Guitarist, Producer, Mixer

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Hybrid workflow is necessary for the best results and the speed needed in the current industry. While I'm mostly digital at the moment, I look forward to having a fully hybrid studio in the future.

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

A: There are literally dozens, but right now Lacey Sturm is high on my list. She's been using her music as a way to help lift other people since she first came on the scene, and I would love to soak up as much as I could working with her.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Your best recordings will come when you put some level of pageantry into your performance. Play/sing with more drama than you think you need, and the result on the other side of the mic will sound much better than if you play it safe.

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

A: Metal, Rock, anything guitar-based.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My ability to catch the vision of my client and exceed their expectations.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Passion, emotion, and musicality.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: While this depends largely on the gig, I have a pretty specific workflow for each category of work. For guitar sessions: learn the chart, record, improvise when asked. Production: I listen to the demo and will do a quick mock-up of my ideas for the client. Each mock up is high enough quality that it typically can be placed right in the recording. Mixing: Get a feel for the song and where emotional impact is needed, then balance and mix. Mastering: Listen through the track(s) to see where enhancements can be made for greatest impact, set loudness levels to meet the client's requests.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work from a converted basement - I own a large variety of guitars, a multiple modeling microphones, and run everything electric through my Fractal modelers or Neural DSP plugins for speed and consistency. I have a UAD Apollo-based studio and a Mac based system running Pro Tools with a 2.1 Adam Audio monitoring system.

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

A: I'm largely inspired by guitarists who are also producers (and sometimes mix engineers), such as John Petrucci, Steve Vai, Steven Wilson, Mark Lettieri, Eric Johnson, and others. I've also recently been studying the production and/or mix work of Andrew Wade, Andy Sneap, and other rock and metal heavy-hitters.

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

A: I primarily lay down guitar tracks, produce, arrange, record, mix, and master for my clients. I often do all of the above on a session, but I have had sessions where only one or a few of these have been requested.