Studio/Session Guitarist

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on a new record with my Pop/Punk band 'Landmark 20'. We're cutting a 4 song EP, and we're hoping to release it in 2020. I am also continuously working on my own jazz music, whether it's composing original material, or performing/learning jazz standards.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love that I get to become a versatile musician. Actually, I love that I get to be a musician as a full time job. Whether it be teaching, performing, session work, or anything really. I love that my job is to pick up my instrument and create/perform beautiful music.

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

A: I would love to work with some of the current modern jazz musicians from NYC such as Ben Wendel and Rotem Sivan. These guys are just killing it in terms of bringing something new to world of jazz. I'd also love to work with artsits in Scandinavia, such as Lage Lund and Trygve Siem.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My work process for doing session/studio work starts with listening to to piece of music (or the idea that will turn into a piece of music). I then usually try to jam along to it, and try to come up with an idea spontaneously. Then I usually go about using my knowledge of music theory to analyze the tune, analyze what I've played or what might work with the material I've been given, then we go from there! When I'm composing my own music, the process starts with hearing an emotion. From there I write down what I've composed, and leave it be for a while. Then I come and figure out exactly what I've created using my theory knowledge, and then I go about using ancient compositional techniques to expand my small idea into a fully fledged piece of music.

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

A: My Klein sTele, my practice amp, my volume pedal, my laptop and my Taylor 601 picks. Honestly, if the island has a place to plug in my amp and possibly some WIFI, I'd be happy.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I think that both of them have their place. I believe that the digital world will be upping it's game soon, so I will definitely watch out for that. But I also love my analog rig because honestly, nothing else sounds like it.

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

A: I promise that I will treat you and your art with respect. My goal and my vision is help your artistic goals and dreams come true. If I am able to help your vision come to life, then I have done my job.

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

A: The biggest misconception is that since I am an academically trained musician I only play jazz and classical music. I believe that being academically trained in music helps to expand and broaden your artistic horizons, but I do not believe in being stubborn when it comes to music. If the music is good, it's good, no matter what the genre. I want to play every kind of music I can get my hands on, because I want to be as round of a musician as possible.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Why do you believe that I am the right person for the job? There are a million guitarists out there who are doing the exact same thing as me. I want to know why you've chosen me.

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

A: Contact me telling me exactly what you're looking for in extreme detail. I believe that the clearer the client is in letting me know exactly what they are looking for, the more likely the end result will be what they are looking for. Don't be afraid to tell me that what I played isn't what you're looking for. As a session musician I want to create a final product that YOU are happy with. Don't sell your art short, ever.

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

A: I started young, when I was around 12 years old. Right from the very beginning I was forming bands and jamming with people in my hometown. I started gigging when I was 15 years old (in a Pop/Punk band). The throughout high school and into college I was known as one of the 'young guitarists in Red Deer', playing with my psych-rock band 'Culture Clash' and my jazz quartet 'The Five Seven'. In 2017 I moved to Vancouver to continue my jazz degree, and I've been performing with groups since I moved out here. I've been on professional tours in high school, I was playing the top venues in my hometown, and I really got into the industry young. I think that gives me a leg up to some other musicians, because I'm not only a talented musician, but I understand the technical aspects and the business side as well.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style comes from a mixture of hundreds of genres. I would consider myself to be a truly North American musician in that sense. Since North American culture is considered to be a melting pot of cultures, my musical style is a melting pot of all the genres, artists and musicians I take inspiration from.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: My one tip is to never lose the emotional connection to your music. When you are emotionally connected to your music, your production will sound that much better because you care about it.

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

A: I usually work on indie/rock/pop music currently, but I am also a part of a local Vancouver Pop/Punk band. I also compose and perform a variety of jazz music, from 1930-40's music to modern jazz.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill when it comes to being a musician is my ability to apply theoretical concepts to music and to make it sound musical. I find that some people are scared of learning music theory because they feel it might hinder the spontaneous expressive quality of their music. I have the ability to take advanced music theory and to apply it in such a way that the music will sound innovative, interesting and complex, yet simple and beautiful to listen to.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring individuality and innovation to a song/piece of music. I am not one to fall into the same patterns of composition as I have always been someone to love pushing the boundaries of music. I am able to listen to a song and hear what I truly believe will add to the music as a whole. I believe in helping artists to make their artistic vision come true, and any way I can add my own creative voice to a project and help make it as beautiful as it can be, I'm down.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio consists of my MacBook, my Focusrite 18i20 and my KRK Rokit 6 G3's. I run a variety of amp modelling softwares to get the sounds that I need for each project. If I need to mix in amplifiers, I usually use my 90's Roland Cube 60, with my pedal board. My main guitar is my Steve Klein sTele, but even with that guitar alone I am able to get a surprisingly diverse tone. I'm super excited to use my gear to work on as many projects as possible.

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

A: I am inspired by a lot of musicians from a variety of styles. I grew up on Pop/Punk music, Top 40's and Classic Rock, then moved into jazz and classical, and now I listen to whatever I can get my hands on. As a guitarist I am inspired by greats like Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, Prince, etc. As a jazz musician I am inspired by musicians like Ed Bickert, Lenny Breau, Jim Hall, Julian Lage, and Brandon Ross. There are tons of musicians I look up to, it would take a very long time to list all my inspirations.

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

A: The most common type of work I do for clients consists of writing guitar parts, learning previously written material and recording/performing the material. Generally the work will consist of rehearsing with the group if possible to figure out their style, and to get a sense of what type of musical work I can contribute. If rehearsals aren't possible, then we go about sending audio files back and forth, slowly building up a piece of music that both myself and the client are proud of.