Gospel session Keyboardist

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

A: One project I’m particularly proud of was a Gospel arrangement where I was responsible for creating the piano part and shaping the harmonic direction of the song. I worked with extended chords, reharmonization, and expressive voicings to give the arrangement more depth while keeping the original musical message intact. It was rewarding because it allowed me to combine my Gospel background with the Jazz-influenced harmonic approach I’ve been developing.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I’m currently developing my remote session work, creating Gospel and Jazz-influenced piano content, and expanding my keyboard production skills. I’m also working on arrangements that combine Gospel harmony with Jazz, R&B, Soul, and contemporary worship textures.

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

A: I’m still building my network on SoundBetter, so I don’t currently have a personal recommendation to make.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, mainly because of flexibility. It allows me to experiment with different sounds, arrangements, voicings, and production ideas quickly while keeping the workflow efficient. That said, I appreciate the character and feel that analog equipment can bring to a production.

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

A: My promise is to treat every song as music, not just as a recording task. I will listen carefully, communicate clearly, respect the artist's vision, and give the song my best musical judgment.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love taking a simple musical idea and discovering how much emotion and character can be created through harmony, rhythm, and sound. I especially enjoy hearing a song become more alive after finding the right piano or keyboard part.

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

A: Clients often ask whether I can adapt my playing to their song or reference. My answer is yes — I can work closely to a reference when consistency is important, or take a more creative approach when the production needs something original.

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

A: I think one misconception is that playing Gospel piano is simply about using complicated chords. Good Gospel playing is also about timing, dynamics, pocket, voice leading, emotion, and knowing when to simplify.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I usually ask about the song's genre, references, key, BPM, structure, and the role they want the piano or keyboards to play. I also like to know whether they want something written closely to the reference or a more creative interpretation.

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

A: Choose someone who understands the musical direction of your song, not just someone who can play the instrument. When hiring a pianist, communicate the reference tracks, emotion, style, and level of freedom you want. That makes it much easier to create something that truly serves your song.

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

A: A great stage piano, a laptop, an audio interface, a pair of studio headphones, and a MIDI controller. With those five pieces, I could still write, arrange, record, and produce music almost anywhere.

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

A: I started playing drums at a young age and began focusing seriously on piano in 2022. I’m largely self-taught, learning through playing, studying Gospel and Jazz, and serving in church music. Since then, I’ve developed my skills in Gospel piano, reharmonization, arranging, and keyboard production, and I’m now expanding that experience into remote work with artists and producers.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I would describe my style as expressive Gospel piano with Jazz-influenced harmony. I like rich voicings, smooth voice leading, reharmonization, tasteful improvisation, and modern worship textures while keeping the music emotionally connected.

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

A: Kirk Franklin. His music combines Gospel, R&B, strong songwriting, and modern production in a way that has influenced generations. I would love to contribute my piano and harmonic approach to that kind of production.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don’t fill every space. A strong arrangement is not only about the chords you play, but also about when you choose not to play. Leave room for the vocals and other instruments, and use voice leading to make your chord changes feel intentional.

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

A: Gospel, contemporary worship, Jazz, R&B, Soul, and music influenced by these styles. I especially enjoy productions where Gospel harmony and modern musical textures can work together.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is Gospel-influenced harmonic interpretation. I enjoy reharmonizing songs, creating tasteful chord voicings, and finding musical ways to connect chords while keeping the arrangement expressive and playable.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring Gospel harmony, expressive playing, musical sensitivity, and a strong focus on chord movement and voice leading. My goal is to make the harmony feel richer while keeping the original emotion and message of the song.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I first listen carefully to the song and understand its emotional direction. Then I identify the harmony, groove, and space needed for the arrangement. From there, I build the piano or keyboard parts, focusing on voice leading, dynamics, chord color, and serving the song rather than simply adding notes.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My current setup is centered around a Yamaha PSR-E473, Ableton Live 12 Suite, and software instruments such as Keyscape and Omnisphere. I use my setup primarily for piano recording, MIDI production, arranging, reharmonization, and creating Gospel and worship textures.

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

A: I’m inspired by musicians such as Cory Henry, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Robert Glasper, PJ Morton, and Israel Houghton. I especially admire musicians who combine strong musicality, Gospel harmony, improvisation, and modern production.

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

A: I mainly provide Gospel and contemporary piano for songs, worship productions, and vocal arrangements. I specialize in expressive piano parts, rich Gospel chords, reharmonization, modern worship textures, and supporting instruments such as Rhodes, organs, pads, strings, and keys.