Beat Producer / Sound Designer

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

A: Not yet, but I'm hoping I can soon!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love creating. The idea that you can sit down and create something that will influence how a person feels is extremely powerful to me. Remember the first song you heard? Remember the first album you bought? Remember the way you felt when you heard that song? It's all so emotive and expressive. I have so many memories tied to music, I love being able to create music that might make people feel something themselves.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Cut-up, filtered, lo-fi, beat driven, bass-line focussed with a sprinkling of pads and arpeggios to taste.

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

A: I like to say I work on music for brands rather than bands. I'd like to do more of the latter, although it's more like working on music for artists than bands.

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

A: Bentley Rhythm Ace. Because their music was super wild and free.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Manipulating samples -- I don't mean sample libraries or illegal samples. I love to record my voice, synths, drum machines, kids toys and work them into new and unexpected sounds to create melodies and instruments from.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Right now alongside client demands I'm working on my own EP project -- a sort of Plunder-phonics, Big Beat and instrumental Hip Hop vibe.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: There are benefits in both! I like using some of my outboard samplers and synths alongside those 'in the box.' I like using analog modelled plugins alongside new tools and technology. For me, it's a mix of both that helps give a great sound.

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

A: I'm often asked if I can you do it for any quicker (and cheaper). My response is always to send this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRO-tjW-vnA. You get what you pay for!

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

A: 1) Computer (of course). 2) UAD Interface (duh). 3) Korg Volca Keys (diverse little beast). 4) Boss SP202 (retro feels) 5) Akai MPKmini (to play stuff by midi).

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

A: I began in radio production in 2002 in New Zealand. After spending 7 years doing that I moved across the world to the UK to continue in radio. During the course of my career I've gone from using other people's music and sounds to creating my own! It's infinitely more rewarding to use my own music and sound design in my work.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Be organised. Knowing where your samples are, having all your gear wired up ready to use, having a system for saving and archiving. Being organised means you don't have to spend all your time hooking stuff up and finding stuff, you can just get into the best bit -- being creative!

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

A: I usually work on instrumental pieces with a Plunder-phonics, Big Beat and Hip Hop feel. But I'm always listening to other music to search for new sounds and ideas to bring into these worlds -- be it ambient, chill, 8-bit or even the song structures of Punk and Metal.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to have a reference(s) to work off. Often I find that clients don't know what they want, but have heard something pretty similar in another piece of music. OR, a couple of ideas from various songs they'd like combined into something fresh. Then I'll set about constructing various short phrases and ideas, usually around 5 different starting points to share with the client. Then once we've both found something worth expanding I'll set to work creating the final track.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I write 'in-the-box' with Ableton Live, but make use of external samplers and synths to brit some added raw-ness and tone to my work. Some of my favourite plugins include FabFilter, the Schepps Omni Channel and a bunch of UAD stuff (especially the Shadowhills Mastering Compressor). I have an outboard Lexicon reverb in my Soundcraft desk I like to use from time to time.