Jonathan Hill on SoundBetter

I can play/record anything on the violin/viola (and cello.)

I'm currently the most listened to violinist on the planet with over 1billion engagements with my latest strings collaboration with Pitbull, Archer Marsh and BMG US. I'm a predominantly a session violinist with 30 years experience appearing on over 2500 recordings and 5 Billion Streams. I have recorded and performed classical, pop, folk, film and theatre music for all the major labels and was the principal violinist of Les Miserables, London for a decade. I was a signed artist with EMI classics welling over 500,000 albums. I have a fully equipped recording studio inc Neve, Neumann and Apollo. In my home studio I have recorded solo violin for Netflix/Disney/Amazon Prime/BBC including Dr Who, Bridgerton, Renegade Nell, Squidgames, First Lady, Wimbledon 2024, Other clients have included Ministry of Sound, Omar Lye-Fook, Brand New Heavies... and I will feature as the solo violinist on over 30 trailers in 2024-2025.

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

Credits

10 Reviews - 2 Repeat Clients

Endorse Jonathan Hill

by Louis
Verified
Jonathan did an great job - super quick turnaround, very professional and an amazing player. I'll definitely be back in the future!
by Greg D.
Verified
Just completed another awesome song with Jonathan! If you need a serious musician to take your music to the next level with epic strings Jono is your man!
by Greg D.
Verified
Added just what the song needed in terms of covering existing material but also writing entirely new original parts. Super easy to work with and incredibly talented will be working with Jono again on more songs soon.
by Marco P.
Verified
Very professional, fast and reliable. Thanks.
by Marco P.
Verified
Incredibly gifted. Everything I was looking for in a performance!
by Marco P.
Verified
One of the best musicans I worked with. From calssical to modern productions. Really talented.
by Marco P.
Verified
Really impressed with the turnaround time and the quality of these strings! Highly recommended.
by bird k.
Verified
Excellent Excellent Excellent.
Highly recommended.
Thank you so much.
by Robbert Becker
Very fast and very professional! Great studio recording en performance on solo strings and ensemble. Really enhances my cues with the emotion needed, highly recommended, will definitely be back for more!
by Robbert Becker
Extremely fast, professional quality recording and performance, went beyond the briefing to get me great string parts for my sound track, highly recommended!

Interview with Jonathan Hill

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I recorded strings for the global phenomenon that is Give me Everything by Pitbull that features on the latest season of Bridgerton. I'm also appearing on Dr Who and solo violinist on the advert campaign for Wimbledon 2024. Oh, and I recorded for GearBox records a 'straight to vinyl' solo album on a $10000000 Stradivarius violin made in 1697.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm constantly working on trailers for Netflix/Amazon/Disney plus trying to keep up with clients requests and projects both on Soundbetter and outside the platform.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: you won't get better. I'm the most heard violinist in the world. I may be expensive but you wouldn't go to the cheapest dentist or surgeon!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: always have strings!
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I have perfect pitch and am expert at violin and viola and can if required record the cello too.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: digital as that is what is required these days, but I do love an analogue sound.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: everything.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: do I enjoy their tracks.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: that it's easy or impossible. Tracking up strings to a chamber orchestra is very possible and realistic... if done well. Hence it is NOT easy.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: what they require for the project.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: have everything ready but don't panic if we need to discuss anything. I'm pretty flexible. I just love recording.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: my favourite violin and bow. plus a music stand. a microphone. recording equipment. and a beer.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been in the industry for 30 years as a professional violinist.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I'm an excellent mimic of violin styles and sounds so am comfortable in all genres.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Jascha Heifetz as he was the greatest violinist of all time.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I work on everything from film to pop to classical and everything in between when asked.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring the entire string section to a song if that is what is required but I'm happy to just play top line.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I receive the .wav plus embedded midi preferably already in a Logic project but I'm fine with just a wav file guide and click marking.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have Neumann Mic's, a Neve 4081 pre amp and an Apollo X4 interface.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I've worked with many industry professionals and try to learn off them all.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I generally record all the strings requested by the client and edit if necessary. Then export with no effects so that they can mix and produce.