Producer/Songwriter/Vocalist

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

A: I've been working on my own personal debut album for a couple years now, and I just released an EP the features 3 songs from it. I believe it represents that best of what I can do.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I like using both. Analog gives the music emotion, digital opens up a world of endless creativity.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love music. I love creating a piece of music out of obscurity. I like it when I can create a song that can transport me to another time and place.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the overall vision you have for the project? What kind of visuals are you trying to create? What kind of emotional response do you want your listener to have.

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

A: Apollo X Twin, Soyuz 017, Neve 1073, Laptop, Nowland Acoustic

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

A: I've been writing and producing music for 15 years. I acquired a songwriting degree at Berklee College of Music and I plan to attain a Masters at some point in my career.

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

A: Sitting down and writing a song with Paul McCartney would make my life whole. Ha! though I know the likelihood of that happening is extremely low, other artists I would love working with are Shawn Everett, Tchad Blake, Greg Kurstin, John Mayer, Brandon Flowers. These are all artists that have inspired me in my own musical creations.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Creating an emotional response is what I'm trying to capture when recording, even if the take isn't perfect. If it creates an emotional response, thats the take you should keep.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I like to try and balance opposites by finding the perfect mix synthetic sounds and organic. I chase the chills, and try to find those moments in a song that pull you in and command your attention.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I usually try to refine the song in its simplest form first before moving into production. Like just on a guitar or piano, though sometimes create the song during the production process as well. I like to produce by recording a lot of ideas and then slowly wean them down to what serves the song the best. I love collaborating with other musicians as well for parts that I am not equipped to record myself.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work out of my home studio, which is decked out with some of my favorite gear. I record primarily using Luna through I Apollo X4 MKII. My monitors are the Barefoot Footprint 01. I record vocals with my Austrian Audio OC818 and I pull from my complete collection of UAD plugins for Preamps and other processing. I have an assortment of Music Man guitars and basses that I record through my Mesa Boogie Lonestar Special. Most of my synth sounds I get from software synths but I occasionally pull them from my Nord Stage 2.

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

A: Greg Kurstin, Paul McCartney, Beck, Sting, Shawn Everett, Bill Evans, Joe Hisaishi, Nobuo Uematsu, Ryan Tedder, Aurora, Mark Lettieri, Brian Eno, Brandon Flowers.

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

A: Songwriting, music production and vocal production.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm always writing material for myself and the band I front. I've also been working on some local artist songs here in the northern Utah area.

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

A: I will work as hard as I can, with the knowledge that I have, to make the best piece of music possible.

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

A: Have a strong vision for what you want to accomplish. Use a vision board for giving that vision something you can always refer back to.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I would say that my style is found in the way I can create unique blends with countermelodies and harmony.

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

A: I usually work in the rock and pop areas, but I also work quite a bit in with folk/acoustic rock as well.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Melodic and harmonic movement. Vocal arrangement and music arrangement.