Music Producer and Arranger

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

A: I loved working on an album called Reflections with an artist called Sam Art, who is a New York singer/songwriter with the most incredible voice and style. Completely unique. There was no co-write here, just arrangement, mixing and mastering, but I loved the end result - I still listen to it lots.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A series of remixes of songs by Marc Bolan - I'm working with original 4-track demos and turning them into full-fledged productions using instruments sampled from contemporary recording sessions.

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

A: I'm new to the platform so haven't met many people yet - check back later :)

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: There's no easy answer to this one. Both have advantages/disadvantages. Digital provides more flexibility, analog (sometimes) provides more warmth. It depends on the sound you're going for.

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

A: I will make your song the way you want it to sound. If not, I will refund your money.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Earning a living doing the thing I love. It doesn't really feel like a job.

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

A: Question: do you work with live or virtual instruments? Answer: both, though increasingly with virtual instruments - they just sound better.

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

A: That I have a big recording studio filled with a team of pro session musicians. Reality: it's a modest-sized studio with a resident cat. Though I can also hire session musicians if needed :)

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your timescale? What is your budget? Do you have a demo recording? Can you send a couple of links to similar-sounding tracks? These are the key questions I'd ask before embarking on any new project.

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

A: Listen to their previous work, and ask for additional examples if need be. Make sure their previous work is broadly suited to what you're looking for. Focus on their responsiveness, and their attention to detail, particularly at the start when you're identifying what exactly they'll provide for you. Credits and Spotify plays are great, but great communication trumps all.

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

A: I mean, food, water, a tent, some seeds and a pocket knife. Music production would probably take a back seat.

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

A: I've been writing and producing music for over 25 years. I made my first record in 1997 when I was a music student at Oxford. I then spent 10 years on the legendary Oxford music scene writing and producing songs for my bands Witches and eeebleee, before moving permanently 'behind the desk' in 2012, mostly working on tracks for friends and artists I admired. My first freelance job was in 2019, and I finally turned professional the following year. Since then I've completed over 500 jobs across a huge range of genres and styles.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Classically-tinged song-focused pop-rock with a dash of electronica

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

A: I'm always interested in working with people with strange, unusual, unique musical ideas. People with beautiful ideas and a non-commercial approach to music making.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Logic Pro's inbuilt compressor is better than any of the third-party ones I've tried out.

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

A: Everything from pop, rock, EDM to gospel, hip hop and music theatre. A huge range of styles and genres. I have a particular fondness for retro electronic pop (think Japan, OMD etc).

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My ability to hear a finished song in my head when listening to a rough demo. Also my communication skills - essential for making sure I create what my clients are expecting.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I will take your song idea - even just a rough voice recording - establish what you want to turn it into - then make it happen!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to ensure I'm 100% on the same page as my clients from the outset, so I'll start with discussing influences, project aims and timescales. I'll then work up the song structure in Logic, transcribing chords, melody line etc. Then comes the tracking - I work a lot with VSTs, but also track live instruments, followed by a mix and master. Finally, the revision process involves further discussions and often live mix sessions via Zoom.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is based in a beautiful seaside town called Tenby in Wales, UK. I work primarily with Logic Pro, utilising Waves plugins and Kontakt / Opus VST libraries.

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

A: Tony Visconti remains a huge influence on my production work. His work on Bowie and Bolan's albums is timeless. It was one of the best days of my life when he complimented my own work.

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

A: I mostly work on song arrangement and production, everything from co-writing songs, through orchestration, arrangement, editing vocals, tracking instruments, mixing, mastering and everything inbetween.