Producing, Songwriting, Mixing

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

A: I just wrapped a single for a Toronto based 'Heartbreak Pop' duo that I'm really psyched about - that's releasing in the next month or two. I wrote the first draft of the song, then refined it with them. I also fully produced the track. I'm proud of the lyricism in this one and the mood we captured.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently I'm working on 4 singles for a great Arizona-based duo who just passed 1M followers on TikTok...they're crushing it! That first release should be coming in September. I'm also producing a piano ballad for Will Bowes, a hugely diverse solo artist.

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

A: Ben James. We connected through an Indie Streaming App called LÜM. He's great at mixing dreamy pop productions and has a project called Beecher's Fault

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I love the ritual of Analog, but Digital is incredible! Look at all we can achieve with it. Having said that, I still love to use analog synths whenever possible.

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

A: You will always get 100% transparency and enthusiasm during your project, and I guarantee you will love the result. I'll only invest in a project if I'm certain you will be proud to release it.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Before it was even a job, it's something I needed just to feel right in the world. Music just makes sense to me above all else. It's fun, it's purposeful and it connects people. It's beautiful! It's the most rewarding creative outlet I can think of. To make a living off it is a dream.

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

A: That it's not hard work. It is!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Upbeat but Melancholy. Epic Anthems and Beautiful Ballads.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Do you have a timeline for release? Who's music are you listening to a lot of right now? What visuals do you see when you think about your song? Are there any specific sounds you absolutely love?

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

A: A bunch of open communication, from the moment we consider working together to the end of the project. Be vulnerable about what you want to achieve, and what your song means to you.

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

A: 1. My Avalon S300A - I had this acoustic guitar custom made in 2010. It's been on tour all over the world with me. I'll never part with it. 2. An upright piano (assuming I found a great spot I never had to leave!) 3. A drum kit (basically, I just want stress-relieving instruments I can play really loud) 4. Laptop 5. Hard drive And obviously I would create renewable electricity out of the sun or something.

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

A: Originally from Ireland, I became a full-time touring folk artist in 2011 and had the opportunity to headline in Europe as well as support some of my favorite bands. I'd always written and fully produced my own music (with help from talented engineers, of course!) and was met with critical acclaim for my songwriting. In late 2014 I immigrated to Toronto, Canada and began getting more involved in Music Production, creating scores and jingles for commercials and podcasts (still do). I'd studied and worked in the film industry for a few years prior, so creating music for visual storytelling was really appealing to me. It also gave me opportunity to really branch out with genres and understand the needs of clients. I met a ton of talented artists in Toronto and began to collaborate on musical projects way more. In 2016 I immigrated again, this time to the US (I get around). I was hired as A&R for an Indie-focused music app and began networking and involving myself with a lot of up and coming Pop artists over those few years. Kind of organically, artists started asking me to give them production notes or help with lyrics. One thing lead to another, and now I produce artists full time!

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

A: It's so unfair to ask for just one! Haha. It would be awesome to cut a track for Lewis Capaldi...I've created a lot of heart-wrenchers that would suit him perfectly.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Create authentic music from your heart, not what you *think* others want to hear.

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

A: Pop/EDM and Heartbreaking Folk

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creating emotionally engaging music across genres.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: EMPATHY, first and foremost. A song is a connection between the creative collaborators and the audience. Very catchy melodic hooks & instrumentation, engaging lyricism (when requested!), clarity, efficiency and enthusiasm.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I'll typically receive a demo from a client (anything from a full performance in a voice memo to a loose production), at which point I ask for a couple of music references that currently inspire them. Frequently, they send me some clean vocal takes tracked remotely, I efficiently put together my interpretation of the song to show them a 'first pass', then I refine it into a hit! I also like to have consultation calls with my clients, so we can really chat about the emotional story behind their song, and get to know each other's vibes a little!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a home studio in Atlanta. I always use a mix of real instruments and MIDI (gotta bring human elements to the track for authenticity!) and I'm proficient in guitars, piano and vocals. I use Logic Pro X, and let clients hop into remote sessions via screenshare/audioshare when necessary.

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

A: Producers: I currently dig a lot of production work by Finneas O'Connell (Billie Eilish, Finneas, Halsey, Tovelo, Selena Gomez), and Lauv. I'm a long-time admirer of Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and Aaron Dessner (The National, Big Red Machine and most recently 'FOLKLORE' by Taylor Swift). Songwriters: Justin Vernon (again!) for poetic lyricism (and his ability to constantly work between raw folk-rock and mainstream pop), Julia Michaels for her catchy toplines and word play. Billie Eilish/Finneas for their visceral storytelling. Ultimately, I'm a huge fan of creators who bring originality, experimentation and meaningful, emotional lyrics into the mainstream!

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

A: Most of the time I'm hired to Produce Pop and Folk tracks remotely (though I have plenty of collaborative studio experience under my belt), and I frequently get requests to co-write songs or brush up existing lyrics for up and coming Artists.