Session Rock Bass Player

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

A: I play in a band called ART, and I'm very proud of our second album called Asylum. We had two guest stars playing with us: Stef Burns and Vince Pastano

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on a project with my band. I can't say more or they would kill me

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

A: It's full of professionals here, I personally know some of them and they are all super. It would be very difficult to choose someone above the others

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the idea that there's a part of me in every song published after I recorded in it. It is as if I have many children around the world :)

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

A: I can say what I commonly ask my customers and what's their answer: -is it ok? -It's perfect! No, seriously, there aren't common questions from my customers

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

A: I think there aren't misconceptions. Or at least it never happened to me

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always ask if there's something in particular they need, some precise line, a particular sound. Otherwise I choose based on what I think is best suited to the song

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

A: I tend to not trust musicians who say they can play every genre from pop to jazz to heavy metal. If I needed a blues guitarist, I would choose someone who played blues for his whole life...

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

A: Can an inflatable doll be considered a piece of gear?

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

A: Not an artist in particular, you always have something to learn from everyone's experience!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Of course! As I told before, I think that bass is very very important to communicate the song mood. Sometimes a rhythmic pattern is enough, sometimes a single note, sometimes a complex line. Always keep in mind: the song is not a sum of individual instruments, but a team of instruments that have to play together to achieve a goal. So, every time you play you have to ask yourself: "What can I do for the team?"

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill? Playing bass ;-)

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I always try to understand the message that the song wants to communicate, then I emphasize that. Sometimes the bass have to stay under the other instruments just covering the bass frequencies, sometimes it can "talk" adding his voice and his own line. I always avoid to just play the guitar line/riff just one octave below, until it's strictly needed in the song. Instead, I prefer the bass to have his own line, but always without stepping on the other instruments.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Sometimes musicians and producers tell me what they need, the sound, the mood, or some particular parts that must be played in a certain way. But most of the time they let me choose freely without any instruction, and I can see it works as well. After recording the bass line I send a preview of the song with the bass volume a little above the mix. If there's something you don't like I record again until you're 100% satisfied. If it's good, then I send two isolated tracks, one complete with all effects and amp (real or emulated), EQ, compressor and everything I used, and another one with just the direct input, so if you want you can re-amp or use your own effects.

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

A: If I have to choose only one bass player I'd probably go for Geddy Lee, but there are many others that inspired me in different ways. John Paul Jones for his perfect bass lines, Dave Elleffson for his picking sound, Duff McKagan for his attitude, but also Jason Newsted, Carol Kaye, Leland Sklar, Lemmy and many others

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I really love analog, but with digital the entire process is faster with better results. I like the idea of being able to change amp/cab/mic after recording. It allows me to reach exactly the sound needed to the song.

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

A: I guarantee satisfaction at 100%. Unlimited revisions and changes until what you get is exactly what you need.

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

A: I've been playing bass for over 20 years, and piano for 15 years before that.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I like groovy and massive riffs, and sometimes some melodic bass lines adding an atmosphere to the song.

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

A: Usually I work on rock-oriented music, from pop-rock to heavy metal.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: You'll have almost every essential bass for every need: Fender (Jazz/Precision), Gibson (Thunderbird/Grabber), MusicMan, Jackson, Charvel, Ibanez, B.C.Rich and handmade basses. Fretted, fretless, upright bass, 4 and 5 strings. Analog amps: Ampeg SVT classic, Marshall JCM 800 Bass, GRBass GR700+ Digital gear: Fractal FX8 and AX8, PositiveGrid BIAS Studio bundle

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

A: I provide bass tracks in any format required, from amp/cabinet and also direct (from bass or amp d.i.) for reamping. Unlimited revisions until 100% satisfaction.