and composer, and focus on writing and recording songs. Whatever the genre, if the song has instruments and vocals, I can write and record any part for it.
Growing up, I learned to play music through the viola, for which I was an all-state musician every year. At university, I was first chair violist, in addition to leading and managing an indie-folk band. After graduating, I leaned more into my songwriting, self-producing a full-length and fully orchestrated LP. I have an extensive knowledge of music theory, instrumentation, arranging, recording, producing. In addition to being a skilled violinist and violist, I am proficient on guitar and bass.
I am most interested in taking someone's abstract idea, developing it, then doing the technical work to see it fully realized. I like to think of myself like a ghost writer. If you have a melody, phrase, or even just vibe of a song you would like to produce, and we'll make it happen. Give me your vision, and I'll make it reality.
My full time career is in business, specifically project management and customer service. I can guarantee a professional demeanor, timely responses to email, and explicit dates that goals will be met. Let's be real, musicians aren't really known for being well organized or reliable. That's what makes me different. I make my entire living setting clear expectations, and consistently meeting or exceeding those expectations.
All my prices are negotiable, depending on the project, but affordability is guaranteed.
Send me a note through the contact button above.
Languages
- English
Interview with Heflin
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I'm most proud of my self-produced, full length LP of my original songs.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Nope, I'm new here!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Music is not my career. I do this for fun, and to make just enough extra money to fund it.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: The most common question I get is, 'Can you capture the exact sound I have in my head?' While it's a great goal, I find it helpful to approach each project with a collaborative mindset. We discuss the desired sound, genre, and mood together. I might suggest references or experiment with different techniques to bring that vision to life. It's a back-and-forth process that ensures the final product not only meets but often exceeds expectations.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Gear means next to nothing. What matters is having vision and an effective process to realize in the most elegant way possible.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: If your song was to evoke a singular emotion every listener, what would we want that to be?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Look no further.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Acoustic guitar, bongos, a bass, and a 4 track tape recorder.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I am an account manager at a payroll company by day, but have my degree in music education. I've been playing and recording music for nearly 20 years.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Folky, chill, and magical.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Jim James - he seems like a chill hang.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Composing, lyric writing, and arranging.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I am planning a short EP of original songs, as a kind of proof of concept for a follow-up LP.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital equipment, but analog sensibilities. The ease of use and practicality of digital recording in the modern age is great. However, I personally still insist on using live recording, no auto-tune, and as little post production as possible. If your project calls for a different approach, I am completely open to that. Whatever serves the song.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I am the most reliable and consistent communicator you will ever meet. Period.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Learn how to record a good sounding song with nothing else but a condenser mic. No DIs, no software instruments, only mixing and mastering.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Folk/Indie/Rock
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Attention to detail and thoughtful lyrics.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I never start from exactly the same place or move through the process the same way. I mostly start with the simplest, most elemental idea, and develop from there.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a standard array of microphones (dynamic, condenser, etc) and instrumental pickups. I work in Logic Pro.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I really love 60's era folk, chamber pop, and psychedelic rock. (Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Nick Drake, Beach Boys).
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: The majority of my work consists of writing and recording instrument parts for songs. I often collaborate on lyric writing as well.
- Acoustic GuitarAverage price - $50 per song
- Bass ElectricAverage price - $50 per song
- Bass UprightAverage price - $50 per song
- Electric GuitarAverage price - $50 per song
- ViolinAverage price - $50 per song
- Songwriter - MusicAverage price - $50 per song
- Songwriter - LyricAverage price - $50 per song
- Fleet Foxes
- Ben Folds
- Hozier
