I am a graduate of Berklee Online with a Bachelor's Degree in Songwriting and Producing Music. I have self-produced my symphonic death metal project called Chronicler of Ardul. I have paved my way into this music on own, using inspirations from Shadow of Intent, Mental Cruelty, and video game composers like Nobuo Uematsu and Yasunori Nishiki.
I learned how to go from a paper napkin idea to a fully completed song ready for distribution. Anything from songwriting, lyrics, orchestral composition and arranging, to some mixing and mastering.
I am knowledgeable in music theory and how to write chord progressions and melodies. I also took courses on mixing and mastering.
My music career started when I took a guitar class in high school, then I went to community college and bought my first drum set. I got my AA with a focus on music, had a few bands here and there, and then eventually wanted to further my education and attended Berklee Online. I graduated with honors, but I didn't fully learn all I wanted.
I had to learn how to make the music wanted. No one taught how to write concept music. No one taught how to write thematic music, much less metal. I had to pave my own way and take what I knew and create the music I wanted. That music is symphonic death metal based on my fantasy world called Ardul.
I am most comfortable with metal, but I've also dabbled in folk and soundtrack style orchestral music.
Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.
Interview with David Williams
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: There's a song I wrote called "The Corruption." That song has a big climax to it that's been building up since the beginning of the EP. Everything from the song structure to the lyrics and the instrumentation choices, and finally it just hits. It's a proud moment for me that I enjoy a lot.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Schecter Evil Twin guitar, Boss Katana amp, my PC, an interface, and maybe something to help with mixing.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I have graduated from Berklee with my Bachelor's in Songwriting and Producing Music. I started learning music when I was 18, since 2003. I've gone to school, I wrote music, grew, changed music genres, and kept adding more to my project than I can handle sometimes. I'm still growing, still learning, and always trying to do better than before.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Epic cinematic metal
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Get good sounds at the beginning, play to a click. Beyond that, use your EQ to make space, and having a good EQ can make that a lot easier.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Metal, mostly death metal and black metal, some deathcore, as well as orchestral pieces.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I've been told many times and unprovoked that my songs flow. I have a good sense of song structure and how to lead into others. Each section has a purpose, and being able to move from one to another is important for the whole of the song.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a home studio using Reaper with a Yamaha keyboard, a 6 string electric guitar, and Boss Katana mkII Amp. I use mostly DI inputs or virtual instruments for bass, drums, and orchestral ensembles.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Video game composers Nobuo Uematsu and Yasunori Nishiki are my big influences for orchestral pieces. Bands I love and look up to are Shadow of Intent and Mental Cruelty.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Whatever sounds best. If you can make the music sound amazing on your type of gear, that's what you should be using.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I enjoy creating the piece the most. The work and attention I give it, writing it and seeing where it goes.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: The first thing I’ll do is figure out the mood or feeling of the piece I’m trying to write. I’ll figure out an idea of how it should sound and start with writing to that. I’ll add layers if needed, and work on it until it is nearly complete, then see how my collaborator feels about it and adjust as needed. From there, I’ll do mixing and add effects if needed, then do some mastering.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I can provide songwriting and lyrics with chord progressions up to a complete song without singing. I can also provide composition work from a guitar or piano on up to small orchestral ensembles. With that, I can do some mixing and mastering of the piece.
I was the Musician, Songwriting, Composer, Mixing, Mastering in this production
- play_arrowThe Forge by Chronicler of Ardul
- Electric GuitarAverage price - $70 per song
- Acoustic GuitarAverage price - $70 per song
- Songwriter - LyricAverage price - $70 per song
- Songwriter - MusicAverage price - $70 per song
- Programmed drumAverage price - $50 per song
- Composer OrchestralAverage price - $100 per song
- String ArrangerAverage price - $70 per song
- Schecter SLS Evil Twin
- Schecter Bass Guitar
- Boss Katana mklI amp head
- Reaper
- many Spitfire Audio sound libraries
- Getgood Drums Modern and Massive 2
