PRO songwriter, poet, rapper

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

A: I contributed to a super fun song called "Whammy-O!" with The Go! Team, writing and providing vocals; the song was also used in the first episode of NBC's "Grosse Pointe Garden Society", currently streaming on Peacock.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Wherever my art takes me.

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

A: Not quite yet, but I hope to meet some!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog, because it'll withstand the test of time.

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

A: To write each song as if it were my very own; although I song write for others, I'm also an active recording artist that applies the same standards for yours and mine across the board, almost like a quality seal.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Expressing myself for a living.

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

A: A common question is my pricing. I typically respond with a standard rate, but I also inquire as to what their available budget is to see if there's any opportunity for negotiation so both parties can benefit. Another common question is the turnaround time, which varies in different quarters and according to the work load.

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

A: The biggest misconception of working in the music industry is that the behind-the-scenes, daily tasks are regularly glamorous.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: - Are there any specific requests you have for this verse/song, or any subjects, phrases or styles you may want to avoid? - Do you prefer rapping, singing or combination of both? - Would you also like to explore promotional services for your music release?

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

A: Be prepared to present your specific project and vision, instrumental/reference track and deadline information for smooth sailing across the board!

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

A: - MPC (Beat/Drum Machine) - Microphone - Guitar - Headphones - Notebook w/ writing utensil

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

A: I attended art school as a Creative Writing major, then began my career in 2011 at just 19 years old by starting a grassroots hip-hop collective called Boombox Family. I've been a full-time recording and touring artist for 13+ years now.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Poetic, verbose, cerebral and wide-ranging from the unconventional to formulaic.

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

A: I would absolutely love to work with Rhiannon Giddens, an excellent songwriter, banjoist and singer breaking barriers in music and telling important stories in a vulnerable yet powerful way.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Avoid "DEMO-itis", or the phenomenon of getting sonically accustomed to the demo or draft version of a song; execution of an idea tends to sound different in the studio, especially with the cleaner, crisper recordings, so embrace the results and adjust accordingly.

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

A: Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B, Pop and custom sounds for film, commercials and TV. I've also worked with Brooklyn-based company Flocabulary, writing and recording educational songs for students K-12.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Versatility in style and vocabulary

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Authentic energy, strategic writing skills and literary devices, introspection and substance

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I receive the description/request, instrumental and deadline for a track, then begin the brainstorming process of jotting concepts, ideas, melodies and/or relevant lines. Once I've spent time with the material, I begin the initial reference and record a tentative voice memo version. That file is sent to the client for review and final revisions are made if necessary. Lastly, I record the polished take in a professional studio setting, adding all the bells and whistles for a final, quality performance.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have access to a state-of-the-art studio with quality mics, as well as a trained engineer for basic mixing services.

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

A: Bob Marley, Stevie Nicks, Missy Elliott

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

A: Songwriting, contributing guest verses/chorus/intros, music for TV/film