BIO::::

PRODUCER: Stephen views his role as a facilitator of creativity and values involvement in all aspects of the artistic process. He brings his own tendencies and influences as an artist from the pop/rock/folk world and adds them to his experiences as a producer having also worked on projects ranging from gospel, to pop R&B, and bluegrass. His production approach is very much focused on making sure an artist has good songs. He places a high priority on pre-production in order to get ‘into the head’ of the artists with whom he is working. Of this process he says, “I love getting to know an artist. I want to see their artistic vision and expand it with what I have to offer. So much of quality production is the psychology of reading people well. If they’ve not yet ‘found themselves’ as an artist I want to be a part of starting them on that journey. I they've already gone through that journey then I want to facillitate that next phase. I want to push an artist to new limits and expand their view of their own art so that at the end of a process they are completely satisfied that the final product is an accurate extension of them as a person. The challenge for me means that I must stretch the artist while helping them to make a great record that fits what they do best. This approach must have priority over putting my on stamp or sound as a producer onto the project. This will always be a work in progress for me. This philosophy puts the artist first.”

ENGINEER: Stephen has extensive experience in the project studio setting, large Nashville tracking rooms, and in the live setting with national acts such as Jars of Clay and Derek Webb. He typically engineers a large portion of each of his production projects. Outside of his production projects/clients Stephen actively engineers and assists on various master sessions with many of Nashville's A list engineers, players, and producers. In the studio setting his platform of experience is with Protools, Logic Pro, and various other platforms, consoles, etc. including analog, radar, martin sound flying faders, neve consoles, etc. etc. ....


ARTIST: Stephen respectfully and subtly hints a myriad of influences from artists such as Neil Finn, Pink Floyd, U2, Jeff Buckley, Pete Yorn, Sting, Martin Sexton, and the Beatles. His instincts favor a broad mix of rock, pop, and folk. His experience as a touring artist placed him in venues from clubs, to colleges, and coffee houses. Stephen has played on a variety of stages with a full band and as a solo singer/songwriter. His music tends to be very lyrically driven while maintaining a high priority on unique melodies and evolving production. Both of his albums received positive reviews from national publications and critics. He hopes to take a brief break from producing and engineering in order to record his third solo album in the near future.

Stephen is originally from Columbia, S.C. but has lived in Nashville, TN since August of 1993. His wife, Kara is a schoolteacher, an artist, an actor, and the best wife on the planet.

BRIEF HISTORY:

1997-present--active producer /engineer /musician
(see discography page)

1995-present--active touring / recording artist and Nashville songwriter
(see discography page)

2006-plans to record his 3rd solo album

2004--toured as a monitor engineer with Essential recording artist Jars of Clay

2003-toured with INO artist Derek Webb (formerly of Caedmon’s Call) and Ginny Owens as FOH engineer and road manager.

2001--toured as an artist with Derek Webb (formerly of Caedmon’s Call) and folk/Americana artist Sandra McCracken.

2000 and 2001--toured as an artist with former Essential recording artist Silers Bald

1993-1997—completed a degree in Commercial Music from Belmont University with emphasis in performance and production.

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