Vocal topline and songwritting

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

A: I think I'm the most proud of my project because of my ability to see the big picture and get all of the right people involved, in essence my ability to manage many moving pieces and people is powerful to me. I'm on my 3rd solo artist project now. And have a really solid grasp of the music business and powerful artistry. I'd also have to say that mixing FOH for multiple grammy award winning jazz artists was pretty special.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: My EP for solo project.

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

A: Bobby Saint (Hal Linton)

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: oy vey! obviously analog, but that gets really expensive and thank goodness there is so much in the box now that is comparable. Even though for the most part I'm working in the box these days I still run all of my music through tubes or to tape and convert back to digital in mastering process. There still is nothing like the warmth and texture that analog gear lends. If money weren't an issue I'd have a big studio full of analog gear.

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

A: That I will be honest and do my best, be on time and do what I say I am going to do.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That my life is entirely based around creativity and like minded folk.

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

A: Q: Can you make me sound like Drake or The Weeknd? A: I can make you sound like you. ;)

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

A: That I can polish a turd... well i can, but that's not my job. I'm not an engineer anymore. ;)

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What's the vibe you are going for? What type of song structure? traditional? experimental? edm? hook driven? How would you like this sung? Do you want me to write the lyrics as well as the topline? and what subject matter are you trying to get across? what do you wan't it to say?

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

A: To please be clear with what you want and be as clear as you can in communicating that.

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

A: assuming i'd have power, Laptop, monitors, headphones, 66 key midi keyboard and a mic. and if there was no power, a piano, acoustic guitar and bass.

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

A: I've been singing since I can remember, my mother was an opera singer while i was in the womb so when i showed interest you can bet i got good, honest critique. Singing in church and at school, led me to forming bands in my highschool years, playing violin, bass and singing. I learned how to use the school sound system and was the go to engineer for assembly's and then go to DJ for dances and during lunch. Out of highschool I went to the Art institute of Seattle for Audio Production and within two months had a gig at the Moore theater as a stage hand and worked my way up to monitor engineer. I then worked for Carlson Audio in Seattle as a FOH engineer and was FOH for Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival 6 years in a row. Went on tour and in studio with tons of bands after that. Meanwhile always producing my own beats and music on the tour bus. I broke off of being an engineer and have been doing my own solo projects since 2006. I have ghost written and been featured in the EDM world outside of my own projects and I am currently on my 3rd solo project, producing, songwriting and singing. This is honestly such a brief overview, but you get the pic, i was born to do music and it's what I'm doing till I die. :)

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I write and sing in a range of different styles, pop, indie pop, r&b, jazz my music: Dark R&B Indie pop Electronic (sade meets erykah badu)

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

A: Those who are motivated and willing to work hard, and of course talented. I'd love to work with Roisin Murphy because of her wild unique true artistry. Grace Jones, she is queen mother and I'd love to hear her put out new material.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I take 200hz out of most of my vocals and mixes because most rooms get really muddy there and humans hear enough in that frequency, it clears voices and mixes right up of muddy frequencies.

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

A: Electronic, R&B, EDM, pop, indie pop.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Singing and songwriting

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: QUALITY, there's nothing I hate more than cheesy lyrics and topline.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It really depends on the project. Typically when I'm writing I ask my client what they want from me, what's the vibe, what are they trying to say? then i move forward by bringing their vision to life. I tend to start with topline melodies and then fill on the lyrics from there.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work in Ableton and Logic, I can work in protools but currently choose not to. I have a Yamaha motif for more scoring type of work, and otherwise I work in the box using midi controllers and keyboards. I have a neumann tml193 which suites my voice very well, I use a Kaotica eyeball to dampen the already treated room as well as a SE stand baffle. I have the apollo twin by universal audio as my soundcard. 4 pair of headphones to choose from when mixing and event tr8's and krk's for monitors.

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

A: Grace Jones, Beyonce, Iggy Pop, Solange, Bjork, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, The weeknd, Anderson Paak,

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

A: I currently Sing, song write and produce. I have done everything under the sun when it comes to music, I used to be a live and studio sound engineer, but that's not my main gig now.