Producer, Session Guitarist

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

A: I am especially proud of a track I produced and co-wrote called "With Ya." It's a great combination of organic and synthesized elements.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently working on a couple worship tracks for an artist out of St. Louis.

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

A: I don't know of anyone yet, given that I'm still new to the platform. But I'm consistently on the lookout.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. Software emulations of hardware are so precise these days that it makes once 'out of reach' gear affordable for anybody wanting to get into producing.

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

A: My promise to my clients is that I will not rest until the message and emotion of their song is accurately portrayed in my production.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like that I get to create a sonic backdrop for songs that may have started in a very raw form.

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

A: If customers have questions it's usually about whether or not I can add a specific instrument to the production. My answer is usually yes, but I'll clarify why I didn't choose to include it initially, and then ultimately let the client decide whether they prefer the extra instrument in or out of the final mix.

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

A: That making a section sound 'bigger' is simply a matter of adding something extra, like a distorted guitar or a synth.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Typically I'll ask what vibe they're looking for, and if they have any reference tracks. I'll also ask what their budget looks like, so that I can accommodate them accordingly.

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

A: The more specific vision you have for your song, the better.

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

A: Macbook Pro, Kemper, Les Paul, Apollo Twin, Telefunken THP-29's.

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

A: I moved to Nashville right out of college in 2014. Within a few months, I began to play guitar professionally, touring with various artists. By 2017, I started producing and writing songs. My productions and songs caught the attention of ASCAP, and was admitted into their GPS class of 2017. This exposed me to a greater scope of what record labels and publishers seek in a song and/or track. Since then I've continued to cultivate my craft, working with some of the best up and coming songwriters and artists Nashville has to offer.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Generally I'd describe my style as ethereal pop, but that can vary. My main objective is to serve the song above my personal style.

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

A: I'd like to work with Bon Iver. I really identify with the production style of his records.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Layering is your friend.

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

A: Typically I work on Pop and Country.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Precision. I have a keen ear for details, and believe that refining all the idiosyncrasies adds up to a much more professional sounding song.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: To put it simply, I bring emotion to a song. The song's lyrical and melodic content heavily informs the way I produce the track.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Typically I start by composing a rough track to establish structure and feel. From there I'll focus on vocals, exclusively. Once vocals are completed I'll begin to add details to the composition, so that it begins to have character. Finally, I'll mix the entire project. Once I have a mix I'm happy with, I'll send it to the client. At this point I'll make any revisions that the client requests.

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

A: Sonically, I'm inspired by Trent Reznor, although my sound often differs from his. Philosophically, I'm influenced by Rick Rubin. His knack for getting to the heart of the music and stripping away non-necessities is something I aspire to achieve.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I operate mostly "in the box" through my Macbook pro. My DAW is Logic, equipped with various third party plug-ins. My interface is an UAD Apollo Twin. For monitors I use a pair of Yamaha HS7's. For guitar and bass sounds I use a Kemper. For drums and percussion I utilize sounds primarily from That Sound and Splice.

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

A: The most common work I do for my clients is full-blown song production, from the ground up. Typically, I'll first receive a work tape of the clients song. From that point, the client and I will discuss what sort of direction the song should move towards. Next, I'll compose a rough version of the song based on my discussion with the client. Once the rough track satisfies the client's vision for the song I'll construct the final version. If the client needs any revisions, I'll do up to three revisions.