20 years as a pro Electric and Upright bassist,playing and recording with many of Ireland’s top musicians. Based in Barcelona, my main focus is recording and producing for original artists and singers.
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Interview with David Duffy
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Another album for singer Ksenia Parkhatskaya
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Andrés Giraldo
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both, if it sounds good, it sounds good - but still love analog whenever possible
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Increíble bass tone, feel and energy
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I just love playing bass, and what that does to the music, and people when they hear it
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: It’s easy and it’s just a bass. The difference between a great bass line and an ok one is far more significant than people think.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Let’s have fun and enjoy this wonderful process of making music
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Vintage P Bass, laptop, audeze headphones, UAD Apollo, Moog
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Studied music in 2002, and went onto do to a masters, during that time began working professionally. This led me to working throughout Ireland and the UK as a session player
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Open hearted, intuitive and responsive - everything I play I want to feel in my body. That’s where it all starts
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: John Mayer, I have always been inspired by his songwriting, work ethic, drive, and passion for music
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Work fast, your initial intuition is nearly always best, the give lots of space to those ideas, and when you come back you will know what’s working From a technical perspective, understanding your low end, how kick, bass line and any other low parts are interacting is where a great mix happens
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Americana, singer songwriter, Pop, Soul, Rnb
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My creativity
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: 20 years experience as a professional bass player and producer. Having worked as a producer for 100s of tracks this greatly informs my bass playing, as I think holistically about what the song needs from the bass.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I like to have a call or email, to discuss influences and references, to really understand what the artist needs, and on that day usual play a rough bass line so me and the artist/producer agree on the direction . I then track separately and send 3 takes 1. My choice and edit of a mixture of my favourite takes 2. The simplest bass line 3. A more fun, free open interpretation The client gives feedback on this and I do one follow up session if required
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: 63’ P Bass called Dennis, into an API preamp, to my Apollo 6 thunderbolt, MacBook Pro M1, to whatever DAW you prefer
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Singer songwriters, producers, other bassists
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Recording incredible bass parts, always with my taste as a producer influencing instrument choice, tone and space
- John Mayer
- Mary Spender
- Allen Stone
- 63’ P Bass
- Apollo 6
- API Preamp
