When people ask me what I do for a living, the short answer is “I produce music.” But the real answer is deeper than that. I help people tell their stories through sound. I guide artists through emotional terrain, sometimes painful, sometimes joyful, and I work to capture that feeling in a way that connects with listeners. And in country music, more than any genre I’ve worked in, that emotional storytelling is everything.
I didn’t always plan on being a producer. My path to the studio wasn’t traditional—ten years in federal law enforcement, a detour into software engineering, and a lifelong love for music. But country music has a way of pulling you in if you’ve lived a little, and I’ve lived enough to understand the weight behind a good country lyric.
It’s About Trust First
The studio is a vulnerable place. You’re asking someone to open up their heart and share a story—maybe about heartbreak, family, love, loss, or regret. That takes trust. And trust doesn’t happen the second someone walks through the studio door. It’s built.
I make it a point to create a comfortable, no-pressure environment. We talk before we track. We might grab coffee, swap stories, or even talk about completely unrelated things—sports, bad dates, old gigs—whatever gets people feeling like themselves. Once that wall is down, the magic starts to happen.
I don’t want an artist to come in and feel like they have to impress me. I want them to be themselves. That’s where the real music lives.
Serving the Song, Not the Ego
I’ve worked with artists who came in with a full idea and just needed help shaping it, and others who showed up with only a voice memo of a melody recorded on their phone. Either way, the goal is always the same: serve the song.
It’s easy to get caught up in overproducing or adding a bunch of layers just because we can. But the question I ask in every session is simple: what does this song need to feel honest? Not flashy. Not perfect. Honest.
Sometimes that means dialing back the instrumentation. Sometimes that means leaving space for a lyric to breathe. Sometimes it means changing the entire feel halfway through because we realize it’s not hitting the way it should.
I’ve learned to let go of my own ego and listen to what the song is asking for.
The Heart of Country Is in the Details
What I love about producing country music is how rooted it is in emotion and detail. It’s not about massive beats or trends—it’s about storytelling. One turn of phrase can break your heart or lift you up. One slide on a steel guitar can bring tears to your eyes.
When I’m producing, I listen for those small but powerful moments—those emotional “spikes” that make a song unforgettable. Maybe it’s a vocal break in the second verse, or the way a harmony hits during the bridge. Those are the things I chase when I’m working with an artist.
We aren’t just making songs—we’re building moments.
Collaboration Over Control
One thing I’ve realized is that the best sessions happen when we’re in it together. I don’t walk in with a fixed idea of how a song should sound. I listen. I throw out suggestions. And I’m never above hearing, “Nah, that’s not it.”
A good producer isn’t a dictator. A good producer is a mirror, a guide, a translator. My job is to hear what the artist can’t always articulate yet—and help them bring it to life. And when we find that sound together, when it finally clicks, there’s no better feeling.
Some of my favorite sessions have been those where we weren’t afraid to take risks. Where we trusted the process and let the song lead us. That’s when the real stuff happens.
From the Studio to the Stream
Getting to see a song go from a scratch track to a polished release is one of the most rewarding parts of this job. But even more exciting is seeing where the song goes—hearing it live, seeing people react to it, watching it land on playlists or shows, even TV or sports broadcasts.
I’ve been lucky enough to have some of my work placed on Netflix shows like Love Is Blind and MLB broadcasts. That never gets old. But honestly, the best moment is still that first listen when an artist hears the final mix and says, “That’s it. That’s what I heard in my head.”
That’s when I know we did it right.
Producing for country artists isn’t just a job—it’s a privilege. I get to walk alongside people during some of their most creative, vulnerable moments. I get to help them shape stories that matter, that resonate, that stick with people.
No two sessions are the same. No two artists are the same. And that’s the beauty of it. I’m constantly learning, constantly growing, and constantly amazed by the power of a well-crafted song.
If you’re an artist reading this and you’ve got something to say, I’d love to help you say it. Not in my voice, but in yours. Because at the end of the day, that’s what producing is all about—helping you tell your story the best way possible.