Ethnic Percussionist, Producer

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, because easy to work with, has too many options and fast.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: My job is very creative and each song is a new challenge.

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

A: The ask me if I can creatively add some rhythmic base and harmony to their songs. My answer is always a big Yes! :)

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

A: People usually think that I can only play on oriental or traditional middle eastern folk music. But I can play on all genres of music. It doesn't have to me traditional. Percussion can be very diverse.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the BPM of the song? What parts do you think the song needs percussion? What is the sampling rate and bit rate of the song? Do you want a solo for a specific part? How simple or detailed percussion recording do you want? Can you send me an example song which represents what you imagine for your song?

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

A: It is always good to know what you want but to be open for new ideas at the same time.

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

A: A Macbook Pro, an audio interface, a dynamic microphone, headphones and my darbuka.

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

A: I have been playing percussion since 2007. In addition I'm graduated from SAE Institute as an Audio Engineer. And I also have a masters (MSc) degree on Sound Technologies and Music Production. I have been performing live and in recording sessions in Turkey and Europe since 2010. Now I'm producing my own electronic dance music with my percussive perspective.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I describe my style as a balanced mix of innovative and traditional.

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

A: I'd like to work with KSHMR. I thing he is a very talented, creative and knowledgeable music producer. He is also using ethic instruments very much in his music. I also would like to work with Beyoncé because she is one of the best artists in the world and makes very surprising and unexpected projects.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Take a vocal part, add a very long reverb on it and record. Then revers the record and add some eq and filtering. Then use it as a riser fx or a pad sound.

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

A: I usually work on pop, folk, trap and electronic dance music. But I'm open to perform for all music types.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is performing darbuka with traditional and nontraditional rhythms and arrange the rhythm sections in a creative way. I can perform and arrange these ethnic instruments for a pop, rock, electronic or a reggae song.

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

A: Ilia Mazia - Heart touching Armenian Duduk - https://soundbetter.com/profiles/174525-ilia-mazia Richard Scobie - https://soundbetter.com/profiles/206476-richard-s

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on my new electronic dance music single.

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

A: I promise well recorded, creatively arranged, good sounding percussion tracks.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I definitely add a strong foundation of groove to the beat of a song. I also add an ethnic warm feeling, rhythmic depth and width with the use of doubled percussion tracks mixed with wide panning. I also contribute the song with my unique percussion solos and effect percussions.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Firstly I put the song into a DAW and sync the song with the click in right tempo. Then I start listening the song and analyze the arrangement. I mark the intro, verse, drop, bridge and chorus parts. Then I loop the parts and start playing some darbuka grooves and try some rhythmic ideas. When I like the idea I start recording darbuka or bass darbuka for the parts and record double tracks. Then I start adding other instruments and make a rhythmic arrangement. I usually have more then one idea so I record alternative tracks besides the main tracks. Finally export and send the percussion tracks in 48000Hz/24 bit wav format.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have Steinberg UR22 Audio Interface, Focal Alpha 80 monitors, Focal Spirit Pro Headphones, Novation Launchkey 25 MK2 Midi Keyboard, Akai APC-20 Midi Controller, Traktor Kontrol S4 MK2, Rode NT1-A microphone, Shure SM57 and SM58 microphones. I really love my monitors and headphone.

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

A: I'm inspired by KSHMR, KFJ, Boris Brejcha, Nu, Stavroz, Kryder, Tiesto, Martin Solveig, C2C, Gramatik and Hey! Douglas.

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

A: I play ethnic oriental percussion instruments for very diverse genres of music. The instruments I perform are Darbuka, Bass Darbuka (Doholla), Bendir (Frame Drums), Riq and Finger Bells. I'm also combining these with African & Latin percussions such as Cajon, Bongos, Djembe, Tamburine and Shaker.