What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
About 8 years total. From just being in high school with a musical interest to the present day. I studied Music Business out of high school, and always aspired to owning & operating my own record label, on the surface that's been achieved, but I'd love to see it go further & eventually also own & operate my own recording studio.
Analog or digital and why?
Both! The accessibility of digital is unmatched, but analog gear must not be forgotten. They're special creations, after all, most plugins are emulating hardware units for a reason right?
What's your 'promise' to your clients?
I treat every project or request I receive as if it were my own, and will always strive to deliver the best possible product I can.
What do you like most about your job?
Truthfully, just being able to wake up knowing my day will be musical. Do what you love, love what you do right?
What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
Please ask any and all questions that you might have. My goal is to provide a service that you will be satisfied with & communication is key.
If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
Easy... Alright probably not, but I'd need my MPC 2500, turntable, 2ch mixer, Digi 003, and my MacBook, hopefully with an available internet connection.
Which artist would you like to work with and why?
Although I'd love to work with many artist, I'd have to elect Pharrell Williams and/or Chad Hugo. Simply because the sound that The Neptunes developed in the early 2000s was monumental to my upbringing. Having a moment to pick their brains would be amazing.
Can you share one music production tip?
REFRENCE! You can always learn from what's already been done, that goes for the good and the bad. Reference your music to those you admire or would classify as similar sounding, theres a good chance you can learn or discover something you've never thought've before.
What type of music do you usually work on?
Hip-Hop would be my primary genre, with Jazz, R&B/Soul as followups.
What's your strongest skill?
Listening. Whether dealing with frequencies or people. I think it's always important to keep an open mind & listen.
What do you bring to a song?
I'd like to think soul, as cliche as that might be, but motivation above all. I always like to tell artists I work with music is what feelings sound like. The goal is to take any doubt or fear out of the mind. If you're not feeling it as the artist, there's a high likelihood the end listener won't feel it either.
What's your typical work process?
Organization is key whether for production or mixing, so firstly I always start with prepping any files that need be prepped, essentially giving me the most efficient workflow possible.
Tell us about your studio setup.
I've been collecting and evolving my gear for a bit of time now. I started out producing with just a laptop as most do nowadays, but quickly fell in love with musical hardware such as drum machines & analog signal processors. The biggest improvements to my workflow specifically have been the Akai MPC2500 for production, as well as the dbx 166 compressor & PreSonus Studio Channel Tube Pre-amp for audio engineering.
What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
There's a long list but to name a few; Pharrell & Chad Hugo, Blu & Exile, Mainframe, Madlib, OhNo, and so many more.
Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
Mixing, mastering, producing, and the occasional songwriting here and there.
