Online Session Guitarist

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: Generally, I am proud of all of the projects I have completed. Although it's a cliche, I am a perfectionist and if I am not happy with a take then it is not finished and ready for release.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on my own original backing tracks in my spare time and recording guitar parts for a top secret song but I can't tell you too much about this particular project.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: I hear James McMahon is very good.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. Musicians tend to be a little obsessed with analog gear however in this day and age, digital gear can replicate the sound analog gear perfectly and much more efficiently.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I promise that all tracks will be recorded and played to the best of my ability and delivered on time to your specified requirements.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I like that I do not need to be tied down to one specific location so I am free to live how and where I like.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: People ask if I am available, and my answer is almost certainly yes.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: People often think that my life is just sitting in front of a computer and playing the guitar and they think that it is very easy. Of course, there are many harder occupations in the world however this job does require a lot of care and attention to detail which all takes time.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always ask for a BPM, time signature and key signature. Of course, I could work them out myself however it saves time and any possible misunderstandings if you just ask. I also like to ask if the customer has any specific requirements in terms of gear that they would like me to use.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: I would recommend having a clear idea of what you need and a rough mix/demo for me to listen to.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: An Acoustic guitar, a Telecaster, a Kemper Profiler, an audio interface and a DAW.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I had been working in Southampton, UK as a session guitarist prior to COVID-19 however, as for everybody, life changed quite a lot for me and I then began recording from home rather than in person.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style as a musician often fluctuates however, generally, I would say that my style is quite chordal with blues and Neo Soul embellishments.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: I don't have a specific artist in mind but I do enjoy working with people who have a specific goal in mind but remain open to potential creativity when it occurs.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: DO NOT CLIP.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Mostly pop and rock however I have been involved with more Rn'B music recently which I really enjoy.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I would say that my strongest skill as a musician is to adapt to 'play to the music' rather than playing whatever I want.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: After working with a variety of musicians, I am able to listen to tracks with an open mind and compose parts that will tastefully complement a song without overruling or compromising the client's initial concept.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I will start by listening to what the client requires from me, and make a decision about what guitar and amplifier will best suit the client's needs. Then I will notate the chords on paper and press record.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My home studio is more of a "Guitar Station" as it has been built with the primary function of recording high-quality guitar tracks. All electric guitar tracks are recorded via the Kemper Profiler which provides flawless results every time.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I am mostly inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Nile Rogers and Mateus Asato to name just a few.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: Currently, most of my work consists of online session recordings.