Singer, Bass Player

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

A: I worked on two songs with Phish frontman, Trey Anastasio. I was on bass. One of the pieces was 15 minutes long and musically challenging. Came out great.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Just finished singing a song and playing bass for a project that is being produced by Mark Plati (David Bowie) called Rooftop Screamers.

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

A: Kyleen King (who was with me at Abbey Road and made me aware of Soundbetter).

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. They both have their merits. It's difficult to work in analogue though this past summer I just did a session at Abbey Road where everything was recorded to tape and no computers.

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

A: That I will deliver something that they will love forever

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the freedom and the freedom of expression. Am grateful that I still love music today as much as I did when I was a boy. I put my everything into it. I want everything that I create in my wake to stand the test of time immortal.

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

A: Are you interested in singing this song for me?

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

A: That it's an easy state to get to in order to be fully present as a singer.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Do you have something I can hear first to see if it's something that I think I can make great.

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

A: Preferably, if you can give me stems of the basic tracks along with a lyric sheet, I can sing my ass off as well as lay down bass in a way that provides the glue to a track even if it's basic in terms of rhythm.

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

A: My computer with my Logic loaded up with the many plugins I utilize. My mic pre-amps (Neve 1073's) my Blue U47 microphone. My 88-key Komplete keyboard. My Martin 000-28 acoustic guitar.

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

A: Played my first show at fourteen in 1986. I put in my 10,000 hours before I left for NY recording in my bedroom on a two track reel to reel and in a series of bands. As I mentioned, I was an intern, assistant engineer and engineer on projects such as Dinosaur Jr. The Ramones, Cypress Hill as well as engineering and playing on the soundtrack for the 1994 movie, Nadia with Peter Fonda. During this time in NYC I formed the band, Spacehog which went on to worldwide success especially commercially with out debut record, Resident Alien which with the RIAA was certified gold sales in the US, platinum in Canada and Sweden. I've worked on recordings with many other artists including Evan Dando, The Lemonheads, Phish to name a few.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Futuristic rock with a deep profound insight into the human condition.

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

A: Gosh! So many though presently Fontaines D.C. would be at the top of my list. The songwriting along with the production, especially on their latest album, Romance is just wonderful.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: When I worked a studio engineer at Baby Monster Studios in the mid-nighties I got to work on a Ramones commercial for a beer called Steel Reserve. I got to experience how Johnny Ramone got his guitar sound. He used a Marshall 50W amp with a 4"x12" speaker with everthing on 10. He would then, having tracked with the drums, bass and his guitar would then copy the exact part again as a double. This is the sound that we recreated for Spacehog on many of our albums but in particular on 'In The Meantime"