Music Producer, Songwriter

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

A: The song on my profile, "Devil's Advocate" is a co-release with my buddy Josh Lambert and Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens - one of my favorite bands growing up. It was a real treat to produce and mix/master.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Building brand awareness

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital because it's more versatile and has always gotten me exactly where I want in a mix. Some analog consoles / rack gear just cannot be beat, though.

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

A: 100% satisfaction guarantee. My job isn't done until my clients are in love with the final product.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: There are no rules, except one - have fun.

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

A: The biggest misconception is that faster should = cheaper. For many of us, it has taken a lifetime to develop the skills to be great, and put out great work quickly. You are paying for the end result, not the time it takes to get there. If a producer/engineer can pump out great work AND save you time, that's a win-win.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What kind of sound are you going for? Who/what inspires you? What makes your music different?

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

A: If you are recording your own vocals, invest in a great mic, proper acoustic treatment and a decent interface. Also make sure to choose a producer/engineer that you trust - and then trust their process.

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

A: An SJC drum kit, Martin acoustic, my Macbook, U87, flare gun

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

A: Although I have a Bachelors in Entertainment Management, the corporate life was never for me. I want to help talented artists make their favorite music of all time. That's all. I've been doing this for over a decade, and I hope I am lucky enough to do it for the rest of my life.

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

A: Bring Me The Horizon - saw them live and it changed the way I approach songwriting. I love that they're a legacy hardcore band that is constantly pushing the envelope and innovating their sound to stay relevant to younger listeners.

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

A: I have deep roots in modern hip hop/pop, but over the last couple years I've been working extensively on rock/pop punk/metal and even country. Blending elements of different genres is always a fun time.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Throughout the entire process, artists will see my many inspirations at work. From new school artists like Travis Scott, Blackbear, and 100 Gecs to old school cats like Mayday Parade and Kanye. I'm constantly pulling from as many of my favorite artists as I can to give a song the life and energy it needs to succeed in today's marketplace.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My work process varies case by case, but I think it's important to understand where the artist is at with each song, and to do my best to bring out their best. I start out with a pre-production meeting to go over the song, structure, message, references, inspiration, etc. Then, I start building the beat/instrumental - which could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 6-7 hours depending on the project. Once the beat is done, we'll lay down vocals. I try to push my artists to get the best out of them in the booth whenever necessary. A lot of times, we'll collaborate on lyrics and stylistic decisions to help shape the vocal performance. I typically mix as I go, but once all vocals are tracked and production is finished, I'll set 1-3 days aside to get a final mix. Once the final mix is approved by the client, I set up a day to knock out the master.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My home studio is set up in North Hollywood, CA - this is where I do most of my production and mixing work. I frequently do sessions in other studios around downtown LA, NoHo, and West Hollywood

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

A: John Feldman, Zakk Cervini, Aries, Rio

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

A: Yes. Ollie Joseph for male rappers.

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

A: Can you work with me from out of state? Yes.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Vocal-centric, punchy & vibey. I can be as mild or obnoxious as you want when it comes to beats and mixing though, I work for you.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Distort your 808's on purpose, not by accident.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Making anything and everything sound good (via solid recordings, tasteful mixing, and mastering that makes each song "radio ready").

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

A: Beatmaking, full production, vocal mixing, mastering