Session Guitarist

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

A: My Gibson J-200 and four good friends. There would be no electricity, but we would still have music—and music is ultimately about connection.

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

A: I’ve worked professionally in music for 10 years. I built my career producing and recording with Vocal Livre and Pedro Valença, followed by projects with artists including Sérgio Saas, Arautos do Rei, Melissa Barcelos and Jader Santos. In 2024, an album for which I produced and recorded the instrumental work received a Latin Grammy nomination.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Expressive, detailed and song-focused. My guitar parts combine sensitivity and intensity, while my productions are built around dynamics, emotion and memorable instrumental textures.

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

A: Coldplay. Their music connects with different generations while still rewarding musicians, producers and audio engineers. Their combination of simplicity, precision, emotion and sonic detail is exceptional.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Give every instrument a clear role. If everything is playing all the time, nothing feels important. Great arrangements create contrast, movement and space for the listener’s attention.

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

A: Gospel is my main field, but I also work extensively with Pop, Folk/Acoustic, Singer-Songwriter, Indie Pop, Soft Pop, Pop-Rock and R&B-Soul.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is creating expressive acoustic guitar parts and complete instrumental arrangements that feel connected to the song rather than simply added on top of it.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Musical sensitivity, dynamics and attention to detail. I know when a song needs a distinctive part and when the best choice is to leave space for the vocal and emotion.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First, I study the demo, references and creative brief until I understand the song’s emotion and dynamics. Then I experiment with tones and different approaches, choose what serves the arrangement best and deliver clean, organized files ready for the client’s session.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work between a home production setup and a treated recording room. My instruments include a Gibson J-200, Yamaha nylon-string guitar, Fender Telecaster Standard and Gretsch G2622T. I record with a Neumann U87, AKG C414 XLII and Shure SM81, and use a Kemper Profiler for electric guitar tones. My setup also includes an Apollo X4, SSL 12 and Waves eMotion LV1 Classic.

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

A: Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Greg Wells, Michael Giacchino, Hans Zimmer, Chris Martin, Leonardo Gonçalves, Avi Kaplan, Ed Boyer, Pedro Valença and Jader Santos. They inspire me through their balance of emotion, arrangement and sonic identity.

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

A: I mainly record acoustic and electric guitars, bass and piano for artists and producers worldwide. I also create full instrumental productions, but most clients hire me for expressive guitar parts, arrangement ideas and performances that serve the song.

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

A: Vocal Livre’s album Temporal holds a special place in my career. I worked as producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist, recording the instrumental production within a demanding schedule. The project was created with deep dedication and later received a Latin Grammy nomination.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I’m currently producing singles and albums while recording remote acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass and piano sessions for artists and producers.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Analog and digital equipment are tools, and I choose whichever serves the song best. Great sound matters, but performance, emotion and musical decisions always come first.

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

A: I will listen carefully, communicate clearly and treat every song with respect. My goal is to deliver inspired performances and organized professional files that make the production stronger.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The moment when I become completely connected to a song and every instrumental detail begins to feel meaningful. Turning that emotional connection into a finished recording is my favorite part of the process.

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

A: “How much will my project cost?” It depends on the song’s length, number of layers, arrangement complexity and delivery requirements. Send me your demo and references, and I’ll provide a clear quote before we begin.

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

A: A session musician does more than play the correct notes. The real job is to understand the artist’s intention, create the right emotion and know what to play—or not play—at every moment.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What emotion should the song communicate? Which references best represent the desired sound? Do you already hear a specific part, or may I experiment? What files, deadline and technical specifications are required?

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

A: Choose someone whose musical taste connects with your song, not only someone with impressive equipment. Share clear references and expectations, but leave enough creative freedom for the musician to bring something meaningful to the project.