Singer/Rapper/Engineer

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

A: I have two. One of the projects I am most proud of is "Juanita" by Popcasso. It was his debut album named after his mother. He had taken a break from music and from the time I was approached to help engineer the project we worked for 5 years and finally saw it's completion. The other is a set of charity projects titled "The Marvels (1-4)". The Marvels projects brought together nearly 50 artists under one roof to create music on the spot with each other. There were artists from all across the US and even some from other countries. In my opinion, it's something that is rarely done in the independent space. Some of the roles I took up in both of these projects were: - Executive Producer - Songwriter - Recording Engineer - Mixing Engineer - Feature artist

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently I am working on a few projects. - A project for one of my elementary age students (his first album) - A new project for an artist that hasn't made music in about 15 years. - The debut album for Slim Haylee - A charity project to raise money for elementary age students

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

A: Meredith Bull

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. It is what I started with. I haven't tried analog yet.

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

A: I don't believe in just working on something because I have been offered payment. So my promise is that I won't accept work on something that I don't feel a connection to.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Seeing a project come to completion for someone who has put all of their effort into it.

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

A: "Can I get the song back today?" - You can, but it will sound better if I have more time. "Can you make me sound like (insert artist)?" - No, you can only sound like the best version of yourself.

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

A: The biggest misconception is that what I do is easy. I have worked for nearly 15 years to get better at what I do and I still try to improve daily. There are times where I will finish something quickly and people assume because it was done quickly then it is a "cheap" service or it was "easy". That is far from the truth.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: "What's your purpose with this project?" "What are you long term goals in music?"

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

A: Simply be respectful and communicate your needs/wants

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

A: - Pen & Notebook - Phone - Radio - Drum set - Solar power battery back

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

A: I began my music career in 2009 at 13 years old. My friends signed me up for a talent show as a rapping act without me knowing, but after doing it I actually enjoyed myself. I began with engineering but could never find artists to engineer so I began writing and producing my own songs just for practice engineering. Since then I've created my own label (1033 Records), released upwards of 1000 songs and engineered for more than two dozen artists.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I don't believe I have a specific style, but if I had to describe it I would say it's somewhat chameleon in nature.

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

A: Currently I would like to work with Madison Ryann Ward. One of my favorite types of collaborations is the 90s style Rapper/Singer collab and I would love to hear what we could create together.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Allow yourself room to fail. Everything that you create won't be the best thing in the world, but that doesn't mean that there is no place for it.

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

A: Hip-Hop / R&B

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: The way that I process sound. I have a form Synesthesia that causes me to see sounds as colors. When mixing a song I am also painting a mental picture so that the sounds/colors remain complementary.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I am able to give suggestions from not only an engineer's perspective but also an artist or producer. This is a way that I am able to help bring the best version of a song forward.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I am a music lover but also someone who loves to study. I tend to study the artists work and begin to work out a formula that will bring out the most of their potential.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My current studio set up is a home studio with an antelope edge microphone.

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

A: Michael Jackson & J. Cole are my main sources of professional inspiration. Less because of their bodies of work, but more due to their work ethic.

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

A: Typically I provide mixing services & songwriter/feature services. Occasionally, depending on the scope of the project, I provide artist development services.