session cellist, arranger

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: At the moment I am working with an IT expert and film musician on a sample library, for which I play every note of my five-string cello with different techniques and volumes.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: In my job as a session cellist, I love the challenge to be confronted with new and sometimes unfamiliar types of music - especially when it comes to music styles that traditionally do not require any cello sounds, such as chillout or electro music.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My musical style is a mix of three elements: First, I love to create industrial avant-garde sounds with my cello. On the other hand, I like to add subtle jazz elements to songs, especially through plucked licks. Third, as a classically trained cellist, I have the ambition to contribute a beautiful, warm and balanced sound to the songs.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Over the course of many recordings for pop and rock productions, I have come to realize that less can often be more. As the main focus of a mainstream production is on the vocalist, I avoid solistic high registers on the cello. In addition to sustained sounds to accompany the singer, it is my style to fill the pauses in the vocals with matching cello licks, unless this function was already taken over by other instruments.

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

A: The songs and styles to which I contribute cello recordings are very diverse and range from folk to rock to electro music. Whereby an emphasis probably lies in the field of singer-songwriter.

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

A: I compose cello parts to pieces of music and record them. Alternatively, I can also record composed cello parts if I get the music notes or a midi file.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My greatest ability is to record my own three- or four-part cello arrangements to your finished song. Despite the dense string ensemble sounds, the voice always remains in focus and is not covered too much by the cello.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: In a typical work process, I import the customer's sound file (wav / mp3) into a new Cubase project. After listening to the song and discussing wishes or ideas with the customer, I start to improvise on the track and record myself. In this way, depending on the song and desire of the customer, I play up to four different cellotracks in succession. Then I edit the tracks (cut, crossfades), create a sample mix and send it to the client to subsequently discuss change requests. If the customer is satisfied, I will send him a WeTransfer link so that he can download the dry cello tracks.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I record mono tracks with a Neumann TLM 102 condenser microphone with a SPL Goldmike 9844 tube preamp. Additional plucked bass passages can additionally be recorded via a bassbalsereit standard pickup with an ANS preamp. As for the digital audio workstation/DAW I apply Cubase with the result that the cello tracks come across in studio quality.

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

A: As described on my website, I offer a satisfaction guarantee. So you only have to pay for my cello recording if you like it. I am very proud that it has not happened yet that a recording was rejected.