Mix|Master|Produce|Restore

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

A: "Just The Lake & Me, All Alone" (EP) - Miley Cypress Hill. This was the first official album I worked on for a professional release. Miley Cypress Hill is a passion project made up of myself (guitar/group vocals) and four of my closest friends. I'm proud of it because the album was 100% DIY, recorded as a "live set" at Illinois State University's Redbird Studios by Noah Renken-Kapatos (Great Value Jesus), a good friend from my time there. We did one or two takes of each song with the whole band mic'd up and recorded at once and that was that. After a final vocal session we had what we needed and it was up to me to deliver the final product. Being my first official professional project that's been released, there are times I think I could have done some things differently, however, I'm incredibly proud of what we were able to accomplish with the tools at our disposal at the time. "Art is never finished, only abandoned." - Leonardo DaVinci; Songs are never finished, they're just released." - Charlie Parr

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently working on a second official release with my band Miley Cypress Hill, as well as a local R&B/Rap artist Theson, both based out of Bloomington, IL, in order to record, mix, master and release their material. I've been building up my personal audio portfolio as well in my down time.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Depends. Over the years music has shifted from solely employing the warmth of analog gear and production to the precision of and access to digital gear and production. Analog emulation through digital products has come incredibly far in that timeframe. In my humble opinion, the digitally emulated "analog" tools at our disposal today, through reputable companies, are on-par with the analog gear they were modeled on. That being said, this thought process is geared more towards post-production rather than initial recording. There is a distinctive character and quality to the dynamics and tonal qualities achieved through analog recording, mixing and mastering, however, most of us don't have access to all that sweet analog gear today. I say, to each their own, this specific debate is similar to the "loudness wars" within the field. Everyone has their own preference.

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

A: You bring the vision - I'll bring it to life. I promise to treat your project with the same level of care and attention I give to my own - delivering high-quality, on-time work that reflects your vision, not just my style. I listen first, create and polish with care, and revise until the sound matches exactly what you want. No rushed jobs, no ego - just honest collaboration and a final product you're proud to share.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love making music, providing exceptional audio deliverables, and helping others achieve the sound they’re looking for. All honest art should be shared in its best light. There’s an abundance of artistic expression that’s been stunted through self-doubt and uncertainty. I’m here to help with that. To me, art represents a fine line between a gray and gloomy world and one of emotional conviction and social interconnectivity. Music and sound is ephemeral in its creation, it must be finished and shared to the world if it’s ever to be heard in the artist’s voice. If your favorite artist never wrote and performed that song exactly when they did, it would never exist, ever. Could you imagine? Your favorite shows, movies and video games wouldn't have the same impact. In my experience, what you hear is as compelling and important as what you see. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what of a sound?

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

A: What do you offer? I offer remote mixing and mastering, audio restoration, dialogue editing, full instrumental composition, beat-making, SFX creation and sound design services.

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

A: The biggest misconception is that there's some defined formula to audio production as a whole. Sure, there are methodologies within the process that align with formulaic practices, but it's mostly just about if it sounds good to you.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What service are you looking for? What is the tone, style and vision for your project? What is the ultimate purpose of the product you will be receiving; how will it be used?

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

A: Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or are unsure about what I offer or what you need. Too much great music and audio work in general is never released due to perceived self-doubt or uncertainty. I'm here to help with that.

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

A: I've only just begun seriously pursuing freelancing with my skillset in audio. I would love

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: If you're mixing a track get the best recording you can from the start. If you start with a great raw audio recording there's not much that needs to be done with it, aside from creative production techniques.