Phil Zacharias on SoundBetter

Affect people with your music - and get it's magic ready so the universe can listen.

I started my journey training as a guitarist and fell in love with the everything music.
I love EMOTION in all aspects of music making - which is why I want to be involved in everything from the recording and writing to mixing and mastering.

I have a SSL hybrid recording studio based now in Amsterdam - low cost if you want to come and plug in - with very highest SSL quality sound.

I write music for film, radio and other touring artists.

I mix and master tracks to the highest standard ready for release, and can help with linking to record labels, and release onto all platforms. We aim to bring your uniqueness out and make your tracks ready for commercial release.

Radio and podcasting is another speciality, from cleaning and editing. I've produced full station branding for Radio 1+1Xtra (BBC Newsbeat, BBC Introducing) and example podcasts are for SKY TV - Lost Initiative/Iain Lee, and Game of Thrones/Thronecast.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

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Interview with Phil Zacharias

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Teaching a child old how to make hip hop music and helping him discover a way to express himself and share his emotions.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Not yet!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. Because they both have strengths. Analogue for it's 'low end' abilities, and for making music 'sound like a record'. Digital for it's preciseness and organisation.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Anyone who is honest and interesting. Often other musicians that leave space for me and others to dwell in.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: An album that was made on a 4 track cassette machine by a 25 year old client. He is very inspiring and passionate and I admire that he sought out help for the areas he didn't have knowledge in yet.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will do everything I possibly can to understand the emotions and empathise with the work they have produced so I can come in and help bring their work to a beautiful conclusion.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Creating something that feels like it belongs in this universe. Feeling emotions flowing faster when music starts to glow and making something addictive that I can't stop listening too.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: For music it varies so much there is not one common thing. Dealing and understanding the needs of my client is always in the forefront of mind.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That writing or producing music is technical.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is the music or things that inspire you? I would ask everything about why they made their work, and get to know the connections and images they have in their mind. I want to get to know them and empathise as much as possible.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: You can't do everything on your own - at least not straight away. The ability to see your work from another persons perspective is invaluable. Maybe see if you can try out a provider - it's impossible to know who would fit best with you. I would be open to that.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A guitar (+ unlimited strings). A solar powered 4 track machine.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: A started learning classical guitar when I was six, (I'm in my 40s). My parents were a touring band and we had a studio in the house; so I spent my life using music to connect to other people, and using the studio to experiment in ways to do the same.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Driven by emotion. Flowing. Musical.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Thom Yorke. He has a burning need to make music, and he leaves so much space for us to take part, and it touches me.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Close your eyes..
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: All types, I love experimental (not necessarily the weird type - just a fresh approach to music making to find something a bit different. I feel that this can be valid for all genres of music especially pop).
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Really it is emotion again - and my main tool is the acoustic guitar for this, but all the technical things I learn are just tools.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Emotion. And then seeing what the mode is - I want to bring a timeless production, but it often needs to fit into what is fashionable at the time.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Find out the heart of the job - research what I need to do and connect to my emotions. Then produce what I need to do - but keep in close and good contact with my clients. they come first always.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a love of analogue - hence I use one of the best mixers SSL. Lots of vintage outboard is to hand, but also a lot goes on in the computer for a modern approach and recall.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Writing music, recording instruments, mixing and mastering music.