You've heard me before and now you can hire me yourself!!! I've played on tons of hit albums from artists like Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo, Madonna, Alice In Chains, Beck, Miley, Pink, Weezer and more. Now YOU can hire one of the TOP session string arrangers/multi-instrumentalists in the world. I AM "All Things Stringed"
I am the same string arranger/musician that's arranged and played on hits including P!nk's "Sober" and new hit "Love Me Anyways", or Rihanna's "Rehab", Lady Gaga & Chic "I Want Your Love", Timbaland with Elton John "2 Man Show", Ellie Goulding's "Lights". I not only arranged strings for all those songs, I PLAYED THEM ALL MYSELF!!! Other artists I've work with include Dua Lipa, Weezer, Steve Vai, Lykke Li, Mark Ronson, Beck, Miley, Madonna, Leah Zeger, Troye Sivan, Panic at the Disco, Fun! The Kooks, Fratelli's, Matchbox 20, Gary Clark Jr, Puddle of Mud, Collective Soul, Snoop Dogg, Bad Religion and more.
Of course if you need mandolin, lap steel, sitar, or other exotic instruments I can do those too.
I arrange in midi first so you can hear what the arrangements will sound like. I record with a close mic and a stereo room mic on each track, use the best mic's and pre's and record in pro tools.
I take my ego out. It's YOUR song... my job is to help you get the best music for your song.
I might not be the cheapest, but my reputation and my credits speak for themselves. Typically I charge $250 to record a solo instrument and you'll get 2-3 different passes to choose from. String arrangements and recording start at $800 and go up depending on what's involved. As the saying goes, "You get what you pay for" and I take pride in my reputation and repeat customers!
Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.
58 Reviews - 13 Repeat Clients
Endorse Stevie Blacke
check_circleVerifiedA really great sounding string session. Higly recommended.
check_circleVerifiedStevie was fast and professional throughout the process! He really helped bring our vision to life with his amazing performance! Glad that we were able to work with him!
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Stevie always delivers the best sounding strings to my song. Definitely will work with him again and again.
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Man i dread this review section! Purely because Stevie is a genius, and there is nothing more to say about a genius than He’s a genius! He just gets it! I love his work, and he will forever be my go to for strings for as long as he wants to keep playing on my tracks. Brilliant
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It's a real honour and privilege to be able to work with such a fantastic musician, composer and all round great guy. so thank you Stevie and thank you sound better for making this possible.
If you didn't use Stevie on your track, then sorry, you missed out!
Fortunately I learnt that lesson early on. - check_circleVerified
Great working with Stevie!
check_circleVerifiedStevie is the real deal. He provided an absolutely stunning arrangement in just a few days, and then delivered a top notch live performance that transformed the song altogether. He's an excellent communicator as well and was a pleasure to work with. I would absolutely recommend him to anyone seeking top-tier string work.
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First time working with Stevie. He exceeds all my expectation. He arrange and deliver the perfect string part and all in the first time. No changes needed. I'll definitely with him again.
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Stevie is a very talented string player and will probably be able to make whatever you have in mind.
/Martin - check_circleVerified
WOW!!! Stevie is the absolute greatest. Should have seen the look on my face after listening to his takes back for the first time. Pure Magic!!!! There are some people who will just record the parts and call it a day. This is not Stevie... You can truly feel the love & personal style he puts into every part. This guy is a total genius!!!
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Amazing! Absolutely amazing!
check_circleVerifiedStevie did an amazing job, again! I highly recommend him for your next project!
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Stevie is the best out there. A top tier pro who is a pleasure to work with a delivers first-class tracks every time.
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I've worked with Stevie since the start of Covid. Every major song i've had to work on, Stevie is who I will go to. He always brings top tier arrangements and focuses on how to help bring the song even more to life. He is quick with responding, records with top quality, AND he is just incredibly talented. If you're looking to find someone to add something special to your track. Stevie is someone you should go to. I can't recommend him enough!!
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Second track done by Stevie and it’s perfect!
No revisions, no conversations, no time delay. Just done! A true pro - check_circleVerified
Stevie is absolutely amazing! Fast, precise, and puts beautiful emotion and feel in his playing. I’m super happy
check_circleVerifiedBeautiful sound, plays with great delicacy and emotion took the song to a whole new level.
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My second project with Stevie went off perfectly just like the first one! I highly recommend him!
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Stevie is the best string arranger I've worked with to date. I highly recommend using him and will use him on additional tracks.
check_circleVerifiedIt was an absolute pleasure working with Stevie. His professionalism, attention to detail, and talent made this entire process so easy and fun. I am so pleased with the finished product and look forward to working with him again!
Interview with Stevie Blacke
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Pink's "Sober" was a great one for me... one of my first BIG singles that I played everything on. I arranged the strings and recorded all the parts myself, AND P!nk came over to my studio when I did it so she could know what was going on in her song.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Miley MTV VMA awards, Mark Ronson TV performances, P!nk's new album etc.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: There are a TON of people I know... and I'm happy to recommend if you have a specific need.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Love creating and making music
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: How do I do my arrangements... as I've stated, I believe doing a midi mock up is best for all. The client can hear the fake strings and get a sense of what they'll be like.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Zep, Floyd, Snoop, Timbaland, Joe Cocker, Stevie
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I'll fit in any style... I love all types of music and doing my part to make your song better!
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Who haven't I worked with? I've worked with U2 but it never came out... I wouldn't mind another track for them.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I've worked with Miley, Rihanna, Gaga, P!nk, Snoop, Cher, Joe Cocker, Mark Ronson, Avenged Sevenfold, Alice in Chains, Beck... I'll do anything!
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: years of experience as a string arranger and a professional, ego-less attitude. It's YOUR music.. not mine... you're the boss!
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I usually do arrangements in midi first so you can hear the string ideas before I record the real deal. If I'm doing a solo instrument I'll do 2-3 versions to choose from
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Fully professional studio with great mics and pre's. Neve, Neummann, Vintech, U47, C24. Pro Tolls HD
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: String arranging for any type of song and recording all the string parts... You get a REAL string section arranged for your song.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I've been known as "The Blacke Orchestra" and even credited on albums as such (Aaliyah). Hoping people didn't contact me expecting more than just one guy!!!
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: make sure your song is ready!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital.. I'm all Pro Tools
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: It's YOUR song... I take my ego out of it
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Do you have any specific ideas? What songs with strings do you like?
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Martin guitar, my 100 y.o. Gibson mandolin, a violin, a cello and a pro tools rig
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: 25 years + as a professional musician. I still love doing arrangements and adding my part to the songs to help make them better in any way I can!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: It's the performance that matters MOST!!!
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: easy to work with... the song I realize, is YOUR song... not mine. It's all about what the artist wants
I was the Arranger, live string performer, engineer in this production
- Nelly Furtado & Keith Urban "In God's Hands" Solo'd Strings
- Pink "Love Me Anyways" Solo'd Strings
- unreleased Rocketship of Love "Did You Feel It Too"
- Rocketship of Love "Rising"
- String ArrangerContact for pricing
- String SectionContact for pricing
- Pop-Rock ArrangerContact for pricing
- ViolinAverage price - $350 per song
- ViolaAverage price - $350 per song
- CelloAverage price - $350 per song
- MandolinAverage price - $350 per song
If it's a solo instrument you'll get 2-3 versions to choose from. If I'm arranging you'll get a midi mock up first before I record the real strings (Violins, Viola & Cello).
- Variety of violins
- violas and cello
- mandolin
- mandocello
- Neumann u47
- telefunken AR70
- Vintech pre's
- UA 1176
- Spotify playlist of songs I've played onOct 19, 2020
Spotify Playlist of songs I've played on
- Recent Projects fall 2020Oct 19, 2020
JoJo's "The Change" penned by Diane Warren
Legendary Bad Religion "Faith Alone 2020"
Dua Lipa's "Don't Start Now Live in LA" Arranged, contracted, conducted
Greer "Aeroplane"
Australian artist Kate Miller-Heidke "This Is Not Forever"
Joshua Bassett from High School Musicial "Common Sense"
From Spain!!! Rulo y la Contrabanda "Polaroid"
