Rock / Pop / Indie Production

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

A: I was really excited to produce the Afro Jim self-titled EP. It just has a great energy about it, with that no-holds barred indie rock and roll feel.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Miami Over Moon, Samantha Melillo for their upcoming releases.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, while analog has a nice charm, plug-in tools have become so good that a great record can be achieved entirely in the box. Just make sure you have a good microphone and interface and the result can be great with the right set of ears.

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

A: That I will relentlessly pursue what you want for your music. Not what I want a record to sound like. I will always provide my input and guidance, but ultimately it is what the artist wants that is most important.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That vibe in the studio when things are starting to click and come together. At that moment you can begin to feel the energy from every person as they get more excited that they are about to release something amazing to their audience.

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

A: That it only takes a little time. I want to put a lot of detail into making something sound great, and that's why it can sound expensive. But I spare nothing to make sure an artist gets something they are proud of.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your goals for this record? How long have you been writing music? Do you prefer to perform everything live or overdub? What other records have you released? What do you love best about writing and performing music?

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

A: Make sure you get to know who you are working with and that you feel comfortable they understand your goals and vision for your music. If you don't start with the same finish line, you will quickly move in different directions.

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

A: Assuming I have the laptop / computer / Pro Tools already, I would take: SM7B microphone, Apollo Twin interface, Radial DI, Gibson Les Paul Custom, and an Orange Terror combo amp.

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

A: My studio has been open for 5 years, but I started over 15 years ago doing live sound in southern California for local music festivals and the performance arts center. After that I began tinkering with recording on a laptop and I found my passion for recording music. Then I focused around growing my skills and learning from others in the field. Now I've got my own space and I've been proud to put together music for numerous artists from the region over that time.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Modern clarity with high energy intensity.

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

A: There are so many great and creative bands, I would love to work with Muse, Mutemath, Coldplay, The Civil Wars, or Switchfoot.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Make sure you get the best performance possible at the start of recording. Don't try to fix something mediocre later. If it's not the way you want it to sound, keep working until you get it right.

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

A: Rock, pop, folk, indie, singer-songwriter, metal, etc.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creatively bring a mix to life. I love using my skills to add clarity and depth to a song.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Passion and energy. I love to make a record sound like it's jumping out of the speakers with clarity and fire. I'm always trying to push myself to bring that extra little element that is going to surprise the audience (and the artist) with something they never expected.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Music Production: I go through a pre-production phase with the artist to make sure the song is ready, then we do scratch tracks followed by overdubs of each instrument. Once that is complete I edit all the recordings and get the record prepped for mixing. I then go through my mixing workflow (see below), followed by two rounds of revisions with the artist. Finally comes mastering and then releasing the music to the world! Mixing: First I focus on getting a good overall balance of the instruments, and make panning decisions. Then I go through each set of instruments to make sure to get the sound I want. Following that I get effects going and add any additional production elements that are needed. Then come two rounds of revisions with the artist.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a two-room studio with a live room soundproofed and separated from the control room, where my studio monitors are located. I have ensured a great sounding environment that allows me to get great records consistently.

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

A: I love the work of Jaquire King and Aaron Sprinkle. They have done some incredibly creative work and I always find I love the records they put out.

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

A: I mainly do full production for bands and musicians and artists. I love to help them by using my experience to craft a great record that they are excited about and that their fans love. Nothing gets me fired up more than watching a new production get rolled out to the world.