How would you define your main role on most of the projects you work on at the moment?
I work mainly as engineer/producer. I also get to play guitar, bass and drums on my client’s projects whenever I have a chance, merging my musician background with my acquired engineering capabilities.
Please tell us a bit about your musical background. How did you get started in the music industry? What was your pathway to your current role?
Oh god, where do I start… My journey with music started at a very young age. I picked up my first instrument at the age of 9 years old and started playing live at 14. My best friend’s mother was a cleaner for summer houses, I grabbed loads of second and third hand equipment and squatted one of these houses to build a small DIY recording studio where I start recording and producing local bands/artists in the area.There was absolutely nothing where I grew up, I used to take a bus and a train for a total of two hour journey after school to make it to the nearest city where something was happening. I kinda had to make it for myself. I soon understood I had to move somewhere more relevant to make something with it. So I moved to London in 2016, with solely a big luggage case and my Gibson guitar, and I started session ing for punk bands and working in different clubs. There I leaned about electronic music and sound systems, and I transitioned into making being an engineer my full time job.
My career started taking a more defined shape after uni, when I started working at a small studio in the tobacco docks in 2019. From there I got my first running/assisting experiences and moved to the commercial studios scene. l joined Strongroom’s roster as an assistant in 2021 which became my home base ever since – and became part of its community, passing both as assistant or engineer – depending on the project – for places like RAK, Abbey Road, Urchin and others. I worked as hard as I could to absorb as much knowledge I could (and I still have loads to learn), to pour it back into fulfilling projects.
What or who inspired you to follow this path?
I can’t say there was one pivotal moment where I decided to do this job because of someone. My path has never been linear as I am from a new generation of engineers and producers who’s career follows a less ‘traditional’ path. I always looked up and musicians I listened to in different moment of my life, especially those who produce/record their own music. The urgency of making and recording music has always been within me since I was a child and I just followed it recklessly.
Are there any highlights from your work that you are particularly proud of?
I see my projects from a non-hierarchal point of view and I am proud of every single project I worked on, as they all taught me something about recording, sound, people and human interactions. I cherish all of my experiences and what they taught me equally.Although, I was very blessed this year as I had a couple of high lights from engineering: my biggest live show to date at Sonar festival in front of 65k people for the release of ‘Carve The Runes and Be Content with Silence’ from Erland Cooper, for which I engineered the strings. Also I assisted on some of FKA Twigs new record at the beginning of 2024 at Strongroom.
What’s one tip you can share with other MPG members that could help their workflow?
Put down your iPhone, gang!
What’s one tip you would like an MPG member to share with you?
I am really curious about hearing what’s everyone’s take on longevity. I am at a specific point of my career where there is literally no one like me in the higher grounds (I am referring to being trans non-binary, and from an unprivileged class background). Therefore I’d like to hear some tips from the elders on self-preservation in this jungle of an industry. It might help me and people from my demographic to move forward, and shape the industry for those like us coming in the following years.
Do you have any words of wisdom for people wanting to get into a similar music production role to yours?
Follow your heart, be connected with your community, whatever it might be, and do what you like – always. Have something to tell, be driven and passionate. It will take you places.
