Session Bassist

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

A: The most recent work I'm doing arranging, recording, mixing and producing some covers for a Music sync company for TV & Films use. In this I am doing everything myself and am loving both the challenge and the experience.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm arranging, recording, mixing and producing some covers for a Music sync company for TV & Films use and working with a couple artists to get touring and writing again.

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

A: Not currently but I will update this if I find other trusted professionals.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Both have their place, analog is the original and what digital tries to replicate but these days its almost impossible to tell the difference so I use both.

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

A: That they will receive a professional experience and I will make sure to give them their desired part.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Creativity. I love being creative and working with others.

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

A: Q. Can you do a few different takes and we then decide which one to use? A. Absolutely! I love playing and composing so doing a few different style takes with different gear and sounds is always a blast and it can allow even the pickiest of artists to get what they want on their track.

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

A: That it's easy and a guitarist can do it. Guitarist can theoretically play bass, however they do not understand the role of the bass and they think about it like it's a guitar and that in turn limits their creativity and understanding of the instrument.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Whats the song about? and is there anything specific you want from me? or do you want me to just do my thing and send it over for approval.

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

A: Talk to me. Tell me about your track and what you want from me, that way you get exactly what you want on your tracks.

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

A: 1. Fender Precision Bass 2. Fender Stratocaster 3. Audio interface 4. My Mac 5. Midi Keyboard I think you can do everything you need with these 5 and continuing creating music whilst breaking open a few coconuts.

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

A: I have been playing Music since I was a teenager and am now in my mid-late twenties so over a decade. I always wanted to be a musician and earn my money both playing and teaching music. I have done a lot of live session work but always adored the recording work I did so during covid I finished setting up a home studio and started doing remote recording work all the time. It's been great being able to work with artists from allover in different styles and roles.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style varies a lot depending on the session. I grew up on Motown and 80's pop music (despite my friends only listening to Busted and Mcfly) where the bass was a highlight of the music but I listen to a lot of chart music where the bass is simple but elegant. I tend to try to play for the song and only take the lead role if I or the artist feels that is what the song needs.

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

A: I love working with singer-songwriters and its always fun to play the rockier side of music as well. I love alot of female singer-songwriter music that is coming out these days as they give of such beautiful timbres and expression within the music.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: With Bass its always good to give many options to the artist such as clean and wet stems. This allows the artist to take your mixed sound and slot it in, or have their producers use the clean sound and mix it to suit their vision of the project. making sure artists and producers have what they need is essential often I am brought in Early or mid production therefore I haven't heard how the song is being mixed yet.

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

A: I work with a lot of singer songwriters who work within the realms of what is popular in the charts. So a lot of Pop music, simple folk and country singers, rock artists and many more. artists like Sara Bareilles, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters, James Bay, Hayley Williams/Paramore etc... I do a lot of different styles and I love that.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My versatility and musical understanding of harmony and rhythm. I try to make sure i am well adverse in all genres and make sure i listen to the song and play what the song needs in relation to the other parts and what the artist wants for their track.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a wide variety of sounds which allows me to convey different emotions and feelings through the parts. I try to make sure the instrument i choose matches the style of the music and my parts range from simple parts you feel in your chest to melodic parts that sing throughout the song.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I typically listen to the tracks and their lyrics and try to hear what the song is conveying then i sing the line to myself often learning other instruments parts to truly understand the rhythm and harmony and then lay down my bass part from there.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I primarily work out of my home studio for recording most things. I have it set up with some nice outboard gear and can record Piano, Vocals, Guitar and of course Bass this way. I have also recorded some horns here but when I need Drums I go to Fuse Studios in London. I do arranging work with songwriters in my home studio and then remote session bassist work as well.

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

A: As a Bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen comes to mind straight away. He is a great producer and musician. however Mark Ronsons production continuously blows me away as well as Pino Pallidino's session work for artist of all styles.

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

A: It tend to be either singer-songwriters who do chart based music and rock groups. I also have done TV and Film covers as an arranger and producer and often do live gigs for artists.