8x #1 Producer | Mixer

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Top 20 Billboard across all genres. I focus on modern, cutting edge sonics, and staying ahead of the trends. To me, the most important part is delivering globally competitive mixes so that my artists can shine.

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

A: Pop / Country / Rap / Rock / RnB / Bands / Americana

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Located in the world famous Sound Kitchen Studios of Franklin Tennessee (just south of Nashville Music City), I have a permanent lock out in Studio C. It's a purpose-built acoustically treated commercial recording studio suite, where I run an analog hybrid mixing & mastering setup featuring primarily Dangerous Audio Music Equipment and PMC monitors.

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

A: Thank you for visiting my page. I do vintage and Modern Country, Band Music, and Acoustic / Organic Pop. People typically bring me their song, and then I do a "top down" arrangement in a custom style you request. From there send me your vocal multi-tracks and I'll get you a globally competitive Mix you can be proud of.

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

A: My best mic, my best mic pre-amp, my computer (loaded with the best software), a keyboard and some killer headphones.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Helping Artist's realize their potential, and then creating a sound that is internationally competitive. Over the last twenty years I have developed a way to ask questions and set a target sound with my Artist, so that they can receive exactly what they asked for, but with a twist of what they need, and a sprinkle of my style blended in.

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

A: Right now, (January / February 2018) I have a song in the Billboard Radio Top 20 (Neilsen Soundscan) which I Produced and Mixed. The Artist is Phillip Brandon (Lion King / Trans-Siberian Orchestra), and his Mom is singing the backgrounds vocals. I love Phillip's rich Baritone timbre, he was a joy to work with, and it was really fun having his Mom come in to sing... she was an original "Ray-lette"!!!! (Ray Charles BGV's)

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently working on an Adele / Sam Smith type EP for a female client, full of lyrically dark / deep / meaningful content. Mostly Piano ballads. Also, I am producing a 12-Song Pop / Country Album for a powerhouse female vocalist, and in between have been contracted by a Publisher to make modern Funk / Pop songs for a TV / Film catalog.

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

A: I work with several great songwriters, top-liners, and musicians on Soundbetter, and can gladly give referrals when appropriate.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: My studio is both Analog and Digital, because I want the best of both worlds, but none of the hours of "recall". I have set up my studio with the best analog gear available (and I continue to expand my collection), but have the flexibility of digital and the ability to switch between songs on the fly.

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

A: That I will treat you with respect, and never talk down to you. I've worked very hard (especially during vocal production) to refine my communication method in a way that keeps a Singer in a good mood, loose, relaxed, and comfortable being vulnerable around me. In this modern time and political climate, I promise to never put someone in a situation that could be uncomfortable, and I strive to create a "safe space" for my clients.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Making my clients happy and proud to work with me.

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

A: Q: Can I attend the session and watch? A: Attended sessions are more expensive, because of several reasons. Mostly, because having some's questions and opinions during a very personal process slows everything down. Production obviously requires the Artist and Producer to create together, but during the "Post Production" and Mixing phases, I prefer to be alone. This allows me to get into a "flow state" where I can truly concentrate. Also, my tolerance for listening to half a second of audio on constant loop while massaging the sounds is incredibly high. Most session attendee's cannot listen to .5 second of audio for more than a few passes, and that can hinder the process. Also, I have a picture in my head of where we are headed, and the journey there sonically may be confusing for someone not in my shoes. Often times the puzzle does not come together until the final minutes of a mix, and that can also be very confusing for a client. It is for this reason, that I do not deliver "progress update mixes", and instead my first deliverable will be the first version I feel is worth listening to and could be used commercially. 99% of the time, an Artist will have changes, and that is totally acceptable. Once I have done all the hard work, making "tweaks" is fairly easy and quick.

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

A: The biggest misconception about what we do is that it's easy, and that people can get a professional and competitive album from bedroom studio. I spent my formidable years battling against the imperfect listening spaces I was forced to work in because of the limitations of acoustics and sub-par speakers. In the end, I doubled down on acoustic treatments, saved up and bought the right equipment, and travelled across the globe in search of knowledge on how to create competitive music. The secrets I learned from the Masters I studied under were spiritual in nature, and go far beyond the basics of EQ and compression. It's about how you deliver emotional connection, and creating a link between a speaker cone and the audience's soul. It's not easy, and I have spent more than half my life learning how to do it. Having come this far, I realize I may work my entire life trying to master this craft, but what a fun life it will be helping my clients achieve their dreams.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask prospective clients dozens of questions, designed to get an Artist to open up about what matters, so that I can laser focus on the target we set together, meet and exceed expectations, and deliver music that you can be proud of.

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

A: I am a premium service provider, in a premium location, on premium gear. When you chose to hire me, you are getting 20 years of experience, where I beat my head against the wall trying to figure out how to deliver a truly professional sound. I am more expensive than most people on Soundbetter, but less expensive than paying someone cheap the first time, and then hiring a Pro to "save the record" when the discount service provider was not capable of satisfying you. Choose to hire me because you want top quality, and understand the value in doing it right the first time. In exchange, I treat my clients like gold, and am here to help in any way possible.

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

A: I started DJ'ing in the 90's rave scene in San Francisco, opening for the famous DJ's of the era in Oakland warehouse parties. From there, I studied under masters of the craft "paying my dues", until I was finally in a position to open my own studio.

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

A: I love working with power-house singers. Right now I dream about Producing music for Queens of modern music, in all genres... from Pop stars like Demi Lovato, Katy Perry, and Halsey, across the board to Country stars like Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, and Cam. I love working with strong Male singers as well, and would happily produce for Neo, Usher, Tyrese... Blake Shelton, Eric Church, and the Zac Brown Band. I am musically eclectic, but I love big singers who make me feel, cheer, scream, and cry.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: A Singer is the most delicate instrument in the studio. It is the only instrument directly tied to the human body, and therefore can be easily effected by stress, emotion, muscle soreness, and mood. When a Guitar goes out of tune, it's the string. When a Vocal goes out of tune, it's a human. In the end, people often don't notice how great a Snare drum sounds, but they always focus on the vocal, the lyrics, and the emotional connection of the music.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: My heart, soul, and the care of an experienced veteran. My job is to figure out how to take your music, and make it the greatest version of itself. Sometimes this means editing, sometimes it means recording, but it always means honoring the Artist, the songwriting, and delivering the finished product on time, in a professional manner.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It all starts with coffee. For Production, I spent a fair amount of time with my Artist figuring out exactly what they want, and discovering what matters to them sonically and emotionally. Once we agree on a direction, it's either songwriting, or jumping right into track creation. Depending on the style, we bring in session musicians, or sequence. Once the arrangement is done, and the vocals have been recorded, it's time to do the mix. I employ a special process I have developed called "lyrical mixing", a technique I teach worldwide in seminars and master classes. This has to do with discovering the emotion behind the lyrics, and figuring out how to connect the listener to the sound in the record, while still making the record globally competitive. This process has won me 6 awards, gone #1 on iTunes, and now a Top 20 Billboard Radio spot. When the mixing is done, I partner with one of several professional Mastering Engineers to finish the project and make sure it will be fantastic.

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

A: Dr. Dre, Max Martin, Ken Lewis, JJP, Manny Marroquin, Michael Brauer, Dave Cobb, Dave Pensado, Pharrell, J. Dilla, BattleCat... the list is so long, I could sit here all day naming the greats of our industry who deserve their names read aloud. I am inspired by talent, drive, honesty and integrity.