JJ Villafane

Session Guitarist

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13 Reviews
JJ Villafane on SoundBetter

I have over 17 years of experience in the music industry as a guitarist and session musician. I take pride in recording tasteful and soulful guitar tracks that will elevate your music.

I've been fortunate enough to work with incredibly talented people both on stage and in the studio. By serendipity, I've worked with many different genres and settings. Still, I tend to lean towards rock, alternative, pop, and funk-infused music.

The recording studio is my favorite place in the world, and I'm always striving to exceed my client's expectations. My typical timeline is roughly 2 days, although it may vary a bit depending on my schedule.

I'd be happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about my profile or my work, so feel free to send me a message! I look forward to working with you!

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

13 Reviews

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  1. Review by Ivan Berger
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    JJ is awesome! I am feeling very honored to work with him!

  2. Review by Camilo Silva F Mastering
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    Loved working on JJ's album - great music, nice mixes, he was also open to my feedback so we got very deep improvements on the mixes before i mastered them, making my life easier and making this gig even more enjoyable. Thanks JJ ! See you on the next one !

  3. Review by Rob Murray
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    Great working with JJ again, good music and a pleasure to work with.

  4. Review by Camilo Silva F Mastering
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    Can´t be happier about this gig. Great band, great teamwork and JJ´s awesome to deal with ! All the process has been easygoing and super enjoyable. Thanks JJ !

  5. Review by Ivan Berger
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    JJ Villafane is an awesome and talented guy, super clear in workflow! I am looking forward to working with him again! I highly recommend him! Dios te bendiga! :)

  6. Review by Ivan Berger
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    JJ is a very talented guy! Let's work! God bless you!

  7. Review by Ivan Berger
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    JJ was a very professional guy! He knows what he wants! Super recommend him! God bless you!

  8. Review by Andres Mayo
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    I had a great experience working with JJ. Really nice guy with a great mix and willing to get the best out of it. Looking forward to working with him again soon!

  9. Review by Rob Murray
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    Nice guy, quick/clear communication, good music, hope to work together again!

  10. Review by Camilo Silva F Mastering
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    Fantastic ! Amazing song, and JJ was really prompt and courteous, what else can you ask for ? Five stars !

  11. Review by Martin Merenyi
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    JJ is a great guy to work with. He is professional and has great communication which is essential when it comes to team work.

  12. Review by Ken Hutton
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    Loved working with JJ. Very talented, organized, pro, and super nice guy.
    His love of music and life really come through his voice, which makes working on his projects fun and rewarding.
    Great client.

  13. Review by Alexandros Chrysidis, Sierra Studios
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    JJ is a pleasure to work with.
    His singing is very powerful with soul and feelng.
    He knows what he is looking for and won't settle for nothing than the best.
    Communication was perfect with feedback to the point.

Interview with JJ Villafane

  1. Q: What's your typical work process?

  2. A: Everyone's situation is different, but I start by asking for a recording of the song and the sound and vibe that the client is looking for. Sometimes my clients send me something as simple as a voice note, and I am tasked with creating a guitar part that they will then use to make the song around it. Other times I receive a full-fledged production, and then it's my job to record a guitar part that will blend seamlessly with the track. Once I'm happy with the tones and vibes of the guitar parts I recorded, I send them to my client for revisions. After the artist or producer is 100% happy with the results, I send them the final audio files with the format and variations that the project requires.

  3. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  4. A: I just bought my first home, and what makes me the happiest is that I was able to finally build my dream studio. My favorite part is its excellent acoustic treatment because it allows me to record and mix with unparalleled clarity. It has been a few years since I have been working in the UAD environment. I currently use an Apollo X4 and the OX Amp Top Box. I love the sound of their plugins, not to mention the ease of workflow. I only use Mogami cables to get the best possible sound and a small but mighty collection of Neumann, Audio Technica, and Shure mics. To get the tone that the track calls for, I use a variety of acoustic and electric guitars that I combine with analog pedals, a Line 6 Helix, and Neural DSP plugins.

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

  6. A: Rick Rubin is an incredible producer and a music lover. His philosophies have been a great inspiration for me, and he has been the constant thread in many of my favorite records. After a long and successful career, his greatest gift is that he still is a massive music fan. That's the greatest lesson I've learned from him, and it's something that I always try to keep in mind.

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

  8. A: Everyone's situation is different, but I start by asking for a recording of the song and the sound and vibe that the client is looking for. Sometimes my clients send me something as simple as a voice note, and I am tasked with creating a guitar part that they will then use to make the song around it. Other times I receive a full-fledged production, and then it's my job to record a guitar part that will blend seamlessly with the track. Once I'm happy with the tones and vibes of the guitar parts I recorded, I send them to my client for revisions. After the artist or producer is 100% happy with the results, I send them the final audio files with the format and variations that the project requires.

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Studio Sessions Medley

I was the Guitarist in this production

Terms Of Service

The turnaround for guitar tracks is around 2 days, depending a bit on how busy my schedule is when you contact me. I'll allow up to three revisions for each guitar track.

GenresSounds Like
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • John Mayer
  • Daft Punk
Gear Highlights
  • UAD Apollo x4
  • UAD OX
  • Audio-Technica AT4050
  • Fuchs Full House 50
  • Primacoustic Acoustic Treatment
  • and a varied collection of acoustic and electric guitars
  • basses and microphones.
More Photos
More Samples
  • #tbt to my first John Mayer ConcertAug 04, 2017

    Here is a little #tbt to my first John Mayer concert, and my first visit ever to Chicago. I wasn't sure I was gonna have time to see him during the summer so I flew all the way from Houston to see him. It just happened also that on the day I arrived, the Chicago Cubs had their opening season game after their world series title. Being a baseball fan, attending that game was a major treat! 

  • A little #tbt to my first John Mayer concert!Aug 03, 2017

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BXWa4oOFYJL/?taken-by=jjvillafane