Piano player, hip hop, rnb

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

A: I'm grateful for the work I was able to do for a young RnB artist out of Atlanta named Niko. Her first album is self titled and released back in 2021. Since then we've released a few more singles and she's got some incredible visuals as well. I produced 6 out of the 7 songs on the album. My favorite is a record we did called You N Me. Pretty cool vibe.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Right now I'm working on a collection of tracks with sports and fitness as the focal point. Looking to get some work placed on television or even in movies soon.

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

A: Eric Copeland!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Obviously digital allows you to move around a little more freely. However, while I haven't worked with a lot of analog equipment, there is something about the touch and feel of a creative device that digital makes impersonal.

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

A: I will always deliver quality and speed.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The Freedom. To be me.

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

A: Most of my clients are indie artists so first thing they ask is how much do I charge? LOL. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about doing good business. But let's talk music ya know?

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

A: It's easy.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What have you been listening to lately and who are you biggest influences. Then I go back and listen to everything they mentioned.

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

A: Be direct. Let me know when I'm on the right track and be honest when I'm not. Honesty is key in building a good working relationship.

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

A: Laptop, midi controller, external hard drive, My Yamaha ModX, headphones lol.

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

A: Been pursuing a full time career in music since I was 18. I graduated high school and bought my first piece of equipment. Been bouncing back and forth between this and corporate America and I'm finally ready to go full time doing what I believe I was created to do.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Loud and Clear! With crisp, knocking low end.

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

A: I'd love to get into the studio with Ty Dolla Sign. He's an anomaly in my opinion. Incredible singer, compelling entertainer, song-writer, music producer, rapper, musician (guitar, bass, piano, drums, vocals). He's the total package. I would've also loved to have been in the room with Michael Jackson and Prince in the 80s LOL.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Master the low end. LOL. No I'm just kidding. Music production is all about listening. The more you listen the more you understand what your job is. To everything. Music, nature, conversational content, language. It's all music.

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

A: I blow with the wind. Today it's hip hop due to the clients I'm working with lately. But tomorrow it could be a Foo fighters day (my favorite rock band) and I'm chasing that doubled, Dave Grohl sound in my vocals. The next day it could be scoring feel good tracks for future movie placements.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is my ability to know what doesn't need to be in a song or instrumental. My job as a music producer is to, in so many words, provide the ear of the consumer. I believe in a very simple approach to making music. Count Basie once, "The key to genius is making what's difficult look simple." Not saying I'm a genius but that's something I always try to remember.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Quality. In my production, sound choices and mixing. Like I said before I've trained myself to turn around a record pretty quickly. I think quality plus speed is a must in this business. I'm also bringing my flavor, techniques and over sound which is loud and clear!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Depends on what I'm working on. Hip hop and RnB pretty much flow right out of me. Believe it or not my favorite genre is Punk Rock. So my process pretty much begins with listening. I take in all the references I can find. I then start to tinker with my sounds until I've got my basic idea. I usually leave it alone for an hour or 2 to rest my brain then I come back and "add my sauce" to make it a finished product. I'm normally finished with my work in a day.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Right now I'm remote. Open to studio work but I prefer remote life right now. DAWs I work from are Logic Pro and Reason. Of course Pro Tools is king!

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

A: Wow! So many. I'd have to say my top musician/ music producers are Qunicy Jones. No reason needed LOL. I'm a huge fan of Teddy Riley, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Calvin Harris. Dr. Dre, more because of Dre's sonics and mixing. I love the writing of Paul williams, John Lennon and Stevie wonder.

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

A: Mainly, I make beats. I have a few artists that I'm helping to develop and I've taken on full music production for those albums. But I normally make beats (hip hop, rnb, trap, pop, rock) and send to clients for sync placements or individual artists.