Every now and then, a song walks into the room revealing the journey an artists has been on.
I know the song, but hearing it live with just the piano…reassuringly familiar yet, It felt fresh for some reason.

Before the preamps warm up, before I could settle the mics in position, before we even count off—
we were present. This was going to be all in one take!.

Episode 2 of Live From A SafeHouse lives in that space.

This session wasn’t about chasing complexity or proving anything.
It was about an alignment—a heart posture set to melody. An engineer ready to capture it all.

Every day I open the door to A SafeHouse Studio, I’m reminded how blessed I am to create in a city as musically rich, culturally layered, and relentlessly inspiring as Houston. Having 1,200 square feet dedicated to pure creativity is a privilege — but having it in this city, surrounded by these artists, is the real gift.

And truthfully… collaboration here just comes easy.
There’s something about Houston’s mix of stories, traditions, and sonic identities that makes every session feel like an open invitation to explore. My own journey — from London DJ to Houston engineer, professor, and founder of ToneCrafters — places me right in the epicenter of that creative energy. If you’ve read my bio, you know I haven’t taken a straight path to get here. But that path led me to a city that moves with rhythm in its bones.

A great drummer doesn’t treat a song like a grid—they treat it like a conversation.
They pull and push. They anticipate and respond. They tuck the kick just behind the beat to make you lean in, or snap the snare on top to make the whole track breathe differently.

Every fill has intention.
Every ghost note carries personality.
And every tiny imperfection is what actually makes the song feel alive.

That’s something you can’t download.
You can only capture it.