Sven Martin on SoundBetter

Vintage keys, synths & pro mixes. Credits include t.A.T.u., Jonathan Davis, Nuno Bettencourt. Remote-ready with quick turnaround across pop, rock, indie & electronic.

Sven Martin is a professional keyboardist, musical director, and mixer with 30+ years of touring and studio experience. He has performed worldwide with artists including t.A.T.u., Jonathan Davis (Korn), Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters), and Liz Phair. His work on major stages and in studios has given him a unique perspective: how to add the right parts, textures, and polish to elevate a song without ever overplaying it.

In the studio, Sven specializes in vintage keyboards and analog synths — Wurly, Rhodes, Hammond, Juno, Moog, Prophet — alongside modern synths and plugins. Whether you need a subtle pad, a melodic hook, or lush textures, he delivers sounds that feel warm, real, and production-ready.

Beyond overdubs, Sven offers song sweetening, additional production elements, and full-song mixing. His mixes are informed by a decade of broadcast audio work, ensuring clarity, balance, and translation across platforms.

Remote-ready with quick turnaround, Sven collaborates seamlessly with artists, producers, and songwriters worldwide. Whether it’s a single keyboard overdub or a full mix, his goal is simple: help your track connect and stand out.

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Interview with Sven Martin

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: t.A.T.u.’s “Show Me Love” Fabricated Remix. That one was super vibey and a lot of fun! Also we got to play this on stage while on tour and it really came alive then!
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Mixing an unscripted TV show and producing new tracks under my chillout project Antares Lounge.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Not yet — but I’m always happy to connect clients with the right collaborators.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. Analog for instant inspiration and warmth, digital for precision and recall.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Pro, musical results delivered on time — always keeping the song’s vision first.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Helping artists hear their track come together and feel “finished.”
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Q: How fast can you turn things around? A: Usually within a few days, depending on complexity.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That I just “add some keys” or “fix the mix.” In reality, it’s creative decisions that shape the whole feel of the track.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What vibe are you going for? Any references? What role should the keys/synths play?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Listen to credits and samples — and make sure the style and communication feel like a fit.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Roland Juno-60, Yamaha CS01II, Wurlitzer 200A, Macbook Pro, and interface.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: 20+ years as a touring keyboardist & MD (t.A.T.u., Jonathan Davis, Nuno Bettencourt, Liz Phair) and 10+ years as a re-recording mixer for TV/film.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Textured, vibey, and versatile — from subtle background layers to standout lead hooks.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: The War on Drugs — their blend of organic and electronic textures is inspiring.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Really craft and shape your reverb and delay trails — they define the space as much as the instruments.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop, rock, indie, electronic, and cinematic instrumentals.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Blending performance and production. Knowing when to add, when to hold back, and creating catchy instrumental hooks.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Tasteful textures, big hooks, vibe, and polish — always in service of the song, never overplayed.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I listen closely to the track, figure out what it needs, then add keys/synths or mix with focus on vibe, space, and balance. Communication throughout.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Pro Tools–based hybrid rig with plugin synths, vintage keys, and analog/digital hardware (Juno, Moog, Rhodes, Wurly). Tracked through Arturia AudioFuse 16Rig, Avalon, and Amek/Neve preamps.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Trevor Horn, Max Martin, Trent Reznor, Kevin Parker (Tame Impala), Jack Antonoff, Reinhold Heil… and Roy Bittan on piano.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Keys/synth overdubs, production elements (loops, arps, fx, swooshes), and full-song mixes.

Sven Martin

I was the Mix Engineer, Producer, all keys in this production

Keyboards - SynthAverage price - $200 per song
Mixing EngineerAverage price - $600 per song
ProducerContact for pricing

Turnaround 3–5 biz days. 2 free revisions, extras billed. Provide clean, labeled files. Keys = 2 layers. Mix assumes prepped files; editing/tuning/timing at extra cost. Final WAV/AIFF provided.