Producer and Engineer

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

A: I got asked to do sound design and arrangement for an animated movie trailer, and that was my first contact with music for image, which is something I wanted to do for a long time. With that project, I really stepped out of my comfort zone, but it was a blast. Ultimately, the project turned out really great and I am really proud, it complimented the story of the picture, which is most important. Really looking forward to similar projects in the future.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: At the moment, I am most occupied with my artistic career and working on personal projects. I released my debut single a few weeks ago, so my main focus is following that one. Moreover, preparing and developing upcoming productions.

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

A: A lot of amazing creators and producers are here, and I am so happy to see platform like SoundBetter providing both creators and clients this amazing opportunity and connection. Some I would like to mention are Arthur Pingrey and Michael Vail Blum.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Hybrid approach. Both are amazing. We should respect and acknowledge analog for what it did to music history and its distinctive sound, but take advantage of technology, and try to combine those two for ultimate sound experience and new musical horizons.

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

A: That I will work to execute on your ideas until we are both satisfied, but most importantly, you, and that I will do anything in my power to make your vision shine.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Creation. For me, there is no better feeling, and I could not think of one. Making something out of nothing, out of thin air and silence, and filling space and fueling people`s lives and experiences with music. For me, that is magic.

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

A: Unfortunately, I think a lot of people do not have cultivated awareness about this industry, and are taking products we make for granted. Behind every commercial, soundtrack and musical work are teams of people who are getting sleepless nights, so I think creators should be more credited, and industry acknowledged.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are their goals with this project? Where do they want to take it, can they provide some references? What is the idea behind this project?

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

A: Great communication and understanding are key. Always try to express your ideas and goals in the best possible light with the appropriate coverage.

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

A: Not so different from what I use now. First of all, an appropriate and tailored computer, headphones, a decent microphone, keyboard, and notebook for writing. I think with that, you are all set to make great art. The music always comes from inside.

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

A: I started diving more deeply into music around 2012 when I was 13 years old when my friend introduced me to the popular electronic acts of the time whose music I adored and resonated with. I wanted to know how it's done, so I started exploring and experimenting in my first DAW, which was FL Studio 10. At the same time, I started exploring my father's vinyl collection, which includes Kraftwerk, Phill Collins, Daft Punk to name a few. I wanted to know how some of the pieces were made, so I started digging and digging. Much more serious production started in 2015 with Electronic music production, which later evolved into more organic sound while keeping electronic influences. In 2019, I enrolled at SAE Institute and started studying Audio Production. For past years, I found myself in various fields within the industry including assistance for live sound engineering at Exit Festival, studio work and engineering, production, mixing and mastering.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My current style and the one I am developing would best be described as Chilled, Ambient Electronic with adaptations to RnB and Pop Music, where big attention is put into songwriting quality, followed by instrumentation and production that tells a story.

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

A: The list goes on and on, but some of my favourites I would like to mention are Lord Huron and Bon Iver, for their amazing storytelling and ambience that surrounds their music and projects. Rick Rubin, because of his philosophical and spiritual approach to music creation. A list of countless engineering legends and pioneers that I would like to meet and learn from such as Max Martin, Andrew Schepps, Gregg Wells and Al Schmitt to name a few. Considering contemporary mainstream artists, dream collaborations include Khalid, The Weeknd, Harry Styles etc.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: There are too many I would like to share, yet the first one that comes to my mind and one that I started applying recently is to listen to your music outside DAW. Render it as it is, transfer to your phone and take a walk outside or lay in bed while listening to it. You will often-times notice that it sounds way better than you actually thought, and I think the reason for that is because we are getting used to listen and produce music with eyes, rather than ears, and we get so caught up visually looking at automation, frequencies, arrangement and so on. To summarize, the eventual listener is only going to hear the final mp3, so I think we too should work and produce with that in mind. Just a quick psychological tip.

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

A: At the moment, I am occupied with a personal artistic career and projects, which are electronic-based, but besides that, I like to work on chilled RnB, Pop, and music with organic instruments and melodies, which has great songwriting. Speaking of genres, I have some preferences, but always strive not to limit myself and music to one particular form, rather explore various sonic fields and expand musical knowledge.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Creative touch and clarity in vision and production.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Depends on the project. As a rule, before the start of any project, I like to sit and think, spend some time prior to actual work and production, and think about an idea and philosophy of the project and where do I want to take it and tell a story thoroughly. For creative, writing and production projects, I like to start with basic ideation, theme, and songwriting, and develop upon that foundation. My writing/production projects usually start with a chord progression, harmony, and melody. For mixing and mastering projects, generally projects that I am not present through the whole process, I like to spend some time with artists, communicating their ideas, visions, and hear some references. All in all, get the general foundation that will further be developed and polished.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: In my home studio set-up, I like to keep it simple and in the box. Furthermore, I like to work remotely, for the reason that I tend to find inspiration in different places, so my current set-up works wonders for me. Starting with my personal computer which is optimized for production purposes, connected through Universal Audio Apollo X to Genelec Studio Monitors and Audio Technica Monitoring Headphones, when I am traveling and/or unable to use monitors. My go-to controller/keyboard is Arturia MiniLab MKII, optimized for quick controls within DAW and plugins and also ready to record MIDI and ideas at any moment. Besides my fundamental studio setup, I really like to experiment with outboard analog gear and spend time in traditional studios, so I grab any chance I get to be in that environment, experiment with different outside-the-box and analog gear, and amaze myself with the results.

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

A: That list is pretty expansive, as I find inspiration in different corners of the audio and creative universe, but to sum it up, I would say Avicii, Finneas, John Mayer, M83, Tycho, Pharrel Williams, Flume, Max Martin, Rick Rubin, Louis Bell, Frank Dukes, Andrew Watt, Chris Lord Alge, Hans Zimmer, Brian Eno, and late Rupert Neve.

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

A: For clients, the most common type of work I deliver includes mixing and mastering services, as well as songwriting and production. During my professional career, I executed diverse projects for various clients, sound design for animation, and audio post-production to name a few.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: What I consider my strongest skill, is also my biggest Achilles heel sort to say. That is to say, paying attention to detail and chasing perfection. As much as it sometimes can be a great amplifier and bring amazing depth into the project, it also can, very much often, lead to a spiral of chasing something unattainable, which a lot of typical listeners won`t even notice, yet I believe striking perfect balance is crucial. Together with that comes the habit of not giving up, and persisting on projects until it sounds how it is supposed and falls in place.