Vocal Tuning,Mixing,Production

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

A: I've recently had my music featured on the Netflix movie "The Sleepover" and in the Amazon animated series "Fairfax" :) Also I landed 8 tracks with Warner Chappell production music through the Soundcraft label from the U.K.. They pitch to high end blockbuster type films and I can't wait to see where those songs land.

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

A: In pop it's Dua Lipa because her voice is really special and the level of production her and her team release to the market is outstanding, and Lana Del Rey because I love covers and her Sublime cover is amazing. In hip hop, all things TDE, Action Bronson (Alchemist beats are divine), Eminem (of course) and everything RZA.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: For vocal tuning I use the full version of Melodyne Studio and sometimes Metatune from Slate and Antares Autotune. I use Macs with a UAD interface and a ton of plugins for analog emulation and sound manipulation including Protools 2021 , Logic Pro X, Universal Audio SSL4000E Channel Strip collection, SSL Complete Plug-Ins from SSL, Neve, Empircal Labs EL 8 Distressor, Eventide Harmonizer, Pultech, Tubetech, Ampex Oxide Tape, Teletronix, and much more.

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

A: Just know that I've been in your shoes, I've been an artist and a performer trying to get the sound in my head into the song I wrote. I know how important it is to you and I want to get you there. I've also been here on Soundbetter as client, and I know the level of communication you are expecting. My advice would be to expect the provider to care as much about the project as you do.

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

A: Great singers inspire me the most because they're the ones that make a song come alive. The vocal is the most important part of a song, especially in pop music. In my experience just about all pop vocals are treated in some manner with tuning and production to raise the level of the song to something that is an unforgettable experience for the fan or follower.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Reference your mixes with other songs that are on the charts and be honest with yourself. If you are grooving to your own mix after listening to it for hours upon hours, you're probably nailing it.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The work process varies from project to project, but whether it's an artist or music licensing company that I am trying to please the mode of operation is the same: don't stop until the goal is reached and everyone is happy.

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

A: I have hired Mickey Shiloh, Brandon Chase, Steven Glasford, and Michael here on Soundbetter to sing songs I've produced and pitched to film and t.v. Every one of them is currently on one or more songs that's being pitched to media because the songs got signed to publishers and licensing companies. They have each been outstanding, and the results have shown. One of the songs is already licensed to a Disney film coming out this year, and 8 of them are picked up by a label under Sony/BMG production music. I'm blown away by the professionalism I've found with them and my hope is to match that professionalism as I become a provider here.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What's your deadline? Can you send me a reference mix, or a mix you like to compare to? For vocal tuning, how transparent do you want it to sound? I can tune really hard for a more robotic sound or really clear so you won't hear the tuning.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on some pop and hip hop projects, including a cover song that is coming out in March. I'm also starting to do label pitches on some of the pop songs I'm producing.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both have advantages, and these days the software available to emulate analog let's you easily find the balance between the two to make the sound as modern or classic as you want. We're very lucky to be able to produce in this era!

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

A: We'll work together to get what you want, I'll communicate with you throughout the process, and we'll keep going until we've nailed it.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I'm a creative person, so the fact that it's a part of the arts is very rewarding. Also, with music production you get to add in the elements of engineering and science, which is good for a wanna be scientist like myself.

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

A: The most common question I have had is "How do I get my song into a t.v. show? " Have really great vocal delivery on the song is the short answer. The rest is a really long answer, and if you google search me you can find an article I wrote about it on vocal media's website. There are a lot of factors, but the best thing to have is a great song with great vocals, the right arrangement and a killer mix.

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

A: I love my work, but the biggest misconception is that it's glamorous when it's actually a lot of hours in a studio, by yourself. I think the public sometimes thinks that the life of a world traveling DJ is what a guy like me does, but it's very different.

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

A: I would take 5 of my guitars, because I can make music on them without electricity !

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

A: I started as a performer and artist, then I became a studio assistant as part of a program to learn engineering after I decided to stop playing out and really chase my dream of being a producer. Then I ran a few of my own studios and indie labels, which got me into music licensing. I've been at this since I was kid, when I started playing the saxophone at 8 years old, and then the guitar soon after.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: The best of the new combined with some classic sounds to provide warmth.

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

A: I've done everything from pop and rock, to hip hop and EDM.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My sense of pitch and timing.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I think I've got pretty great ears and a knowledge of music theory and pop arrangements that can help an artist achieve what they want out of their song.

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

A: I've done a variety of work in the past, mostly because I've worked in music in many different ways. I've engineered projects, done vocal production and artist development, written and produced songs from demo all the way to finished master, and licensed a lot of music to film, t.v. and web series. I've also been an artist and performer so I know what it's like from both sides of the glass.