Music Producer and Songwriter

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

A: I recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered my last band's EP. It was a high-energy jam band blues-rock that was recorded in many locations live and overdubs.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on building a catalog of songs for licensing, placement for sync. EP for a Folk-Rock Artist.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Almost everything is analog until it's digitized these days. Synths being the exception usually. I like to use good analog outboard gear and microphones, real amplifiers, and pedals to capture an organic sound. But digital is where it's at when it comes time to record, edit, mix, and master. Most of today's analog emulations in software are hard to tell apart from an outboard piece of gear. I usually record and mix at 24 bit 96 kHz so I have the extra processing and headroom to accurately use the old-school methods in a digital world.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Helping people realize a musical vision.

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

A: That we can make a really bad song to recording sound like a hit! No judgments though, you never know what someone might want to listen to n the streaming services.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What current artists and songs do you like? Whats genre do you think you fit into? What is your strongest skill? What is your message or what defines you? Do you have a niche? How can I help?

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

A: Make sure they are Artist focused and are there to support and help you with the realization of your music.

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

A: Maritn 000-18, G&L ASAT, Fender Princeton, Sure SM7B, UA Apollo interface.. Does a computer count as a piece of gear? A Macbook Pro or High-end Dell laptop.

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

A: I started my career as a drummer and studio rat in my late teens. I was a touring drummer, studio owner, live sound engineer, and Manufacturers Representative for Tascam, Genelec, Presonus, PRS, DOD. Digitech. I have continued to play multiple instruments and focus my personal music on creating for licensing. I have been writing, recording, and producing music for over 20 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I am laid back but serious about making good music. I like to have a solid foundation and then experiment to see what happens. I use a project plan process but make it flexible enough to adapt to situations and the need of the Artist.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: My best tip actually comes from Brian Eno. His philosophy I to use the studio like an instrument. Whatever you can create with playing, recording, and programming instruments using the studio tools like colors in a painting.

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

A: Rock of all kinds, Roots, Indie, Folk, Alternative, Pop, Jam Band. Alt-Country and Americana.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Taking song to the next level with arrangements and instruments. Mixing is also a passion and I can get really creative on tracks that are already complete.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I have a good sense of arrangement and parts to build up a song. I am good with enhancing the lyrics, melodies and picking the right sounds and instruments to support the song. I am a multi-instrumentalist but specialize in Drums, Guitar, and programmings virtual instruments like keyboards, synths, and stings.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to have a discussion with the Artist about their vision of what they want to be, the sound they want to create, and find references of artists and songs. Next, take songs and do a songwriter demo then start building from there will all the tracks and take it to the final product with a mix and master.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a home studio, but not your typical home studio it's tuned for mixing and master and has select high-end gear for tracking and mixing. If I need a large space there are many excellent studios in Texas that I have relationships with and many great facilities all over the world should the need arise.

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

A: My favorite music producers are Jacquire King, Daniel Lanois, Nigel Godrich, Brian Eno, Brendan O'Brien and Vance Powell. Songwriters and Musicians that inspire me are Jeff Tweedy, Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Jason Isabel, Neil Peart, Steve Smith, Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Zac Maloy.

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

A: I work with singers, songwriters, and bands to produce high-quality songs that can be released for streaming and sell to a fan base. I record, edit, mix and master songs or any combination of those services. I can take rough tracks and add parts or take the song to the next level with a professional mix and master.