Mastering with Care

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

A: Every project gets my full attention, care and experience. I'll always approach your music with an open mind, respect the work that's gone into creating it and be honest if I think something could be improved. I want you to feel confident that your music is in good hands, and to finish the process with a master you're genuinely proud of.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Primarily, I'm an obsessive music fan - When I'm not in the studio, I'm still sitting down to listen to albums on my hifi system - it's my happy place. So being able to spend every day hearing new music, appreciating all of the creativity that's gone into it and being a part of getting it over the finish line is incredibly rewarding.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: First and foremost I want to hear the project! From there I just need to know if there's anything in particular you're looking for in the master (anything you'd like me to highlight, anything you're conscious of in the mix, any songs you'd like me to reference). This always gives me a good understanding of where we're heading!

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

A: Find someone whose work you like, but also someone you feel comfortable communicating with. Mastering is the final creative stage of a record, so it's important to work with someone who understands what you're trying to achieve and respects the decisions you've already made, while giving you peace of mind that your project is ready for release.

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

A: My laptop, Audeze headphones, RME DAC, Barefoot speakers and an espresso machine to keep me going!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Natural, considered and musical. I'm not interested in imposing a particular sound on everything I work on. Some records need to be clean and transparent, while others benefit from a little more character and weight. My approach is always to understand what the music is trying to achieve and make decisions that support that.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't lose sight of the original feeling that made you excited about a track in the first place. It's easy to spend hours making tiny adjustments, adding more processing and chasing perfection. Sometimes stepping away, coming back with fresh ears and asking whether the song still has the same impact is the most useful thing you can do.

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

A: I love that I get to work on a wide range of music in mastering! That said, most of my work tends to fall into pop, rock and singer-songwriter genres. Ultimately, it's the quality of the music and the people behind it that matter most to me.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'd say it's knowing what a track needs, and just as importantly, what it doesn't. After working on thousands of records, I've developed a good sense of when something needs attention and when making another adjustment would actually take away from the music. I think that judgement is a really important part of mastering.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A fresh perspective, an experienced set of ears and a genuine appreciation for the work that's already gone into making the record. I think good mastering is about understanding what a song needs, rather than trying to make every record sound the same. Sometimes that means making subtle adjustments; sometimes it means knowing when to leave things alone. Ultimately, I want to help bring out the best in the music without losing what makes it special.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Pretty straightforward! Every project starts with listening. I want to understand what the artist and producer are trying to achieve before making any decisions about the master. I'll work through the track, making any necessary adjustments to balance, tone, dynamics and overall presentation while keeping the original character and intention intact. If I hear anything in the mix that I think could benefit from attention, I'll always let you know. Once the master is approved, I'll provide you with all of the formats and versions you need for release.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work from my own dedicated mastering studio in Oxfordshire, UK. It's a minimalist, purpose-built space where I can focus entirely on listening and making decisions about the music. My setup is centred around accurate monitoring, with Barefoot monitors, Audeze headphones and carefully considered processing.

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

A: My music taste is all over the place, but lately artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver and Cameron Winter inspire me the most.

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

A: Most of my work is stereo mastering for independent artists, producers and record labels. I like to keep things simple and collaborative, making sure everybody walks away with a record they're proud of and excited to release.