Music technology, production and DJ techniques & skills offered by established dance music artist

Find out more about Ru

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favourite instrument?

  I've had a passion for music for as long as I can remember. I've played bass guitar since I was 9, but I do remember seeing my dad produce music and being so amazed that you can create entire pieces of music by yourself. I stopped relying on other musicians and started making my own music after that!

• Is there a particular type music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  Red Hot Chili Peppers. They raised me, and they will never get old.

• Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  Produce and FINISH a track! It's very difficult to write a track and decide it's finished, plus finishing a track combines every aspect of music production, from pre-production, through sound design/synthesis/sampling, creative songwriting/arranging, mixing and mastering. It's the whole job!

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  A computer! There are endless instruments, synthesisers, plugins and controls that can be learned. It doesn't matter how many you master, there is always more.

• What are your keys to success?

  Keep creativity fun. Focus on finishing music rather than finishing GOOD music. You'll get far better far quicker if you keep looking and moving forwards.

• Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  Michael League (because he is the perfect bass player and band leader), Amon Tobin (because we could geek out about sound design) and Serj Tankian (because he's probably a really interesting guy!)

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  When I was at music school, my production tutor used an anecdote for how he found it so much easier to write music than me. He said I was a Mini Cooper, with sub-standard music theory and machinery that struggled to work at speed. He, apparently, was a Porsche and was easily cruising through work as a producer. I was so offended and decided to look up his music. I laughed because I didn't like it, but it made me realise that music is subjective and there is no place for ego, either in the classroom or on the professional stage…I wanted to become a teacher after that so I could teach in the exact opposite way to my old tutor!

• What are the little touches that make you a Superprof in music?

  I spend great effort to focus on each student as an individual, and celebrate the gems of creativity in everyone. Something with such variety as music production means people can express themselves in so many different ways, and I try to encourage each student to find out what that means for them. As a working artist, I can also offer up-to-date advice on artist development and navigating the music industry, and gladly share everything I've learned with students.