Singer, Songwriter, Engineer

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

A: One project I’m especially proud of is my album “Lost Love Songs.” It was an important project for me because it helped define my sound, my perspective and the lane I wanted to occupy as an artist. I was heavily involved creatively—not only as the artist, but also in the songwriting, vocal direction and overall vision of the project. Couldn’t have done it with Orlando Wade. The album also featured some great collaborations that helped bring the project to life. One of the most rewarding things was seeing four songs from the album end up in a feature film that is now available across platforms including Peacock, Amazon Prime and Tubi. That experience showed me that the music could exist beyond just the album and reach audiences in a completely different way. I’m proud of “Lost Love Songs” because it helped establish the foundation for who I am creatively today.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Right now I’m finishing my next album, “Dear Love,” with producer Orlando Wade. The album is about 98% complete, and I’m extremely proud of where it’s headed. It’s a project that represents where I am creatively right now and continues to develop the modernized R&B sound I’ve been building. I’m focused on making this some of the strongest and most honest music of my career.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. I love the character, feel and hands-on experience of analog gear, but I also love the flexibility, precision and creative possibilities of digital production. I don’t believe one is automatically better than the other. I use both depending on what the song needs. For me, the goal isn’t to prove whether something is analog or digital—the goal is to make the music feel right.

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

A: My promise is to treat every song like it matters. I’ll bring my full creative perspective, technical experience and attention to detail to every project while respecting the artist’s vision. I’m not here to make you sound like someone else. I’m here to help you sound like the best, most authentic version of yourself.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love watching an idea become real. Whether I’m writing a hook, helping an artist find the right melody, recording a vocal, building an arrangement or finishing a mix, there’s something special about taking an idea that only existed in someone’s head and turning it into something they can actually hear and share with the world. That creative transformation is what keeps me excited about music.

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

A: “Can you make my song sound professional?” My answer is yes—but getting a professional result starts before the mix. The performance, songwriting, arrangement and recording all matter. My job is to take what’s there and bring out its full potential. I’m not trying to make every artist sound the same; I’m trying to make each artist sound like the best version of themselves.

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

A: The biggest misconception is that my job is simply to make a song sound good. I see it as much bigger than that. I’m listening for the emotion, the story, the performance, the arrangement and the identity of the artist. Sometimes the best thing I can do is mix. Other times it’s helping rewrite a section, create a hook, add harmonies, arrange vocals, develop ad-libs or simply help an artist hear the song differently.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I usually ask what they want the song to feel like, what artists or records inspire them, what they love about their current recording, and what they feel is missing. I also want to know what they’re trying to accomplish with the song—whether it’s a single, part of an album, a demo, a sync opportunity or simply something personal. Understanding the purpose behind the music helps me make better creative decisions.

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

A: Hire someone who understands your vision, not just someone who knows how to operate the equipment. Technical skill matters, but music is ultimately about emotion and communication. I’d encourage artists to find someone who can listen to what they’re trying to accomplish, contribute creatively when needed, and still respect the artist’s identity. The right collaborator should make you feel like your record is in good hands.

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

A: My computer with Pro Tools, an Apollo interface, my Neumann TLM 103, a great pair of studio headphones, and a microphone stand. Give me those five things and I can record, write, produce and mix just about anything.

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

A: Music has been part of my life since I was a kid. I started singing at seven years old and eventually grew from being an artist into songwriting, recording, production and engineering. I’ve been working in Pro Tools for over 20 years and have spent years developing my ear both as an artist and behind the console. I’ve owned and operated a recording studio, worked with other artists, released my own music, written songs, created visual projects and developed my own creative direction. Today, I bring all of those experiences together rather than seeing myself as just one thing.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is soulful, melodic, emotional and modern. I come from an R&B background, but I’m not interested in being limited to one sound. I like blending classic R&B songwriting and vocal sensibilities with modern production, hip-hop, soul and Afro-influenced sounds. At the center of everything I do is emotion, melody and making the song feel like something you can live with.

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

A: I’d love to work with Bryson Tiller. I appreciate how he approaches R&B from a modern perspective while still keeping the music emotional, intimate and honest. I think there’s a lot of room for us to create something that feels both current and timeless. I’m always interested in working with artists who have a strong identity and aren’t afraid to create outside the traditional boundaries of their genre.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Get the recording right before trying to fix everything with plugins. A great performance, the right microphone, proper gain staging and a strong arrangement will do more for a record than adding another ten plugins. Once the foundation is right, mixing becomes much more about enhancing what’s already there instead of trying to repair it.

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

A: My specialty is R&B, particularly modernized R&B, but I work across a variety of styles including hip-hop, soul, pop and Afro-influenced music. My strongest focus is always music that is vocal-driven, emotional and melodic.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is knowing how to bring out the best in a vocal and a song. I have a strong ear for vocal production, arrangement, tone and emotion, and I know how to translate what I hear in my head into the finished record. I’m also very hands-on creatively, so I’m able to contribute beyond engineering when a song needs direction.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a combination of musicality, engineering, songwriting and vision. I’m able to hear a song from both the artist’s perspective and the engineer’s perspective. I can help develop melodies, hooks, harmonies, ad-libs and arrangements, while also making sure the recording and mix translate professionally. I’m always looking for what will make the song feel more emotional, memorable and uniquely connected to the artist.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I start by understanding the artist and what they’re trying to communicate with the song. From there, I focus on getting the recording right, especially the vocal performance, arrangement and overall feel. During mixing, I build the sound around the emotion of the record rather than simply processing tracks because they’re there. I’ll refine the vocals, instruments, effects and overall balance until everything feels cohesive, then I finish with mastering and final quality control.

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

A: I’m inspired by artists and producers who understand both the emotion of a song and the technical side of production. Some of my biggest influences include Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Babyface, The-Dream, Quincy Jones, and modern R&B artists and producers who continue to push the genre forward. I’m especially inspired by people who can create a distinct sound while still keeping the song and the artist at the center.

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

A: I primarily work as a recording engineer, mixing and mastering engineer, helping artists take their ideas from rough recordings to polished, release-ready songs. I also write songs and provide features, including hooks, choruses, ad-libs, vocal arrangements, and helping artists map out their songs. My goal is always to make the artist’s vision sound as strong and professional as possible.