Producer/Musician/Engineer

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

A: I'm particularly proud of a debut album from an artist I've produced, helped write, played instruments on and mixed that is the culmination of two years of effort. We're in the final stages of mixing and mastering and I'm extremely excited about it's premier.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on several emerging artists in Rock, Rap and Indie- as well as some of my own solo music!

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

A: SoundBetter is full of great talent. Just search what you're looking for!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Well, this is sort of a trick question: Sound is inherently analog; we cannot listen to binary. In order to record anything with a microphone or listen to anything on a speaker, you must utilize the analog realm. The electrical signals that the microphone captures are analog. The amplification of a preamp is analog. The only thing digital is the converters and happenings in the DAW such as plugins & VSTs. What I THINK this question aims to ask is "do you use outboard gear or digital plugins for your processing", to which I would answer: both. Hybrid operations will always be superior, as they seamlessly combine the weight and character of hardware with the precision and accuracy of software.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love music, I've been obsessed with it my whole life. I love helping artists achieve their dreams. Every project is an opportunity to create something special. I love seeing how clients get excited about their music and it coming to life. If I ever have a bad day, its because I didn't get to make music!

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

A: I think most people don't realize the time, effort and the knowledge it takes to create a great piece of music. If you think you're going to make a great song in 30 minutes you're fooling yourself and probably wasting time and money. Great sound takes time, effort and knowledge. If you take the time, work from the ground up, we can create an incredible competitive sound to be proud of. I don't mean to say it is impossible to work quickly, but it is important to always remember "slow is smooth, smooth is fast".

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

A: Be prepared, be passionate and be as open as possible to the style and vibe you are looking for. It helps me understand the big picture. When you hire me, you are hiring an equally passionate person to deliver a professional sound. I can try to fix poorly produced or recorded material from others, but its always better to do it right the first time. Bring your passion and your ideas and lets make it happen!!

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

A: I am a self taught musician and writer with nearly a decade of experience in producing, writing, editing and mixing music for artists and for my own music. My first studio project was a 5 song EP of original songs that I produced and performed myself. I have honed my knowledge and experience at several of Chicago's premier recording studio's including Electrical Audio, Rax Trax Recording, Gravity Studios, Sound Vault Studios, and the newly opened Channel Recording Company.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Sometimes quite aggressive and/or minimalist, other times more refined and subtle with more details coming together to form the big picture. I am a big fan of the "mute" button as I feel that less is always more.

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

A: I would love to work with Nigel Godrich. I respect his vision and would love to watch his creative process. He is responsible for Radioheads signature sound, via his hands-off production methods, as well as his clever use of reverbs and compression to create space and atmosphere without going overboard!

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

A: I do production, songwriting, recording and mixing. I take any form or idea and translate it into a professional, memorable song. Sometimes I'm hired to produce songs for artist who have nearly completed tracks and other times I'm hired to write and produce songs and albums from the ground up.

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

A: To work very hard on every project to create the best sound possible. To be passionate, yet impartial when necessary. The songs will vibe and connect to your cherished ideas. The music we create is not only a reflection of you and your ideas, but a reflection of my work. I promise to do whatever it takes to make us all proud of the end result.

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

A: Common questions artist's ask me are, "how long it will take", "can you create a sound in a specific genre", "what have you done" or "how much will it cost" for example. If you spend time to create a great song, it'll show. Quickly created tracks will sometimes yield small results. A well worked through piece of music will often produce great results. I have created music of every genre. Cost often depends on what you want to put into it. There is no magic wand, only time and effort. While nothing is truly black and white, allowing yourself enough time in the studio is often crucial to achieve your vision and give the producer/engineer enough to work with in post.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask clients what the goal and scope of the project is. This begins the conversation about timing, budget, etc. Once these aspects are understood, I get into the artist's mindset. I ask them what music or artists inspire them or a particular track. I ask them where and when they envision people listening to their music. Sometimes I ask what was their first live music concert and their last concert. All this tells a lot about people and helps me connect to what they want to achieve before we actually get started. This early & open communication is truly the key to a satisfied artist or band.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Be prepared, don't be afraid to explore and improvise. Especially if it's not been done before. If it feels new, it is. Clients will often provide references to a particular artist or song that inspires a track- but we don't look to copy someone else's work. Instead use it as a springboard to something new and special. Ultimately, all art is an interpretation of the art that came before it. While I think the concept of originality is crucial to the creative process, it is important to understand that every piece of art was inspired by all the art that came before it.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Unique and original sounds, cultivated by professionalism, with the highest quality to help fulfill an artist's vision. I believe a song should be memorable and captivating. Every song should shine. My focus is to make great art, but the most important thing is to have fun and allow yourself to be open to whatever the song may become in the process.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a large personal studio where I am able to write, record, edit, record, and mix, as well as a reference-level control room for mixing and mastering. My collection of on-hand instruments include my 1968 Ludwig Downbeat, an assortment of Fender guitars and basses, and a mic locker that could fill an episode or two of Hoarders. My studio has plenty of room to do full band work, with excellent acoustics for drums! I also work out of a few commercial studios that I can schedule if we need a different facility!

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

A: I'm inspired by artists who incorporate different influences to make something new, how different music genres influence other genres. Some artist that come to mind would be Wilco, Radiohead, Blur, Bloc Party, Daft Punk, Kanye West, and Tribe Called Quest. My tastes are all over the place, as I generally appreciate good music- of any genre.

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

A: food, water, a multitool, an acoustic guitar, and a volleyball.

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

A: I work with a wide variety of music genres, but have had the most success with punk and rap. My knowledge of music allows me to do a wide range of producing, adapting and exploring diverse musical sounds. I like to keep sounds fresh and interesting, while also paying homage to the art that has inspired our lives.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creativity and an open mind. I can connect with artist to bring out their best sound, while also being experimental and allowing the ideas to come naturally. I am a strong proponent of improvisation as it relates to the flow state.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Every single project is unique. For production I spend time talking with the artist discussing what they are looking for or listening to rough tracks to find the essence and sound they want. From there I can help in song writing or bringing in session players and jump right in to creating tracks. I'm here to guide the recording sessions, engineering, editing and mixing. Other times it's as simple as adding drums or bass to a track or recording individual instruments or vocals.