Hi friends,

This year has been a wild ride, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect and share some of the incredible changes and growth I’ve experienced—personally and professionally.

Moving to a New House and Studio

In 2024, I moved into a new house with an amazing studio space. It’s a 3-bedroom home with a view, and we lucked into it thanks to the kindest landlords. My new studio is about twice the size of my last one and sounds so much more musical—it’s been a game-changer for my work.

Another big shift was taking on a part-time job at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, working behind the bar in the Member's Lounge. Honestly, I did it because I felt like my business wasn’t where I wanted it to be. It made me feel like I had failed at music, and I was ashamed to say anything.

But stepping into a new environment helped me get out of my own head and reconnect with the world. Strangely enough, it ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my business. I feel lighter, more inspired, busier, and more productive than ever.

If you’ve noticed I haven’t emailed in a while, this year of transformation—moving, rethinking my approach, and finding balance—is a big part of why. I'm excited to be getting back in touch.

Song Highlights from 2024

Here are some of my favorite projects since we last talked:

“Sorry es que soy intenso” by ROBI

This track is one of the fastest-growing releases I’ve ever worked on, and the team behind it was incredible. It’s also my first project released on a major label, which makes it extra special.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0TfFHo5XD5iiP5IajKqYQw

“What Do I Do?” by Abby Sunga

Abby told me it had always been her dream to hear strings on one of her songs, and this was the first time she made it happen. Helping bring that vision to life was such a meaningful experience. The producer on this track is also someone I really believe in, and we’re working on a ton of music together.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5GKRtuI0C3Yhrp9UUOHhBb

“It’s Nothing” by Mathilda Mae

This was one of the most vulnerable and heartfelt collections of songs I’ve ever worked on. Mathilda poured her soul into this project, and I’m deeply grateful she and her producer trusted me to be part of the entire EP.

https://open.spotify.com/album/47bkFNsNkuMmGtl4VQuPJk\

Learning and Growing as a Producer

One of the most exciting parts of this year has been learning new techniques from a cellist and string producer I admire. Her approach has completely changed the way I think about mixing, and I’m proud to say my work has leveled up in three major ways:

• Sound Quality: My work just sounds better—plain and simple. My whole recording chain is different than where I started the year, and I’ve put more emphasis on mixing my strings as part of my work.
• Simplicity: I’ve learned to never use two notes where one will do.
• Speed: My workflow is faster and more efficient than ever despite holding myself to a higher standard.

I feel like my work improved 5x over the course of 2024, and I can’t wait to see what’s possible in the year ahead.

Thank You

This year has been full of growth, challenges, and opportunities, and I’m so grateful for all of it—and for you. Whether we’ve worked together on a project or you’ve just supported me from afar, your presence means so much.

If you’ve got a project you’d like to collaborate on, or just want to catch up, I’d love to hear from you. January and February are already filling up fast, so reach out soon if you’d like to work together!

Let’s make 2025 even better.

Cheers,

Harley