Music producer

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

A: I remixed a song with vocals from Gil Scott - Heron. It went #1 on Traxsource and i was very happy about it, as it was a true honor to remix such an artist. Also i did a soulful house cover of jazz standerd "Take Five" taht worked very well and it was excting to work on such a classic.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A couple of afro latin covers, some original material and remixes.

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

A: My pal Simone Bocchino is an ultimate Jedi mixing engineer, highly recommended.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Cant deny the digital world is more immediate, and that permits faster decisions so you only spend time on making music. But in my chain there's analogue synths, drum machines, EQs and compressors as they have a special warmth and deepness.

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

A: To deliver fast and exceed their expectations. It worked so far!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That i'm always doing what i love.

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

A: If i can give their demo a more "pumping" sound. That can be achieved thru a smart arrangement, proper eqing, compression, saturation etc.

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

A: Some people think making music thru a computer is easier than playing music instruments. The computer is a tool, and won't making music itself! Its all about music writing and sound design.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: A reference, something in the same style they like in terms of sounds, arrangement, music writing.

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

A: Be communicative and precise when describing what you're looking for. The more we talk the more we understand each other and can deliver some incredible music together.

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

A: A laptop, a TR808, a Moog, a poly analogue synth, a Fender Rhodes.

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

A: My first official record was out in 2011 on Tony Humpries' Tony Records, but i started to experiment way earlier with an Akai sampler, a Roland drum machine, a Bass guitar and whatever i could put my hands on.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Soul infused, percussion driven, sun drenched.

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

A: I like what Pharrel has been doing in pop music, bringing a sense of contemporary and intelligent soul to mainstream music. In dance music I dig the Daft Punk's analogue gear use.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: These days there's so much content available on internet that it only takes some time to learn new tips. Music production has never been easier with a huge amount of tools available. For the aspiring producer i would just say take your time, watch tutorials, apply and start again.

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

A: As I've been producing different shades of house music for the past 10 years, from soulful to deep, to disco to afro, the kind of music I get mostly asked to produce is dance music, in all its forms.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: A sense of rhythm, 20 years internationally djing music culture, and appetite for new challenges.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I would say an organic feel, groove and definetely "soul".

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I ask the client a reference or two, this is very important in order to understand the way we want the final product to sound. I take the reference in high consideration although I allow myself to go with the flow and make original choices. Then i send a demo, wait for the client feedback, and once approved I add the final touches.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I'm currently working with a mixed ITB/OTB setup. Sounds are made thru both analogue gears and virtual instruments thru a UAD Apollo, in Logic. At the end of my chain sit analogue gear as a passive EQ and a FET compressor. My studio setup is costantly evolving, I'm always trying new things. Ask me the same question next month and the reply will be different!

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

A: Anything with organic grooves, from 60's bossa nova to 70's funk to disco to afro rhythms. But I also like electronic music and always use a more contemporary approach to music production.

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

A: I get asked to complete music productions with additional music parts, like live bass, piano, chords, synths and strings. Also i'm getting a lot of requests for mixing and mastering.