Dobro and Slide Guitar

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

A: Most recently I produced an old-school country CD in Nashville for my friend, April Verch. We had an amazing band and worked at Bil Vorn Dicks studio. I love the results. Everyone who was there was right into the project. It was a blast and I'm proud of my contributions and the final results.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm just finishing doing a grant proposal to work with a Korean Slide Guitar player on a collaborative project. I'm doing some Dobro tracks for a friend here in Canada and writing songs with a friend in Nashville via Skype. And I'm doing some pre-production work for two CDs I am producing, one with a friend from Colorado and one with a friend from Argentina.

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

A: I honestly haven't fully looked yet.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Oh boy. If I could Analog. Because it's a living, breathing thing that uses the movement of magnetics and airwaves to record and recreate sound. It's real. It sounds better to me. It's more fun because you have to be more creative with it to do things. But I use digital because I'm not rich and it's 2019.

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

A: If you like what I do I'm very happy. If not, I'll do my best to make you happy.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love putting together the puzzle. I love pleasing sounds.

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

A: Would you play on my song? Yes.

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

A: I don't know the answer to that.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are you looking for? When do you need it done? Who do you listen to? Why are you choosing me? Can you tell me what the intent of the song is? Who is your audience? What's the difference between an olive and a pickle?

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

A: Don't be intimidated. Everyone wants to play music and do a good job.

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

A: A corkscrew, a toothbrush, a time machine, a solar-powered toaster oven and a juke box.

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

A: I started playing guitar when I was 8. I went from campfire to rock and roll to folk and blues by the time I was in my early 20s. Then I got into the Dobro and it took me all over the place. I'm 56 now and I think I might be starting to get it!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I think I'm a tone player. I'm not speedy. I love melody and counterpoint. Textures. I think my playing is a bit darker than most.

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

A: I actually get to work with a lot of people whose music I love. I want to work with cool people on cool projects. That's about it.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Get the performance. Don't say "I'll fix it in the mix." Get the best performance and sound you can off the floor. Move your mics. Listen to your instrument before you record it. Sounds simple. I guess it should be.

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

A: Singer-songwriters in what is now called the Americana style. I love the school of people like Guy Clark and Willis Alan Ramsey. I also work on collaborations with musicians from other (Non-Western European) cultures.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Collaborations and putting people together. In music, I like to think it's adding something relevant that helps push the story along and fits.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Hopefully, a musical response that compliments the song. I'm a big fan of tone and textures.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I will talk to who I'm going to work with and see what they like by asking about moods and inspirations. I'll ask for a lyric sheet if I need it as well so I can hear what the song is about. Then, I chart out the song if I need to and start working on tracks. I usually do 3 takes so the Producer has some choices.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a small studio in my house which I use for laying down tracks for people. If I'm working on a larger project I go to an outside studio.

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

A: Bil Vorn Dick, Daniel Lanois, T Bone Burnett, Ry Cooder, Jerry Douglas, David Hildalgo

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

A: I mostly do Dobro tracks for singer-songwriters. I work on collaborations including co-writes and co-productions as well but those are usually much more involved projects.