Bass, Synth Bass, Song Maker

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

A: I'm very proud of my last solo record, "Dust & Dirt". I played all the bass, keys, and some acoustic. I also engineered the bulk of it. It was exhausting! But I love the final product.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Producing a synth pop duo called FUO. Producing the second album on Jacques Merlino, a French-American folk artist. Doing some road work with Tonic, Jace Everett, and Jacques.

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

A: Tom Dupree III is one of my favorite drummers. He and I toured all summer as the rhythm section for Tonic. Amazing drummer. Amazing dude. I'd hire him in a heartbeat.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. What's the song saying?

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

A: 1. Communication 2. Honesty 3. My best work

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What do they hear in their head on this song? Are there any records I should check out for inspiration?

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

A: Ask them if it's in their wheelhouse. There are so many amazing players out there. Jaw-droppingly gifted. But I don't want Steve Vai on my records. Sorry, Steve. You're a champ. Make sure you're serving your own song with the cats you hire to play on them. I'll always tell a potential client if I think I'm wrong for the job. The music deserves that respect.

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

A: Paper, pencil, gut string, bourbon, and my girl. (Don't tell her I called her "gear").

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

A: I've been playing bass off and on since 1988! I've been a side man, a major label artist, an indie artist, and a session guy. The path only goes one way; forward.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Deceptively simple. I'm a big fan of U2 (older stuff), The Police, Talking Heads... bass lines that might not sound difficult to play. But we're wholly original and feed the song harmonically, rhythmically, and tonally.

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

A: So many. But today? Beck. I love the way he makes these stylistic collages, but always manages to sound like Beck. That's an artist.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Less. Less compression. Less limiting. Fewer notes. Less tracks. Get out of the songs way. If the song works with a voice and a guitar, then it's a good song. Make sure you don't screw that up.

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

A: I'm in Nashville. So a lot of "roots" music. But I also make Ambient music late at night just for fun. One of my greatest assets as a Creator has been my genre wanderlust. It's also been a real pain in the ass to record companies!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Arrangement, I believe. As always, it comes back to seeing the forest AND the trees. The details matter. They are the building blocks of a great arrangement. But you still have to fly up to 30, 000 ft. and see the whole picture.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Hopefully, what I bring, is a sense of SONG. I've written hits. I've written misses. And to be clear, I've failed FAR more often than I've succeeded. I look at those "failures" as learning opportunities. As often as not, it's about what you DON'T bring to the song. A killer bass line is always the goal. But sometimes that means pumping 8ths the whole tune and then throwing one deadly lick at the fade.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I like to live with a track for a little bit. Listen through 3 or 4 times. Then go have a coffee. Let it ruminate a bit. I find when I immediately jump in, I may find some magic. But more often I'll be bringing in whatever I was working with last. It's better to let the song tell me what it needs than the other way around.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Pretty simple, really. I use a UAD Apollo and am loaded for bear with great pres and compressors in that environment. I use Logic X and Pro Tools 12.5. I have the required SVT, Fender Bassman, PortaFlex... but frankly, I really just use that stuff onstage. I use Radial Tone Bone DI's for a little extra growl and girth as needed. Gear is great. But it's really only important when it serves the song.

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

A: I'm a huge fan of a wide variety of players and artists. From The Roots to Daniel Lanois. From Nick Cave to Daft Punk. If I can get emotionally or intellectually turned on by a song, I'm into it. If I can't, I don't work on it. Basically, I chose this life as a musician in order to enjoy it. If I don't feel a connection to something, I don't get involved. There's a lot of amazing music out there that just isn't my bag. For me to get involved with it would diminish it's potential. I have too much respect for Creators to put myself in their way like that. Either help. or sit down!

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

A: Most of my career has been as an artist. So, I'm usually with a song from the idea to the mastering to the cellophane wrapper! As a producer I have worked with everything from Country to Hip Hop. As a side man I'm typically called when they need solid, song focused bass work and killer BGV's.