Mixing & Mastering Engineer

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

A: French Montana - Jungle Rules was a very important project to me. Several hours went into working on this, and it is my first RIAA Gold certified project.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently I'm working on Cassie's album.

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

A: Mike Jay, Mickey Shiloh

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Hybrid. i love the analog sound, but i love the speed of digital. i was raised on both so i have a sense of each. And Slate Digital and UAD are really blurring the lines of sound quality.

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

A: Everything i do will always be of quality. My name and reputation are very important to me.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love taking someones visions and making it tangible.

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

A: Who have you worked with previously? I can provide references of some of the people i've worked with. My recording doesn't sound that well, can you fix it? Recording is an important step in the right mix. However, i will make whatever you send me sound as good as possible.

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

A: Not everyone is an engineer because they can use presets and make something sound decent. Engineering and producing are both arts with a specific science to them. It takes time to really grasps what that EQ is doing or what this compressors color is.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: what is your vision or type of sound? who are your favorite artists? do you have any reference songs where i can hear your voice? Do you have stems or session files? was it recorded in Pro Tools, Logic, or some other DAW? When would you like the record to be completed?

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

A: You get what you pay for. In this industry you'll always find someone who can do something for cheaper or lower quality. Listen to references, make sure that you're happy with the sound of any engineer or producer. Value yourself, and pay for better quality.

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

A: My laptop, hard drive, headphones, apollo twin Duo,

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

A: I've always been a musician. I started with piano and moved on to horn instruments in a variety of jazz bands. When i was about 15 i started working in a recording studio in Mt. Vernon NY as a producer and engineer. One of my mentors Johnathan Lewis and Wayne Lewis from Atlantic Starr, saw my potential and allowed me to work on their album with them. (This album was recently released and is called "metamorphosis". After that i got my first major placement at 17 and moved to Orlando, Florida for school. within the first few years i began the head engineer at KDS recording studio (Previously Transcontinental studios) where the backstreet boys, brittany spears, and several other pop acts started. started working in studios when i was 15. Few years later i decided to move to California where i worked for a private recording studio called MSM Studios and the head engineer. Within my first few months I worked with everyone from French Montana, to Austin Mahone, to Young Thug, Aloe Blacc, and everyone in between. I'm currently 28 years old, and in my first year working in Los Angeles, i've received a RIAA Gold Certification for an engineer on French Montana - Jungle Rules album, and have positioned myself as a producer an engineer amongst this industry.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: New age with old school clarity.

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

A: I've always wanted to work with Pharrell Williams. Even though we recently did a song together on Calvin Harris new album, i would like to be able to be in the room with him while he creates.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Less is More. Always leave room for a vocalist. Their voice is also an instrument.

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

A: Urban, Pop, Top 40, Dance, Urban AC

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skills would have to be the time it takes for me to complete a project at industry quality.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring my own taste of creativity and clarity to each mix

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I always start with the artists vision. from there i take the vision and the sounds provided and i tailor make the sound fit their vision. I always start with the instrumental to build a good foundation, from there i work on getting the vocals clean and sitting right in the mix.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work out of a variety of studios in Los Angeles, California: No Name Studios (Previously Track Record), Chalice Recording Studios, Ultrium Studios, and Paramount.

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

A: I"ve always been inspired by Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, Dr. Luke, Sonny Digital, Cirkut, and Max Martin.

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

A: I primarily work in Urban and Pop as a composer, producer, recording engineer, songwriter mixing engineer, and mastering engineer.