Published on: Thursday, August 31st, 2023
Post ID: 3128578
If we start at the very beginning, what got you hooked on music in the first place?
Growing up in the ’70s in San Fransisco with my older brother who played the guitar really got me interested. We used to listen to bands like AC/DC, Kiss, Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin. We would hang rock posters on the walls and read all the rock magazines. Back then you would have to stay up late waiting for TV appearances from your favorite artists. It was a very exciting time to admire music. I used to go to my older brother’s band practices all the time before starting my own bands. Before I was 15 years old, I was already playing nightclubs opening for national acts with my bands. Then, following my friend, Greg Steel, to Los Angeles. Greg went on to form a band called “Faster Pussycat” who had lots of success. Only a few months after arriving in Los Angeles I formed the Band “Jailhouse.” Jailhouse had some success on VH1 and MTV and was signed to Capital Records. When this band ended, I wanted to become more of a music producer and songwriter. But then I was asked to join a band called “Neve” and we quickly got signed to Columbia Records with Randy Jackson as our A&R rep. We scored a hit song in the Billboard charts and things were going very well until suddenly they weren’t. The highlights of that band was opening for the legendary Kiss with their original lineup. To this day, Jailhouse music still appears on many TV shows and films.
Having been signed to major labels, having written songs for other artists, touring with acts like Kiss and Rage Against the Machine as well as composing for over 1,000 TV and film projects, you pretty much have “done it all.” Looking back, what are some of the standout moments for you personally and professionally?
The stand out moments with Jailhouse was definitely being on MTV and VH1 and selling out weekend shows on Friday and Saturday nights in Los Angeles. Standout moments with Neve was touring in Japan, playing the Fuji Rock Festival with bands like Rage Against The Machine and of course, like I mentioned earlier, opening for kiss, which was a a dream of mine since I was a young kid. We also played huge venues with Duran Duran. As a composer, having music in the Marvel film Thor Love and Thunder is very exciting. But my music now has over 14,000 cue sheets meaning it’s been played 14,000 times on TV and film, not including all the repeats. So I would have to list so many shows.
Coming from a rock background and being a guitar player, is the guitar your go-to instrument when writing or do you have a different approach? What’s your creative process like?
Normally, yes, it starts with guitar. However, in this day and age programing any type of music is a skill of its own. With so many wonderful virtual instruments you can get lost for days. But I record live guitars and bass and play the piano parts with several virtual instruments. I work on what I am working on with no timeline. It may take a few hours to a few days – it’s always different. I just want it as good as I it can be.
Again, you write for an array of different avenues – from regular songs to music for commercials, TV shows and more. Does the process differ a lot depending in which context the track is meant to end up?
It’s very difficult to describe my process. I normally work a regular eight-to-ten hour day, but I hold an extremely high standard for myself. I always strive to be the best. I will work for four hours on something and delete it and start over. However, I am very fast at putting music down. I am in no way comparing myself to Prince but I always admired his work ethic and amount of content he composed.
Do you have any favorite media to write for?
Well, I do love to rock! It’s fun making metal music, but I have done many genres of music. I have also worked with many artists and can adapt to almost any style. What is so nice about what I do is that normally nobody tells me to do anything. I simply just create music and sell it to production music libraries, from there it can end up in motion pictures to TV, which has been great. I loved writing for Nike scoring to picture, though, that is something I will start doing more often.
You’ve been a Superior Drummer 2 user for years but recently made the move up to Superior Drummer 3. What stuck out to you feature- and sound-wise?
Well, actually I started as early as EZdrummer back in the day. I really like how user-friendly Superior Drummer 3 is. For me, moving around so much in styles, Superior Drummer 3 can make it so easy to change drum sounds and for other composers it has wonderful loops and fills if you’re not that great at programming drums. It really almost gives you every option you could want as a composer, songwriter or music producer.
You’re also a new but avid user of EZkeys 2. How have you been using it for your day-to-day work?
I have used many pianos through the years. Almost every one on the market. EZkeys 2 is by far my favorite! This is used daily. I love how the presets give you so many sounds! You can mess with the sounds until they fit your needs. Also the chords that it will suggest is an absolute dream for a composer. I highly recommend EZkeys 2, it does quite a bit.
What’s next on your agenda?
Well, I have lots of offers on projects. I don’t do everything I am offered but what I feel is exciting to me. But, as I mentioned, I always create music and sell it to production music libraries. At this point I have many relationships with companies that know me well. When they are not asking me to compose something I normally have something I just did without anyone asking and it gets picked up. I never am not working in the week, that is. I take weekends off!
