Guitar-Driven Song Mixing

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: A song should blossom, should move from verse to verse and chorus to chorus in a way that builds momentum. Adding instrumental elements or bits of ear candy to second and third verses and choruses is one way to do that.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Communication is my strongest skill. You can count on consistent and reliable communication from me throughout the project. I want every artist to know that I am in their corner and that our interests are aligned. I demonstrate this through direct communication so that the artist can understand my process, and I can understand theirs.

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

A: I promise to represent and honor the artist's vision to the best of my ability while exercising my skillset to best serve the project. I want every artist to know that I am in their corner and that our interests are aligned.

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

A: Joe Reineke (Lady Gaga, Macklemore) has been a massive influence on my career and skillset. Lending me his expertise has paved the way for my own journey.

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

A: Go with your intuition. There are many professionals that can help bring your project to life, but who will best represent you, the artist, in this process? Who will best honor your vision? Consider the person behind the console, and go with your gut.

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

A: The biggest misconception I hear is that it's simple to mix a song. You just set the faders, right, and voila, you've got a hit. If only it were so simple. There are art forms within the art form: For example, EQing is itself a challenging process in the mix down. I have spent considerable time training my ears to be effective frequency seekers. I would think that this process would mystify the lay person once exposed to it.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: It's important for me to understand an artist's project through and through. My preliminary questions will help sort out the timeline, budget, intentions, and reference material for an artist. In order to imagine a new project, it is helpful to ask clients about their previous experiences, too. I'd like to identify any prior pain points so that, together, the artist and I can craft the best possible experience moving forward.

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

A: I toiled in a corporate office for many years before I said "enough is enough." I am blessed with duality in my brain: I possess both analytical and creative skillsets. The corporate lifestyle was sucking my soul from my body, so several years ago I up and left. To find my peace, I knew that I must exercise the creative part of me. I turned my passion for music into a journey and a career, and I never looked back.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is precise and energetic. Ultimately, I seek to energize the music, create flow, and build towards an inspired climax. I've always been a bit of a perfectionist, so I meet each project with the intention of "getting it right." I move through a project methodically with an eye towards attention to detail.

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

A: Slash. He has always been my favorite guitar player, love his style. It would be an honor and a thrill to work with Slash.

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

A: Hailing from the grunge capital of the World, Seattle, Wa, rock is of course a big part of what I work on. However, I excel in a variety of genres. From Folk to Metal to Country and so on, I am comfortable with virtually any mix down project that's thrown at me.

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

A: Mixing is the beating heart of Audio Mixology. The mixing process transforms ordinary audio recordings into impactful works that move souls. Emotion is wrought from a cacophony of sonic elements, order is given to chaos, and a beautiful song emerges. I am passionate about this process!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. Call me new school, but the processing power of a digital workstation far surpasses the capabilities of analog consoles and tape. Plus, digital can emulate analog, but the reverse cannot be done.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love being creative. There is truly a dichotomy in my brain, and producing music rewards both halves. The hardware and software of music production is quite technical, but the product is highly creative and subjective. I love this duality.

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

A: 1. MacBook Pro 2. Starlink 3. Monitors 4. Interface 5. MIDI keyboard

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: When working on any project, I bring a careful eye for detail. It's important to me that the small details of a mix are not overlooked while also keeping in mind the overall vision for the song. Little things often make the difference between a good mix and a great one.