Grammy Mixing & Mastering

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When it comes to mixing and mastering, the usual process involves the client providing a "rough mix." Subsequently, I engage in a dialogue with the client to understand their creative vision and sonic preferences. Are they aiming for an enhancement of the existing qualities, seeking to maintain the same essence but with improvements, or are they open to a complete reinterpretation? Once we align on a shared creative vision, I do a mix and provide an MP3 for their review and approval. Once approved, I deliver the final high-resolution versions in WAV format.

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

A: The Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show with Shakira and J-Lo. I was co-producer, programmer, engineer, and mixer.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: both

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Creating something that didn't exist before

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

A: "How quickly and for how little money can we get this done for?" Clients usually want three things... Good, Fast, and Cheap. You can't have all three.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: 1. What do you want listeners to feel when they listen to your song? 2. Where do you see yourself performing this song? (stadium, club, coffee shop etc...) 3. What is the demographic/ who is your audience? 4. What are you wearing in the video/ on stage? 5. What color is the song?

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

A: Find someone who truly and humbly will do whats best for the song and not what they "feel" is right.

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

A: 1. Computer with Pro Tools 2. 1176 compressor 3. Neve 1073 preamp 4. Sony C-800 mic 5. LA-2A compressor

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

A: My career in music began producing bands in college back in Washington DC. In 2002 I relocated to New York City and secured an internship at the renowned Quad Recording Studios. This opportunity allowed me to gain invaluable insights while assisting and learning from legendary engineers like Michael Brauer and Serban Ghenea. During my tenure there, I had the privilege of collaborating with an array of esteemed artists, including Coldplay, Mariah Carey and Kanye West.. Eventually I became Quad's chief engineer and went freelance a few years later. Since then I have produced, engineered, or mixed songs for Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Shakira, and Christina Aguilera just to name a few.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I would describe my work style as collaborative, enthusiastic, diligent, bold, yet tasteful.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Listen to all types of music!

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

A: pop, electro, singer/ songwriter, rock, hip-hop, broadway, film scores

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: In terms of music production, I feel my strongest skill is being truly objective and doing whats actually best for the song.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I think what I bring to a song is discovering it's fundamental feeling and bringing that to life. Is the song suppose to make you dance? Maybe it's suppose to make you cry? Perhaps it's suppose to make you want to fight? Whatever the feeling, I really try to tap into it and express that emotion onto the listener.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I mainly work in professional recording studios. However I usually begin tracks at home. Fully blown Mac Book Pro with pretty much every plugin/ a multitude of soft synths and Adam A7 monitors.

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

A: I am inspired by the sounds of "classic" pop producers like Max Martin and Timbaland as well as the newer innovative productions of Finneas.

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

A: The most common work I do includes mixing, mastering, song production, audio engineering and vocal production.