Mixing & Mastering Engineer

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

A: I'm still very much at the start of my career. I've been producing for 6 years and mixing for 4. I initially became interested in music while in high school and have since attended Douglas College for Music Technology. Since graduating, I've been able to go full-time as an engineer and producer. My goal is to eventually do this on a much larger scale, working with big names in the pop and hip-hop industries.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: In your face. I love when there is something in the mix that slaps the listener in the face. Whether it's a loud vocal or spanking drums, there's always something hard that draws the listener's ear.

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

A: The project I'm most proud of to date is an EP I released with my boy oliverjames last year titled "Under The Moon." This project was a labour of love, functioning as Oliver's first foray into music. I worked as an executive producer, mix and master engineer, and cover art designer. It's up on all platforms and I recommend you check it out.

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

A: Well, of course, I'd bring my laptop with all of my samples and plugins, so that's one. I'd also have to bring my Apollo Twin interface and ATH-M50X headphones which, after 7 years of use, have been my best investment in audio gear yet. Microphone-wise my best bet would be a TLM-103; its versatile sonic signature and portable form factor make it perfect for most situations. Besides that, I'd bring the classic Akai MPK Mini. I'm convinced every single producer on the planet has one of these and am yet to meet someone who doesn't have one or something very similar. I do everything in the box so those 5 things are all I need to work.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Since I mix in-the-box, my studio setup is pretty minimal, but I have all the tools I need to create radio-ready mixes. My hardware includes a UAD Apollo Twin X Duo audio interface and Audio Technica M50X headphones. The bulk of my "gear" is my library of plugins. This includes analog emulations of classic compressors and EQs as well as modern must-haves like the FabFilter suite and Plugin Alliance Bundle

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

A: Kanye West (pre-2020) is definitely one of my biggest influences. The way he taps into and brings together talent is admirable and very inspirational to me. I'm also a massive fan of more behind-the-scenes producers and writers like Nami and Jon Bellion.

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

A: My main focus recently has been mixing and mastering. This work comes in pretty frequently and is what I specialize in.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently building a studio in North Vancouver called Polaris.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. Don't get me wrong, I love the sound of analog gear (EQs, compressors, preamps, etc) but digital emulations are becoming so good that even the best of the best can rarely tell the difference. The portability of analog emulations, paired with lower price tags is why I prefer digital in almost every circumstance.

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

A: The two main pillars of client-work to me are as follows: Punctuality: I always deliver on time or sooner. I know how it feels to be at the mercy of an artist or producer who just doesn't follow through on their promises. I do everything I can to deliver on time or sooner. If I'm not able to meet a deadline, I will communicate with my client at least 24 hours before the deadline, explain the situation, and provide a partial refund. Respect: Ego is a large problem within the industry and is the antithesis of my profession. Thinking someone is beneath you due to their music taste, talent level, or background is unacceptable and will never be something to worry about when working with me. We all need to lift each other up in this industry; it's not a zero-sum game.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love that I'm able to create all kinds of music with all kinds of people. It's still so crazy to me that this is a legitimate career path when it just feels like fun.

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

A: Usually, the only thing I'm asked about is my pricing, which I explain is always negotiable and flexible to fit your budget.

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

A: That it's hard. Anyone with a laptop and a few hundred dollars to spend on plugins can do what I do. The only thing separating the good from the great is how much time they're able to put into this. Not everyone has the privilege of time and disposable income to risk becoming a producer/engineer, and I acknowledge that, but for those who are able to, it's all about dedication.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I usually like to get to know the person's background and previous work to get an idea of their brand as an artist. When working with different producers and engineers, it can be hard to keep a consistent brand and style. This is something I feel is very important, so don't be surprised if I ask you about your brand.

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

A: Let someone's work speak for itself. Seeing someone with lots of big credits and expensive studio gear is very impressive, but if their work doesn't resemble what you're looking for, don't bother breaking the bank for that clout.

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

A: Jon Bellion is a personal hero of mine. The way he pulls melodies and production tricks out of thin air is incredible. Being in a writing room with one is one of my dreams.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't overthink. Try to use as few elements as possible to get the mood across. Relying on layers waters down the song; if you can make a beat with one or two instruments, bass, and drums, the song is solid.

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

A: My main genres are hip-hop, trap, pop, and rnb.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is my mixing/engineering ability. I can record, produce & mix radio-quality vocals. I specialize in mixing rap and pop vocals, but I've mixed many different genres and can adapt to new ones quickly and easily.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: While I'm able to dial in a radio-quality sound, I also appreciate the grit and edge that a lot of artists want in their music. I'm able to tastefully blend modern pop vocal production with a trappier edge that my clients absolutely love.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My mixing process is thorough and tailored to the artist and song. I don't just slap on a template and deliver an audio file; I'll always start from scratch and create a custom vocal chain that fits my client's voice. I tend to avoid over-producing the vocal as well, focusing on basic mixing pillars like clarity and depth.