MIXING - MASTERING

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

A: Working on my own releases has given me the opportunity to approach music from both sides: as an artist with a creative vision and as someone deeply involved in shaping the final sound. My involvement in my own projects has helped me appreciate how vocal delivery, effects, tonal balance and atmosphere influence the listener's experience. It has also taught me to be more deliberate about mixing decisions and to consider the record as a complete artistic statement rather than a collection of individual tracks. That artist's perspective influences how I approach collaborations: I understand that a song can be deeply personal, and my role is to help bring the artist's vision forward while respecting what makes it unique.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm continuing to refine my vocal mixing and production workflow, focusing on clarity, depth, controlled low end and the relationship between vocals and instrumentals in rap and hip-hop. I'm also developing my portfolio with a focus on showcasing the difference that thoughtful mixing decisions can make to a record. My aim is to collaborate with independent artists who care about their sound and want to build a consistent sonic identity across their releases.

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

A: I haven't established a list of SoundBetter professionals I can personally vouch for yet

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, with respect for the character of analog. Digital workflows offer precision, flexibility, reliable recall and the ability to make detailed adjustments without compromising the creative process. Analog equipment can introduce beautiful coloration, saturation and harmonic character, but I believe those qualities should serve the song rather than be treated as requirements. I'm interested in the result, not the debate. If a tool improves the sound and supports the artistic direction, it deserves a place in the workflow.

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

A: My promise is to treat your music with care, communicate clearly and make every mixing decision with your artistic vision in mind.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: What I enjoy most is hearing a song come together and knowing that the final mix communicates the artist's intention more clearly. A vocal that once felt disconnected from the beat can suddenly feel natural, powerful and emotionally convincing when the right decisions are made. I also enjoy the collaboration itself. Every artist has a different perspective, and every project brings a new challenge. Helping someone hear their music in a way that matches what they imagined is one of the most rewarding parts of the process.

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

A: Can you make my song sound professional? My goal is to deliver the strongest mix possible from the material provided, using decisions tailored to the song. The quality of the recording, performance and arrangement also influences the final result.

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

A: One of the biggest misconceptions is that a professional mix is simply a matter of adding expensive plugins or making everything louder. In reality, mixing involves understanding the performance, arrangement, frequency balance, dynamics, depth and emotional direction of a song. Sometimes the most effective decision is a subtle adjustment; sometimes it requires rethinking how several elements work together. The purpose isn't to make a song sound processed. It's to make every element feel as though it belongs there, while bringing the artist's original vision into focus.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I usually start with a few questions to understand the project: * What sound are you aiming for, and do you have reference tracks? * What do you like or dislike about your current mix or previous releases? * Is the vocal performance already edited and tuned, or would you like help with that? * What is your release deadline? * What final files do you need, and are there any specific technical requirements? These questions help me understand not just what the client wants changed, but why. The better I understand the artistic intention behind a song, the better I can make decisions that support it.

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

A: Choose someone who understands your genre, listens carefully to your references and communicates clearly about what your song needs. A great portfolio matters, but so does the ability to understand your artistic direction and translate it into practical mixing decisions. Before hiring, share a reference track, explain what you like about it and be clear about your expectations for the final sound. Also, confirm the deliverables, turnaround time, revision policy and whether tuning or mastering is included. Don't choose an engineer based on price alone. Choose someone whose work connects with your vision and who treats your music with the attention it deserves.

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

A: Ultimately, I'd prioritize tools that allow me to record, edit, mix and make informed decisions rather than equipment chosen simply for its price or reputation. Universal Audio Apollo — for high-quality audio conversion and a reliable recording interface.

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

A: My journey into music production has grown from my own experience as an artist and my passion for understanding how records are made. Working on music from an artist's perspective has shaped the way I approach mixing: I understand the importance of vocal identity, emotional delivery and making sure the final sound reflects the original creative intention. I've been doing this since 2012

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is modern, vocal-focused and detail-oriented, with an appreciation for depth, punch and atmosphere.

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

A: I'd love to work with Travis Scott. His music combines vocal character, atmosphere, spatial effects and detailed production into a distinctive sonic world. What interests me most is how the vocal becomes part of the entire production rather than simply sitting on top of it.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Before adding more plugins to your vocal chain, ask yourself whether the vocal is already sitting correctly in the beat. Sometimes the problem isn't the vocal itself — it's masking from the instrumental, excessive low-mid energy or a lack of balance between elements. Try lowering the instrumental slightly, identifying which frequencies compete with the vocal and making small, intentional adjustments. A well-balanced arrangement and a clear vocal foundation will often achieve more than a complicated chain of plugins. A great mix isn't about using more processing. It's about knowing what the song actually needs.

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

A: My primary focus is rap, hip-hop and contemporary urban music, including melodic rap, trap, atmospheric productions and vocal-driven records. I'm particularly interested in music where the vocal performance, beat and overall sonic atmosphere need to work together to create a recognizable identity.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is understanding how a vocal should feel within a rap or hip-hop production. Beyond making a vocal technically clear, I focus on its presence, character, energy and relationship with the beat. I pay close attention to vocal intelligibility, tonal balance, dynamics and the use of effects, making sure every element contributes to the overall feeling of the record. The goal is a vocal that feels connected to the instrumental, commands attention when necessary and remains true to the artist's performance.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring clarity, impact and intention. A great mix should make the listener focus on the music rather than notice the processing. My approach is to give vocals the presence they need without making them harsh, create a solid low end without sacrificing definition, and use space and effects to support the emotion of the performance. I also pay attention to the small details that make a record feel finished. Most importantly, I approach each song as its own creative project. I'm not interested in forcing an artist into a preset sound. I want to help them discover the strongest version of the sound they already have in mind.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Every project starts with understanding the artist's vision. I listen to the song, discuss the desired direction and review any reference tracks before making creative decisions. My workflow typically includes: Listening and analysis: Understanding the arrangement, vocal character, energy and intended sound. Editing and preparation: Organizing the session and addressing vocal timing, tuning or cleanup where required. Mixing: Shaping the vocal tone, controlling dynamics, creating depth and ensuring the vocal sits naturally in the instrumental. Finishing: Refining effects, transitions, stereo balance and overall cohesion. Delivery and revisions: Providing the agreed final files and refining the result based on constructive feedback. I value communication throughout the process. I want clients to understand what is happening with their music and feel confident that their creative direction is being respected.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: For me, the equipment is important, but the decisions made with it matter even more. The objective is always to serve the song, preserve the artist's identity and deliver a result that feels cohesive and intentional.

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

A: I'm inspired by producers and engineers who understand that technical quality should serve the emotion of a record. Artists and producers such as Metro Boomin, Mike Dean and Southside inspire me through their distinctive sonic identities, attention to atmosphere and ability to make a production instantly recognizable. I'm equally interested in the way great engineers create space, depth, clarity and impact without taking away the raw character of an artist's performance. For me, the ultimate goal is not to make every song sound the same, but to understand what makes each artist unique and bring that quality forward.

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

A: I specialize in rap, hip-hop and urban music, with a strong focus on vocal mixing, vocal processing, tuning and creating a cohesive, release-ready sound. My goal is to make every vocal feel intentional, present and emotionally connected to the instrumental, while ensuring the beat and vocals work together rather than compete for space. Whether it's an aggressive rap performance, melodic vocals, layered harmonies or a more atmospheric record, I approach each song according to its character and the artist's vision. I don't believe in applying the same processing chain to every track. Every voice is different, and every record deserves its own identity.