Vintage Expert Keyboardist

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: My second solo album and the third album of my band Caravela Escarlate

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: References of tones and overall feel of the song.

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

A: Rock - progressive rock; psychedelic rock; hard rock; folk rock; alternative; heavy metal; prog metal; jazz rock; fusion; pop

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Recording: M-Audio M-Track 8x4. M-Audio Fast Track II. DAW Reaper. Keyboards: Tokai TX-5 (organ). Roland A-800 Pro. Behringer UMX 610. Pedals: Neo Ventilator II. Boss Octave. Boss Phaser. Full Tone Clyde Wah-Wah.

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

A: The second album of my band Caravela Escarlate. It was referred two times in PROG Magazine, including a full-page article.

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

A: I will do my best to understand clearly what my clients want and to translate their thoughts into music.

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

A: Well, the most frequent question is how to reach a specific kind of vibe or feel in a song. My most common answer is always positive but demands time and effort, requiring some tests with different tones and arrangements.

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

A: To imagine that it is possible to obtain a completely different result in a song adding only one instrument.

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

A: Yes. My band mate Elcio Cáfaro. He is an outstanding drummer.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital sounding like analog. The best combination.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The opportunity to play and to work with high-level musicians and composers all over the world.

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

A: The customer may expect good communication; the customer may expect someone to understand his music deeply.

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

A: I will prefer to take some gadgets to listen to good music.

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

A: I started at 11, playing in the Catholic Church. 25 years playing; since 2010, I have played professionally. I started as a band member and progressively I began to compose and make arrangements. Now I'm a session musician and a bandleader.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: 1970s kind of sound. Organic and warm sound.

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

A: Stevie Wonder; Herbie Hancock; Jimmy Page; Carl Palmer - because they are genius.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: To be a good musician, it is necessary to be a good music listener.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: The obtaining of vintage keyboards tone and an approach similar to the greatest keyboardists of golden ages of rock/pop.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A unique approach to music, considering my background as a keyboardist, composer, arranger, records collector, and an enthusiast of vintage music.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: The first step is conceptual - I listen to the song many times, thinking about the melodies, chords, and tones that will fit better, considering the customers' inputs (references, ideas, etc.). After that, I make the first trials in the keyboards to understand the song's key, rhythm pattern, and overall vibe of the song. I record the first samples (one or two different takes) to show it to the customer, collecting their impressions. This step is repeated if required until the obtaining of an excellent result.

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

A: Keyboard players: Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Thijs Van Leer (Focus), Dave Stewart (Hatfield and the North), Dave Sinclair (Caravan), Jon Lord, Jan Hammer, Patrick Moraz, Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep), Eddie Jobson, Brian Auger, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Smith, Ray Manzarek, Luis Paulo Simas, Elias Mizhrai, Manito. Others musicians: Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Carl Palmer, Jon Hiseman, Lenny White, Alphonse Mouzon, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Jack Bruce, Greg Lake, Ron Carter, Milton Nascimento, Hermeto Pascoal

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

A: I provide melodies, textures, and solos for songs using my expertise related to the music from the 1960s and 1970s. I also can make creative arrangements for songs. This approach gives a vintage feel to the songs - this is my true passion and what I can do best.