Composer / Producer / Keyboard

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

A: I mainly work with artists, musicians, songwriters who want to give a personal and unique character to their works. I write arrangements, I take care of the sound recording and the instrumental parts, and my connections in the musical environment allow me to envisage all the collaborations.

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

A: I was at the initiative of the electro-jazz collective CONNECTED in the 2000s. I was a musician there, but also a composer, arranger and producer. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YrUy7ib1tL744SrZnBoJ1?si=N5312yHtQzqFTx_VtIi6xA

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I work on many projects, notably with the SHÆLIN group (http://www.shaelincrew.com), but also with the Lîlo'River duo (http://www.liloriver.fr), the Kiff Kiff group (http://www.kiffkiff.fr), and I I invest myself with passion for the music school in which I work.

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

A: There are so many talented professionals on SoundBetter, it's an impossible mission. I recommend the one that suits you best!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: For the practical side and the ease of work I would say digital, but my heart rocks for analogic for the heat. I work in digital but I prefer acoustic instruments when possible and I do my best to keep this warmth of analogic.

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

A: To do my best, to be sincere and to put all my heart and all my energy into it from the moment I commit to the project.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Music, of course, is what drives me, but secondly I would say meetings and sharing.

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

A: The question that comes up most often is: "when?". My answer: "as fast as my inspiration will allow me". Small hint: I am often very inspired and I am said to be very prolific ! :-)

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

A: People often have a misconception of jazz, as if it were necessarily synonymous with "complicated". Jazz is a lively, open music, which inspires most of the great artists we admire today. It is a richness which makes it possible to adapt to most musical styles.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What do you want to do ? What are your goals ? Can you give me references ? What is your deadline ?

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

A: Be clear in your request, trust, and encourage creativity. Let yourself be surprised!

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

A: My piano, of course, a computer, a sound card, a master keyboard, and a microphone!

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

A: I am essentially self-taught. I learned from myself, through decisive meetings with inspiring artists. I started music in a small school in my village then I spent a few years in a jazz school in Tours (France), in which I am also a teacher today.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: It's always difficult to define yourself ... Listen to my music, and you tell me! ;-)

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

A: There are so many! It's very complicated to choose only one ... Just for the experience, to try to "get inside his head", and because I think he will remain as one of the geniuses of our century, I would say Jacob Collier ;-)

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Each song is different. What works for one will not necessarily work for the other. The only production advice I could give is to be sincere, to work more with your heart than with your brain.

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

A: My tastes, my culture, and my skills cover a wide spectrum. I can work on instrumental music as well as on songs. I am naturally attracted by Anglo-Saxon music, Soul, Neo Soul, RnB, but also by jazz, pop, minimalist music, world music. I have a very open mind !

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Due to my jazz training and my culture of popular music, I like to combine sophistication with simplicity. I think a song can be "obvious" while awakening the senses.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: For me the melody is the central point of a good song. My goal is to highlight it, to sublimate it, to create an "environment" that is both magical and emotional. I like that music "speaks" directly to the heart.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I start by taking the time to discuss with the client in order to properly target the project. We agree on a few references to guide the work. Then I get to work and regularly send drafts that will allow the client to validate or not the proposed direction. Once the pre-production is validated, I move on to the final production which can go as far as mixing and mastering, and can also be declined in stems.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work mainly on Ableton Live. I update my hardware park regularly according to my needs. In addition to a few midi master keyboards, I have a Yamaha concert upright piano, a Fender Rhodes Mark I (1978).

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

A: Among the current artists I have the greatest respect for artists like Robert Glasper, Jordan Rakei, Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Anderson Paak, but I am also inspired by essential artists or groups like Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Prince, The Beatles ... There are so many that I couldn't name them all.