Songwriter, Arranger, Vocalist

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

A: 1) If I program everything, or if real musicians get recorded for the songs I create. I always get amazing LA based musicians (and remote musicians if required for a certain sound) on every song. 2) If we can cowrite in my studio. We are definitely going to meet in person (if you are in LA), or get together on Skype to talk about your ideas and goals for the song, or album. But writing is a very intimate process for me. Even if I come up with something on the spot and show you the direction we can take your project, I need time alone to connect all the dots and create a cohesive piece of art that will have cross-references between music, lyrics and even artwork. We can then do a few rounds of notes and I will make sure to find a way to incorporate your ideas and ensure you walk away with a piece of music you love.

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

A: Be very clear about what your end result is. Tell me why are you in the music, let me know what are the feelings you want to express and any references you feel very strongly about. And let me go through my process of connecting the dots for you. I will create something that will be true to all of those and perhaps something that will inspire you in ways you didn't expect.

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

A: Honestly, it won't be fair to pick just one, any time I get to hear music I create recorded with great musicians in awesome studios, I feel so much joy and pride, that there is really no reason to just pick one. I love the all work I have done this far and I can't wait for the next song to come to life!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: At the moment I'm working on a musical, finishing up a full emo/punk album and a pop single.

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

A: William Jacobsen is an outstanding session guitarist! If you need remote guitars, go hire him :) https://soundbetter.com/profiles/44933-william-jacobsen Alexander Verbitskiy is an outstanding mixer and producer, even has an Emmy, haha :) He is good, go hire him too! https://soundbetter.com/profiles/94961-alexander-verbitskiy

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Depends on the end goal. Do you want it dirty and with lot's of vibe, or clean and polished? Here is a crazy thought.., combine bits of both to create unique texture ;)

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

A: You will not walk away with a subpar song. It's either great, or nothing :)

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Music is magic! And doing a great job that satisfies not only my clients, but me personally is very fulfilling.

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

A: Some people think songwriting is only top-line melody and some basic chords :) I create full arrangements, lyrics, midi programming and picking the best musicians for each project, overseeing the entire production from concept to final master.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: How do you feel today? What's on your mind? Is there a story that can help me to get to know you, that you would like to share?

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

A: Piano and a notepad. If I only had those two, I could create music. For the last three I would skip the gear and probably take some tasty snacks, Starbucks coffee and my husky :P

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

A: I've been writing songs and composing music for more than 10 years. I've been singing for more than 20 years now.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Diligent, creative, inventive storytelling. Always with great melodies at its core, with plenty of details in arrangements.

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

A: My goal is to work for Disney, to write music for their movies and, who knows, maybe become a princess' voice one day. :)

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I strongly believe that a song can be a complete piece of art when all its parts (such as music, arrangement, lyrics, album cover, artist's visual image, music video) work together for a common goal.

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

A: Pop-rock, pop, musicals.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Connecting the dots. Taking pieces of ideas and putting them together into cohesive pieces of art.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I always do my best to tell a story in every song. When I write lyrics I create a special color palette for each song that is used to describe setting, characters, their feelings, their stories. I do the same with music - I choose instruments to make stories complete with nuances and accents that can help listener visualize the music.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I take care of the entire songwriting process - from ideas to full arrangements with voice melodies and complete lyrics. You can come to me with a bare minimum idea and walk away with a fully produced, mixed and mastered track with fantastic LA players and award winning engineering team credited on your song.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work in several studios around LA, across them the gar varies from Neve and API desks, to boutique preamps, from vintage Neumann U67, U87 microphones, to modern Slate VMS setups. I have a beautiful upright piano and several guitars at home, plus plenty of instruments across the studios. I always get real instruments recorded for the projects I take on. I think it's important for the vibe and feel of the music. Most writing I do in Logic, recording in Pro Tools, but I am also able to open, Cubase, Reaper and many other formats my clients might send me.

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

A: I'm a big fan of Alan Menken who composed most of the original Disney soundtracks ("The Little Mermaid", "Aladdin", "Tangled"). He inspires me to create musical stories describing different characters, their feelings, actions, drawing pictures with music. I like Marianas Trench (a Canadian pop-rock band) - they make great music in different genres. ABBA is another one of my strongest music influences. Also, I like such bands as Panic at the Disco, My Chemical Romance, The Used, Backstreet Boys and many more.

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

A: Songwriting, producing.