Songwriter, producer, singer

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

A: XY&O. We released everything independently, became the biggest streaming pop artist in Wales, toured UK & Europe & played Glasto and currently have 35 million Spotify streams. I produce music for XY&O. Im proud because we were just three guys with really different skillsets experimenting for a laugh whilst at uni and did a bunch of cool stuff without any involvement from majors.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Writing a better song than yesterday. Producing something more exciting than last week.

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

A: JKP aka John Kilpatrick. Incredible engineer and very inventive producer. A name to watch over the next 5 years.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Cant we have the best of both in this world any more? Digital for convenience and speed. But analog when Im looking for that extra warmth and sauce.

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

A: We're going to make something you're excited and proud of, and want to show all of your friends next time you get drunk together.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: It doesn't feel like a job

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

A: Where the hell's my music? hahaha no no, people for the most part ask how I'm doing and I generally reply 'Im doing great because life is good.

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

A: That only 'certain' people can write songs. People that dont write songs think it's impossible for them to do it. You might only make awful songs to begin with, but trust that process and you'll be writing your own favourite songs in no time.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Fancy making a banger?

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

A: Get in touch. Even if you're not entirely sure what you want to create or work on yet, the magic starts from that first act of contact.

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

A: A machete for the coconuts, some keys, an iMac, some HUGE monitors & an internet router so I can still share my music with the world. It would be a simple and fruitful life.

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

A: Ive been playing around with music for like 15 years. Been doing it as a "job" for 5. I released a song that I produced in 2015 that had a great reaction online and in the streaming world. This opened some doors for me which allowed me to continue making money and music with different people.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Catchy

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

A: Julia Michaels & Justin Tranter. I'd like to be there for 'that' moment when the hit melody is plucked out of the ether and the perfect line is thought up to accompany it.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Get your chords in order. Thats the bedrock of the song. They've got to invoke a clear feeling immediately. Not only does this make for a better song but it makes it easier for the songwriter to vibe with it. It doesn't matter if they're generic pop chords, what does matter is the way they're phrased and the key melody lines you're infusing with them.

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

A: Pop, Dance, Electronic & Trappy Soul

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Communication

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A strong coherent concept, a melody that's bold and infectious, and something that walks the line between known and unknown very carefully. That for me is the essence of pop writing - invoking feelings of nostalgia, with enough new in there to keep people excited and interested. But besides all of that, the most important thing I bring to a song is what Im feeling in that moment, in line with the feeling of the track. Or a great translation of what the other person's feeling in that moment.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Depends on lots of different variables. At the moment Im writing a lot over Skype with people (tis the season of lockdown). So that begins with a chord progression and basic production I send to the people involved before the session. Then we jam out/ sing ideas to each other until something lands. I record the vocals straight into Logic as a guide. Once we have a decent melody structure we go in for some lyrical ideas. Then either I (or whoever the lead vocalist is on that song) does the final vocals over a basic instrumental whilst I continue to work the production. Then send the vocals to me for me to begin the editing process and get things sounding tasty. If we're talking me producing remotely for someone- I either present my ideas and see what that person likes, or Im given a specific idea on what style they want and we go from there. There's plenty of back and forths either via email or on skype/phonecalls. As soon as we're both excited we've got something worth finishing.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Super simple. KRK Rokit monitors, iMac, M-Audio keys, SE2200a II mic, Komplete Audio Interface and Les Paul Epiphone guitar. I work on both Logic Pro X and Ableton Live. I go to my professional studio to tweak mixes but almost everything is done from my home one nowadays. Especially the writing and producing ideas side of things.

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

A: The list is endless and added to every week. It also evolves depending on what Im listening to now. Some of my all time favourite producers & writers are Ed Sheeran, Chris Martin, Ryan Tedder, Timbaland & Dr Dre. From a writing perspective right now I'm super inspired by Lauv, Loote, Julia Michaels & Charlotte Lawrence. I love anything that Jason Evigan touches, Ian Kirkpatrick is a genius and what Monsters & Strangerz did to Lauv's 'Lonely Eyes' is magic as far as Im concerned. In electronic music Disclosure are (as always) pushing the envelope - their latest stuff is super organic and fresh. Rufus are another of my all time favourites in the more electronic field. In rap Joyner Lucas is dominating my brainwaves. That guys a wordsmith, flow maestro & lyrical genius. Out of the more classical stuff a dude called Olafur Arnalds writes music that makes you want to drop your to do list and cry. Ludovico Einaudi is a forever heartmaker. Im also listening to a lot of South American music of which Natalia Lafourcade is the queen. Some really beautiful stuff in there. And backwards in time- motown, soul and funk will always have a place in my heart. Anything Bill Whithers, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Bobby Womack, Nina Simone. Also been binging on Beachboys lately - their chords make so much and so little sense all at once.

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

A: I write songs to my clients instrumentals with or without specific briefs, or produce songs for artists (again with or without specific briefs on style). Although I love having sessions with people and getting to know them in the process of working creatively, I tend to do most of my work remotely because I collaborate with people from all over the world (mostly LA, South America, Sweden & London).