Producer & Mixing Engineer

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

A: I’m incredibly proud of my work on the album Zonneblom by Zaan Sonnekus, where I served as the producer, handling everything from the initial arrangements through to tracking, editing, and mixing. The album is a beautiful, diverse journey—ranging from heavy, hard-hitting rock tracks to laid-back grooves and deeply emotional ballads. Capturing the raw emotion of that specific project alongside the artist was an unforgettable creative experience. While the album went on to receive a bunch of major award nominations, the real award for me is the memories we made in the studio creating it. To this day, it’s a record I still regularly listen to on my personal playlist just for the pure joy of it.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I’m firmly in the digital "in-the-box" camp for my main workflow, purely because of the efficiency. When you’re managing dozens of projects simultaneously, the ability to instantly recall a mix, make a quick adjustment for a client, and bounce it out in minutes is an absolute game-changer. Modern plugins sound incredible, and the speed is unmatched. That said, I still love capturing that classic analog mojo on the way in. I’ll never give up my BAE 1073 preamp for tracking. To me, the ultimate sweet spot is a hybrid approach: getting that rich, harmonic analog warmth right at the source during recording, and then using the speed and precision of digital to shape the final product.

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

A: I promise to faithfully protect and elevate whatever you bring to my table, whether I’m producing, mixing, or mastering your track. I also promise to give you my absolute honesty. If I think adding a certain element or trying a different arrangement will make the song hit harder, I will tell you. But above all, I promise to completely respect your vision. At the end of the day, it is your name on the record, and my ultimate goal is to make sure you are proud of every single note.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love getting to step inside another person's perspective. Every single artist sees the world through a different lens. Even though I have my own favorite genres and personal tastes, getting to hear how someone else interprets life and translates those experiences into music is pure gold to me. It’s an absolute privilege to be trusted with an artist's vulnerability and to help them bring their unique view of the world to life through sound.

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

A: Question customers ask most: "How should I prepare and send my tracks to you for mixing?" My answer: "The cleaner the files, the faster I can get to the fun part. I just need your tracks exported as continuous WAV files all starting from the exact same point (bar 1, beat 1) so they align perfectly in my DAW. Make sure to turn off any volume automation, clipping plugins, or heavy master bus compression, but feel free to leave on any creative effects (like a specific delay or vocal filter) that are vital to the vibe of the song. Labeling your tracks clearly (like 'Kick,' 'Snore Vocal,' 'Lead Gtr') is an absolute lifesaver too!"

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

A: The biggest misconception is that audio engineers and producers are magicians. We’re actually musicians—which is almost the same thing, but with a slight twist. A lot of people think you can fix absolutely anything in the mix or with software, but the real magic always starts at the source. If you give me a great performance, a solid arrangement, and the right creative direction, I can absolutely make magic happen for you in the studio. My job isn't to manufacture a vibe out of thin air; it's to take the authentic energy you put into a track and amplify it so the rest of the world can feel it.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: The absolute most important thing for me to know right out of the gate is: "What is your ultimate vision for this song, and what music inspires you?" I always ask clients to share a few reference tracks or artists they love, and to tell me what specific elements of those records grab them—whether it's the vocal intimacy, the drum energy, or just the overall mood. Understanding your taste and mapping out exactly how you want your finished project to sound is my top priority. It gives us a shared sonic language before I even touch a fader.

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

A: Look closely at the reviews—but don't just look at the star rating. Look at what the artists are actually saying about their experience. A great provider shouldn't just deliver a good-sounding file; they should be a great communicator, respectful of your timeline, and genuinely invested in your vision. Look for reviews that mention how easy the provider was to work with, how well they handled feedback, and whether the artist felt heard. Making a record is a collaborative partnership, so you want to hire someone who brings zero ego and 100% dedication to your music.

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

A: Being primarily an "in-the-box" producer, my setup is already incredibly streamlined and efficient, so this island rig would actually let me cut a hit record right on the beach. A MacBook Pro loaded with Logic Pro (my ultimate creative canvas). A Neumann U87 microphone (the absolute gold standard for capturing any source beautifully). A BAE 1073 preamp (for that classic, unmistakable analog warmth and grit before it hits the digital world). An SSL 12 audio interface (legendary Solid State Logic conversion and preamps in a portable footprint). A pair of Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones (open-back precision so I can trust exactly what I’m hearing in the mix). Hopefully, this desert island has a decent Wi-Fi connection so I can still collaborate and deliver the tracks to you guys!

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

A: My journey started back in high school when I picked up the guitar and fell in love with mixing live shows. After graduating from music and audio production school, I spent 15 years working as an in-house producer for a record label—an incredible masterclass in delivering radio-ready records under tight deadlines. For the past 5 years, I’ve been running my own independent studio space, which gives me the freedom to work directly with artists on a much deeper, more personal level. Throughout my entire career, my philosophy has been simple: focus entirely on providing an amazing, stress-free experience for the client. When the vibe in the room is right and the client feels supported, great music naturally follows.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I love guitars, I love drums, and I love synthesizers, so I try not to box myself into one narrow sub-genre. Instead, I’d describe my style by its texture and feel: organic, punchy, and alive. Even if I'm working on a track with programmed elements or electronic synths, my goal is always to make the performances feel real, dynamic, and human. I love blending the grit of real instruments with modern "in-the-box" production, creating a hybrid sound that feels grounded, authentic, and full of energy.

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

A: I don’t have one specific name in mind, but rather a type of artist: anyone who isn't afraid to push the envelope. And pushing the envelope doesn't always mean building a track that's massive and larger-than-life. Sometimes, the bravest thing an artist can do is show absolute restraint—having the discipline to strip a song down to its bare minimum, like just a single piano or an acoustic guitar holding up a raw, honest vocal. I love working with artists who trust their songwriting enough to let it breathe.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Rules are great guidelines, but they aren't absolute. Sometimes, the real magic of a hit record lies in a slightly unbalanced mix, a quirky vocal quirk, or a wonderfully raw, "sloppy" guitar part that just has the right attitude. If you chase clinical perfection, you often end up polishing the soul right out of the track. At the end of the day, music is about feeling. If it sounds right and feels good coming out of the speakers, it is good. Trust your gut over the meters.

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

A: My absolute sweet spot is organic music with real heart and energy. I spend most of my time working in genres like pop-rock, punk, folk, and country. I love music where the human element shines through—whether that means a hard-hitting rock rhythm section, the raw energy of a punk track, or the delicate, storytelling textures of folk and country. I know how to make acoustic instruments feel massive and ensuring real performances hit with maximum emotional impact.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is the ability to listen critically—not just to the audio, but to the client. I excel at translating an artist's abstract ideas and vision, figuring out exactly what the song needs structurally and sonically, and then faithfully executing those ideas into a world-class finished product. I bridge the gap between what a client hears in their head and what actually comes out of the speakers.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Exactly what the song needs—nothing more, nothing less. My ultimate goal is to serve the music, not my own ego. If a track needs heavy, transformative production and a massive sonic footprint, I'll bring that energy. If it’s a delicate acoustic song that just needs a beautiful frame to let the performance shine, I know when to step back and stay out of the way. I bring a sharp ear for arrangement, a focus on emotional impact, and the restraint to only add what truly elevates the record.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: For me, it always starts with connection. Before we even talk tracks, I love just having a casual conversation with a client—whether we're chatting about our kids, life, or our favorite new music. Building that personal relationship makes the creative process so much easier. From there, I dive into the demo, and then we regroup to look at the big picture. We’ll discuss your core vision alongside any fresh ideas I might bring to the table to see where our worlds meet. Once we have a crystal-clear direction, I head into the studio and get to work, handling your music with the absolute highest level of care, respect, and attention to detail from start to finish.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I’ve intentionally built a cozy, inspiring working environment that is completely un-intimidating. The space has a unique character—it’s small enough to feel intimate when I'm working solo, but big enough to comfortably fit a small choir when needed. My setup is built largely "in the box," which allows for maximum flexibility, speed, and recall for my clients. When it comes to equipment, I live by two simple philosophies: if it sounds good coming out of the speakers, it is good. And honestly? Screw the gear, use your ear.

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

A: I’m deeply inspired by a mix of incredible sonic minds and legendary producers. I love the musical and technical philosophies of guys like Andrew Scheps and Jacquire King for their raw, organic approaches to sound. At the same time, I’m massive fan of the sheer songwriting and production mastery of Max Martin and Mutt Lange, alongside the pure artistic, vibe-first philosophy of Rick Rubin. To me, the ultimate goal is blending that high-level sonic precision with whatever serves the emotion of the song best.

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

A: I mostly handle full-scale music production from start to finish, which means taking a project from an initial idea and steering it all the way through arranging, tracking, editing, and mixing. Alongside full production, I also get booked a lot strictly for mixing and mastering. Ultimately, my job is to take whatever a client brings to the table and give it that polished, radio-ready finish while keeping their unique identity intact.