
Lifelong musician Bryan Daste is maybe best known as a pedal steel guitarist, but also specializes in clawhammer banjo, upright bass, and backing vocals. Also a talented recording engineer and producer, Daste is as skilled as he is versatile. "Bryan Daste seems to be able to play just about anything he wants to" - Joe McSpadden, nodepression.com
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Hi, I'm Bryan Daste.
I've been recording and touring with a wide variety of artists for about 15 years. Highlights include session work on a Grammy-nominated album for Grammy winners Laura and Eric Sullivan, touring Europe with Courtney Marie Andrews (also a Grammy nominee), playing with Joan Osborne and Matt the Electrician in Alaska, sharing the stage with The Head and the Heart as a member of Matt Hopper and the Roman Candles (as well as sitting in with Josiah Johnson on his solo show), countless shows with Emma Hill and Small Souls, and plenty of session work with the likes of Mike Marsh (Avett Brothers, Dashboard Confessional), Jeffrey Martin, Anna Tivel, Evan Phillips, Pretty Gritty, Tyler Fortier, Myrrh Larsen and many others.
As a recording/mix engineer and producer, I've worked on many albums for a wide variety of artists and genres, from Americana to hip hop to opera.
Recording Academy voting member.
"Daste's production adds an ethereal component to proceedings, imbuing what could otherwise be seen as traditional songwriting with unexpected twists and turns of the sonic variety." - Jonathan Frahm, PopMatters
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Credits
- Courtney Marie Andrews
- Anna Tivel
- Josiah Johnson
- Jeffrey Martin
- Emma Hill
- Matt Hopper & the Roman Candles
- Small Souls
- Silver Lake 66
- Pretty Gritty
- Evan Phillips
- Tyler Fortier
- Beth Wood
- Myrrh Larsen
- Swimfish
- Joan Osborne
- Matt the Electrician
- Laura Sullivan
- Eric Sullivan
- Mike Marsh of Dashboard Confessional/Avett Brothers
- Yumi Zouma
- Yumi Zouma
- Jonathan J. Bower
- Scotland Barr
- Scotland Barr
- Scotland Barr
- Scotland Barr
- Scotland Barr
- Scotland Barr
- Scotland Barr
- Scotland Barr
- Scotland Barr
- Scotland Barr
- Scotland Barr
- Scotland Barr
- Jacob Golden
- Mister Cooper
- Emma Hill
- Emma Hill
- Emma Hill
- Emma Hill
- Emma Hill
- Emma Hill
- Emma Hill
- Kelli Welli
- Kelli Welli
- Kelli Welli
- Kelli Welli
- Kelli Welli
- Kelli Welli
- Jeffrey Martin
- Small Souls
- Small Souls
- Small Souls
- Small Souls
- Small Souls
- Small Souls
- Small Souls
- Small Souls
- Small Souls
- Small Souls
- Small Souls
- Small Souls
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- The Slow Drags
- Scotland Barr & the Slow Drags
- John Nilsen
258 Reviews - 50 Repeat Clients
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Great bass player, gets the job done right and on time!
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Bryan did such an AMAZING job! Wow!!
His sound is a pure magic, and he plays so musically! Turn-around was quick! I will defiantly call him again for the PedalSteel !! - check_circleVerified
Very pleased!
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Great guy! He laid down some really beautiful playing, the files were professionally recorded, and he was more than happy to make edits in the couple of spots where I asked. Thanks Bryan!
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I asked for a pedal steel part on a quick turnaround and he delivered wonderfully. I would recommend him for any pedal steel job and plan on working with him again!
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Awesome collaborator with serious chops!
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Very pleased.
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Bryan is a true professional, extremely timely and clear with all communications. His playing is so lovely and tasteful! He totally got what I was looking for and came up with a great part that serves the track beautifully. Highly recommended!
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Just awesome, again! So well delivered! Thanks again Bryan.
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This is my second time working with Bryan and definitely not my last! He is a fantastic player, easy to work with, takes direction well, and is a genuinely kind human being.
Do not pass on having Bryan on your track!
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Nothing but 5 Stars... Bryan is an amazing Musician and Collaborator!
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Bryan did a fantastic job on my project with little to no direction provided. Everything sounded top-notch and I wouldn't hesitate to ask him to play on a future project.
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Bryan is an amazing collaborator, stellar work!
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Bryan is my new dream bass player. He actually was able to play the way I want, even though I don't have the technical words, he was able to feel and portray what I wanted.
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Never an issue with Bryan!!! Killing it!!!!!!!!
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MVP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amazing as always, never a doubt
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It is a privilege to work with Bryan! Always delivers a stellar performance and production. Highly recommend!
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I've worked with Bryan a few times and he is a master. He adds beautiful depth to my tracks. The best.
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Bryan has done an amazing job playing lap-steel guitar on one of my songs. What a great player ! I will work with him again.
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Bryan is extremely talented at all of the musical things he does! He played Pedal Steel Guitar for one of my productions and he is a PRO! Not only is his playing stellar, but he understands what I need as an engineer and supplied me with dry, amp, and effected tracks. Perfect! He is a complete joy to work with!
Interview with Bryan Daste
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Yes - Tyler Fortier is a great producer. Kyleen King for strings.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have several amps at my disposal, plus a selection of condensor, ribbon and dynamic microphones, including an AKG 414 and a Shure SM7B. I use a Millennia TD-1 mic pre, with an Empirical Labs Distressor when needed. I use a Kemper Profiler with a bunch of custom profiles I made myself, plus some purchased profiles from top profile makers.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I recently finished an album called "Unheard, Unseen" for Small Souls, a duo I'm part of with a guy named Brian Rozendal. We worked on the album for about two years, start to finish, which included demoing out everything. We spent a ton of time in pre-production so that when we got to making the "real" album, we had already worked out the kinks. Sometimes you have to do the obvious thing first and then find something more interesting. Brian's songwriting is amazing, so I had great raw material to work with, but I'm really proud of how that album turned out. It's dark, challenging, and beautiful. Check it out - https://smallsouls.bandcamp.com/album/unheard-unseen
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Working on a couple steel tracks for Evan Phillips from Alaska. He's the frontman of the group The Whipsaws, as well as a solo artist.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I like a big fat analog front end and the convenience of digital editing! Best of both worlds.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise to listen deeply to both your music and your thoughts about what you want. I hate "one-size-fits-all."
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love to make things sound cool!
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: "Where'd you learn that pedal steel thingie?" I took lessons here and there and picked up a lot from my fellow steel players. There's a great community and brotherhood surrounding pedal steel. Also, transcription is a powerful learning tool.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That it's easy! Haha...
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What do you want the (steel, banjo, bass) to achieve in the song? What are the lyrics about? What emotions do you want to convey?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Have an idea of what you want from the performer beforehand, and be descriptive, but leave room for the player to work his/her magic. That's why you hired them, right? :)
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Well, definitely my Emmons S-12 push/pull pedal steel. That thing is like my best friend. The Millennia mic pre and AKG 414 are both "Swiss Army knife" pieces of gear that are super versatile. Add my Goldtone banjo and Becker upright bass and I'm a happy guy!
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I have a degree in audio engineering from the University of Miami, and I started my professional career in audio post production (TV, radio). When I moved to Portland I transitioned to music full time and never looked back! I split time between the road and the studio. I love both and don't think I could choose if I had to!
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Texture-based.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Too many to list! I've always thought The Avett Brothers could use some steel guitar :-)
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Coco Chanel once said "before leaving the house, a lady should look in the mirror and remove one accessory."
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: A lot of folk, Americana, and singer/songwriter material, though I do "get weird" every now and then. I've played on psychedelic rock records, aggressive goth-rock, pure country, cosmic country, high energy roots rock...
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Supporting the song.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I really strive to listen with an arranger's ear. Nobody's interested in hearing me play a bunch of stuff "just because I can." The parts I play should really fit the song, and enhance the lyric rather than obscuring it. I try to find the push and release already inherent in the song and enhance it. In fact, that's my motto: "Enhance...enhance...enhance!" "His arrangements on Denali are incredibly intuitive, and the choices he makes underscore his knack for knowing exactly what is needed to best showcase each song. Daste has a light touch, avoiding the temptation to clutter, allowing the tunes to breathe. But his skills don’t stop there; Bryan Daste is an excellent harmony singer. Add to that his selfless work ethic; he does everything to support the artist and nothing to draw undue attention to himself. He faithfully serves the singer and the song, in the process becoming invaluable to both. The list of instruments he employs is lengthy, and the manner in which he wields them is tasteful and understated. His presence, indispensible, adds depth to the live performance of Hill's material." - Joe McSpadden, The Flame Still Burns
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: For instrumental tracking, I usually start by charting out the song in the Nashville Number System, with as much rhythmic detail as I can. Then I set up a session with the rough mix of the song, a click if applicable, and track for the miked signal as well as a DI channel. I'll read over the client's notes and then take a rough pass at the song. Usually I will play the song between 5-10 times total, until I am pleased with every note. Sometimes I will edit together the take or replay sections to flow together seamlessly.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I love what Greg Leisz does on pedal steel for so many diverse artists...he really gets that beautiful, almost indescribable tone out of his instrument. And he plays an Emmons like me!
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: A lot of my online work consists of playing pedal steel for clients. I also specialize in clawhammer banjo, which is a rhythmic/melodic style that has a warmer, less brash sound than the more typical bluegrass style. Those are my two main touring instruments as well. I've also added upright bass (always loved that sound) into the mix, plus electric bass. I also work as a recording and mixing engineer in Portland and remotely.

I was the pedal steel, banjo, bass player (also mixed most of these) in this production
- Demo reel (various artists)
- "Magnesium Dreams" by Emma Hill
- "Tender" by Silver Lake 66
- "Furiously Happy" by Emma Hill
- Pedal SteelAverage price - $100 per song
- BanjoAverage price - $100 per song
- Bass UprightAverage price - $100 per song
- Bass ElectricAverage price - $100 per song
- String ArrangerAverage price - $200 per song
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $300 per song
For instrumental work, two revisions included.
- The Avett Brothers
- The Jayhawks
- First Aid Kit
- Emmons S-12 extended E9 push/pull pedal steel
- Goldtone MM-150 openback banjo
- Becker upright bass
- Hofner violin bass
- Fender 5-string Jazz bass
Bulk discounts - ask!