Mastering engineer

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

A: I was particularly happy with the Yala viens single by Vernis Rouge. I performed all the roles on it from production to mastering, and it was quite a challenge. I was happy with the result and so was the artist.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on an EP with an upcoming artist called Røcket. It's a fun French pop genre of music.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: both, and it depends. Most of my tools are digital and have all the character and detail I need. Sometime I will reach out for some analog equipment for a desired effect I can't get another way.

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

A: I will stop at nothing to make the music be the best it can be. I will put in the extra hours if it doesn't feel right.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: making the track sound polished and perfect.

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

A: can you make it louder ? If I can, and it sounds good, I'll do it. If not, I'll tell them it's a bad idea. (if they insist against their interest, I'll send them the file again with another version name, that usually settles it)

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

A: I don't just put a limiter on the master bus and maybe an EQ. There is a lot more intricate work and many more details I take into account to master a record. It is also Taylor-made for each song, no one-button fix.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Do you love your song with everything you got? Does it feel right ?

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

A: If you're the artist, I hope you have given everything you got on your music. Your tears, sweat, blood and brawn. It doesn't even matter how well it's recorded, the feeling is what counts. That's why you have me to fix the technical issues and truly let the magic shine.

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

A: A Gibson ES-5 switch master with humbuckers, a vintage blackface twin reverb, a Neve consol, a tape machine and an AEA R44 ribbon microphone.

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

A: I always wanted to know how to do everything, be a jack of all trade. But now I am focused on Mastering. I have been doing this for a few years now.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I think my style is very much hybrid. By this I mean I look for that feeling we get when we listen to "old school" music but with the qualities of a modern mix and production. I blend whatever works for the song, completely disregarding what is "correct" or "typical" of the genre. I believe it's what makes music interesting for everyone.

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

A: I would love to work with Stevie wonder, his limitless creativity, sense of emotion and feel is just unparalleled. I wonder what we could do together.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Listen and try to keep things sounding healthy and pleasant. You want to crave listening to the song, even after hearing it a few dozen times.

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

A: I usually do Pop, but I have done some Rap, hip-hop, alternative, indie, blues, soul and Rock as well. I really love good music, it doesn't matter what the genre is.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: critical listening and my taste. I spend countless hours refining both of those as they are my ultimate tool to make good music.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring life, mojo, depth, groove... it really depends on what the song needs. I don't want to go overboard either.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I listen. carefully and fully, I listen to the feeling, the vibe, the textures, the words, the intention and the tactical aspects of the song. Depending on what the client wants, and what the song needs, I will stop at nothing to get it to where it needs to be. It's gotta feel right in every way.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I am particularly careful of my listening environment, my 2.1 focal speakers are corrected and wired to my Trinnov Magnitude (if you know, you know...). I work with both analog and digital gear, although for mixing and mastering I will mostly work in the box.

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

A: Artists that really touch me on a creative level are Childish Gambino, Jimi Hendrix, Kanye west, pink Floyd, led zeppelin not to name way too many others. Jack Antonoff comes to mind as a producer I find particularly intriguing, Tchad Blake and Tony Maserati for mixing.

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

A: I am an audio engineer all the way through. I am specialised in Mastering engineering and am apple digital master certified. I am also proficient in mixing and producing but, those are secondary activities.