Versatile Session Bassist

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

A: Roger Bolton. I am not aware if he is live on this site now but i know he plans to be in the near future and if you get the chance to work with him you should bite his hand off ! I have worked with Roger on both Live performances and studio work. Roger has had over 40 years in the industry and has worked with the likes of Hans Zimmer, Peter Gabriel, Squid and provides compositions for Film and TV is not only one of the hardest working and most professional people i have ever worked with but a lovely guy who understands the way around any project.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: At the moment i am working on a orchestral version of a well known drum and bass track of a well known artist and playing live with a Spanish artist on tour through England. I am also completing my first album and a Bass sample pack for producers to be done by next June.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Being creative and collaborating with other talented and hard working people and consistently improving my knowledge of my passion.

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

A: To not feel as if they need to send me a full "Ready demo". Alongside my Bass work i also produce so i can give advice and help take your idea to the next step. In addition most of the time i have recorded in studio, the bass gets recorded first and is an often overlooked part of a piece of music as it truly links everything together and is the best root to build from in my opinion. Just relax and remember i am another person trying to also extend my musical career and support those at different stages of theirs. I love working on music and whether you have everything written out and ready or have only a basic idea/few recordings of a track, i will provide and support your piece.

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

A: Roland Tb 303, My Aira Pro series 2 fretless bass, My acoustic guitar, Large sound system, Dj controller to pass the time.

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

A: I have been involved in the music industry for quite a while now as my family had an music events company so been around that aspect from an early age. I first got into producing music following my college Diploma and this led onto me learning a range of instruments and studying extra theory and composition throughout this time. From this i now work producing my own music and offering my services as a studio musician which i have been doing Remotely and Internationally on a number of projects over the last 2 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I would describe my style as fluid like. I produce and compose music spanning a range of genres and reflect this in my bass playing as well. I like to get Funky and really express myself when i can and just be completely free with what i play.

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

A: I would love to work with Pharrell Williams currently as He would be a perfect vocal addition to a track that i have produced recently. I also love the musical collaboration with Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes and would love to work on a track with those guys.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Stay simple in the beginning when laying all your parts down and build up from that once you've got the basic shell of a track. I imagine it like traffic, If i have some really busy parts and they are all fighting for the green light then its harder to go from that than to begin slowly introducing things at a good pace. Then you can build up and further construct your piece.

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

A: I usually work on Funk/Pop tracks, but as stated in my profile i have played in groups spanning a range of genres and have a solid understanding and enjoy playing as many different styles as i can.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill with regard to Bass playing is the ability to lay down an instant groove. whether its a piece i have never heard before and i am playing it live in front of 1000+ people or in a studio with little direction to how to do my part. I aways commit to the groove and balance both the rhythmic and support area of my role but also to add individuality and something interesting to listen to alongside the vocals and upper instruments of a piece.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I think one trouble with producing and composing music in todays digital age is that although you have the ability to create and play any instrument, getting a "human" sound out of it in the way the instrument is supposed to be played is something many people struggle with, and the only way currently to get over that is to have someone with expertise in the instrument to cover the part. That is what i add to a song. I have expertise in my instrument and have a solid knowledge of composition, arrangement and theory and i bring all of this to add a bass part that is perfectly disguised into the track and supports every other factor of the music. I bring a human touch with production precision.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My typical work process is very organised and scheduled to the most finite detail. I like to plan out and understand exactly what i want to do before i actually do it. I do this by listening to a pioce i am working on, writing out its key and also adding in any notes sent from producers or clients to work alongside. I then go about choosing which instrument would suit best to the part i need to play and i will get a few ideas done to then build up from. I dont set particular times to work as ideas can pop up at anytime which i am sure you understand but i am always very strict with my deadlines and consistently produce satisfactory results to my clients.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My personal studio set up is based near Stonehenge and has been built up over the last 4 years to become a fully functioning professional studio. I use a range of DAW,s, use Adam audio reference monitoring and have vocal recording facilities as well as drum rooms and mixing stations. This studio is where i record my remote recording jobs but in addition to this i have access to a studio based in Box near Bath, which is a stones throw away from the world famous Real World Studios where i have various connections.

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

A: i am greatly inspired by all types of music and there are so many talented and boundary pushing professionals out there that i could never name all of them. But i am particularly inspired at this moment in time by a lot of the Jazz/Funk from the 70s - 80s featuring artists like Herbie Hancock, Chic, Jaco Pastorious, Stevie Wonder and many others involved in the scene. Producers like Quincy jones really inspire me too and in general the fact that nowadays all music is within easy reach your inspirations and creative directions can spread as far as you choose.

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

A: The most common type of work i get from my clients is either Live session work, which primarily consist of supporting artists during there live shows which ranges from festivals to jazz bars or Recording work which i offer both remotely and in person at studios. This involves me providing high quality bass parts to either Demo tracks or tracks to be released.