PRO Drums/SMOOTH Vox/CRISP Mix

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I've been working with a wonderful producer, Valerio M. from Rome on his music. Great alternative rock sound!

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

A: Mark Prentice Michael D. Valerio M. Samuel G. Alex L.

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

A: Soundbetter user Michael D. has asked to work with me on two projects since I joined. I am proud of the work I provided in in both cases. He gave me great reviews and also provided me with very clear instructions through out the project. Being a repeat customer just makes me feel like Michael D trusts me to deliver what I promise.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. I have had all my experience in the digital world. I would love to work with others that have had analog experience though as well.

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

A: I will work tirelessly to provide a product I am proud to present and you are happy to receive.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love that I get to be involved with the greatest art form every single day. It is never boring and there are always new and exciting challenges that present themselves. I also love that I get to help people with their goals.

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

A: Generally I get questions that are clear like "Would you be interested in playing on a smooth jazz song?" My answer would be "Yes". "Would you be able to make a separate track of your hi-hat just playing sixteenths for my engineer?" My answer "Absolutely".

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

A: That I am just a musician that sits around all day playing songs.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I like to ask as many questions as I can. Usually questions will involve any type of sound they are looking for. This could be "What sound are you looking for?" or "Are you looking for a heavy or light feel?". I will also ask questions that will help the flow of the project go smoothly. "How would you like the files sent to you?" "Would you like files RAW or edited?" and the simplest question is usually "What would you like to see from me on this project?"

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

A: I would hope to provide the customer comfort with the fact that I genuinely care about the product they will receive from me. An open line of communication is key to having both sides feeling cared for in this process. My ego is checked at the door and I only care about providing the customer with a positive experience.

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

A: Bass drum, snare drum, hi-hat, ride cymbal and floor tom.

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

A: I have been playing drums professionally since the age of 16. Fourteen years later at 30 years old I still find value in practicing and moulding my sound. It is part of my personality. I have performed in many contexts ranging from concert bands to wedding bands. I have taught music to students as young as four to as old as seventy. I've been recording drums in my home for various projects both personal and client based since 2015.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is groove oriented. I have built my fundamentals over the years and studied music up through the college level. I pride myself on being a versatile musician. Being able to play piano and sing has helped me develop my sound on the drums. I approach each song with a mood like mentality. Less is always more.

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

A: Stevie Wonder is my biggest musical inspiration. He plays everything and plays everything well. His musical vision in always elite. His music is timeless and he is constantly helping other musicians surpass their musical potential.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always working to achieve the best sound for the song helps in the communication process. I've found focusing on what is best for the song helps both parties reach that goal.

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

A: I usually work on blues, funk, pop, smooth jazz, country, folk and singer-songwriter music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is listening.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: The clients vision to the song is what I focus on first. I pride myself on staying true to the music and add to the experience. Overplaying has no place in my style. The groove is essential to bringing the song to life. I try my best to let my playing provide a strong foundation for the song to flourish.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I typically have the client send me the project that they wish to have me play on with a separate click track if available. I'll listen to the song multiple times and chart out anything that will help me in the recording process. This helps me be more productive and produce my best work for the client. Next I share a scratch track of my ideas via an mp3 file. This helps both the client and I open a constructive dialogue for meeting their expectations. Their satisfaction is my main concern and I try my best to communicate that through out the process. After hearing their thoughts from the scratch track, I then provide three separate tracks for them to pick and choose from. If they like what they hear, I give them the individual audio stems that they request.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My current set up is in my home studio. I use Logic Pro X as my DAW. I am working with the latest Focusrite Clarett 8PreUSB interface connected to my 2017 iMac computer. My drums are yamaha oak custom and I use a mix of zildjian and sabian cymbals to provide a wide variety of sounds for the client. Microphones are Shure SM57's on the snare, toms and hi-hat, AKG D112 on the floor tom, Audix D6 on the bass drum, and CAD CM217's for over heads.

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

A: Michael McDonald, Bruno Mars, Brian Culbertson, Stevie Wonder, Daryl Hall, Steely Dan, James Brown, Michael Jackson, The Eagles, Earth Wind & Fire, Chicago and many others.

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

A: My strengths are live drum tracks for various styles of music. Most common is smooth jazz, pop, rock, country, folk and singer songwriter music.