Am a composer and songwriter who adds a unique twist to piano recording. My specialty involves original improvisation that spawns forth unique creative ideas rather quickly. Piano tracks will be recorded on a 7 foot Yamaha concert grand with some of the best mics and pre-amp in the industry.
My producer and recording studio friends are an excellent resource for teaming up on your project. Unless otherwise agreed upon, all piano tracks will be recorded in a professional studio with an engineer present. Am also learning music production using Studio One and can come up with ideas in the DAW for your pre-existing recordings. If you want assistance with mixing and mastering through me, it is vital for you to know that these are outsourced until I become proficient in such tasks. Here's a scenario through which you might want to consider a mixing service that I supervise:
1) At the recording studio, your tracks are unloaded into ProTools by the audio engineer.
2) Piano is recorded.
3) The engineer also mixes during our time there.
For independent piano or other scenarios, any type of file can/will be provided to you.
Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.
Interview with Ryan David Dwyer
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I interviewed a couple for an hour and extracted the story of their relationship for a custom song. A few days later the inspiration came to me for the intro to their song and the rest all came together in about a half an hour. After going to a top quality recording studio called Figure8sound , their team arranged, added strings, percussion, bass, guitars, and electric lead guitar. In addition, an amazing vocal track to seal the radio quality end sound. They mixed and mastered it to perfection. It felt incredibly amazing to know that they did all that on the backbone of my songwriting and piano track!
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Currently, I have a lot of original songs I'm slowly improving as I learn to mix/produce in Studio One Professional. With all the production tools, etching my own unique style is taking time. When I get to the point of satisfying my "perfectionist" standards, I'll eventually release publicly. Translating my unique acoustic piano style intoto pop music takes a completely different mindset, especially since the way I'm producing eliminates my normal piano playing.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Not yet. Am new to the community and very open minded to getting to know some fellow members.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: For raw acoustic, definitely analog through top quality microphones. There's just something about the way a piano's soundboard resonates throughout a room that digital just hasn't seemed to capture yet; although technology is sure getting close. Butttt...there is a noticeable difference in the way I express myself dynamically when at a grand piano, compared to at a DAW with a keyboard.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: What I do won't sound like anyone else.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love enhancing any musical idea. Feels great to make someone's life better through original expression.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Usually I inquire regarding what work/recording you've already done. Then reference tracks.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Know exactly what you want beforehand. If you are unsure, be very open minded to be led in an unexpected direction.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: An acoustic guitar (yes I play a little), a keyboard with solar power, my laptop, some awesome headphones, and Studio One.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been writing songs since age 12 and playing piano since 8. Growing up I never perceived myself making money with music, as my focus was on religious/spiritual songs. After working in a piano store, the management for a Jaguar car dealership came looking for a pianist for their grand opening. They heard me and hired me on the spot. This was in 2002. Since then I've played for private parties such as weddings, Portland International Airport from 2011-2012, and hotels.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Contemporary eclectic piano.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Timbaland. He is proficient at expressing raw creativity. His process of making a song begins with his voice making beats and sounds, ever before selecting instruments and percussion in his DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Songwriting and production are really two sides of one coin. Wonderful lyrics, melody, and chords do not guarantee an amazing end production, but they certainly increase the odds. Before approaching a mixing engineer, do your best to nail down unforgettable phrases, melodies, and lead hooks. Give them something worthy to work with!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Most of my experience involves instrumental recordings. Since July 2018, I've been studying music production - primarily in the pop genre. Although it is sometimes an ambiguous style, the main premise is packaging an end product that has mass appeal, and should contain elements that are easily digestible with the inspiration to press the repeat button. Regardless of the style you choose, my goal will be that your listeners will desire to listen to your song over and over again.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Raw original piano solos.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: For many years I've been doing Facebook Live piano broadcasts with spontaneous piano playing. Putting myself on the spot in a vulnerable position allows for "forced" creativity. This non-cookie cutter approach brings something fresh to your project that is rooted in out of the box thinking. At the same time, I continually study pop music in order to learn innovative ways to use typical chord patterns and add something special.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Lyrics inspire me to write music almost immediately. My spirit captures the theme of a song and from there I attempt to match what is being communicated lyrically into music. In the last couple years I've been paying attention to creating "hooks", even in instrumental/vocal songs. An interesting lead melody can make all the difference to a song standing out from the norm.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: For private projects I use Studio One Professional so I can understand the recording/mixing process. However, grand piano recordings are conducted at Instep Music in Portland, Oregon.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Timbaland is a music producer that draws my attention. He records straight from his heart/voice before attempting any synthetic beats or instruments.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Original piano tracks, arranging, and lyrical collaboration.
- PianoAverage price - $300 per song
- Songwriter - LyricAverage price - $150 per song
- Songwriter - MusicAverage price - $150 per song
- Pop-Rock ArrangerAverage price - $150 per song
- Keyboards - SynthAverage price - $100 per song
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $450 per song
All payments will be handled through www.soundbetter.com . In most scenarios, you will be watching via live video as the piano recording session is in progress. This prevents the need for revisions.
