Session Bass Player

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

A: I can't pinpoint a single project, I enjoy playing bass in general, when my role is fulfilled, and the music can speak on its own.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: At the moment I am practicing cello. I can't wait to incorporate into my work.

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

A: A good friend of mine who's a great trumpeter, you can find here: https://soundbetter.com/profiles/66716-gerg%C5%91-bille And of course my wife, who is a cellist and viola da gamba player: https://soundbetter.com/profiles/279078-dorothy-richter

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Everything has it's place. All you need are your ears. I always strive to REALLY listen. Without price/brand bias, and approach every new encounter with gear and it's sound as if were the first sound I ever heard.

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

A: That I will do my best to enhance the tune and I will only deliver a work when I am fully satisfied with it.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That I get to do for a living what I love most. My wife is also a musician. The most wonderful thing is the way how we live our life. Almost everything in our life revolves around music. Making it, listening to it discussing it.

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

A: -How much does that weigh?! -It's 16 kg.

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

A: Sometimes people ask me why do I wax my bow. It's rosin, not wax. The horse hair, which is what bows are made of would be slippery if we "waxed" it. We apply rosin, to make it stick more.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What kind of mood are they looking for. Any tips on playing style is welcome.

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

A: If you are looking for a bass player search among the reference materials and if you like one, contact the seller. Show him your work, ask their opinion and if they think they can contribute. If you feel you found a "kindred spirit" aesthetically and you feel you can communicate well, it will work out fine!

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

A: Axe, flint, fishing rod, beer, beer.

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

A: Before my musical carrier I studied to be an engineer. In 2008 music became my primary life goal.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I'm in my element when my instrument can speak on it's own voice. Not only sonority wise, but when phrasing and it's role is clear and it can augment the music.

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

A: I like it when music serves an other art form. Be it a movie score,a documentary, an animation or when I have to accompany a dance performance. In this case it would seem that the music is just in the background but in fact it has double the role, double the responsibility.

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

A: Primarily I'm a jazz bass player, playing pizzicato but I had played on many classical concerts as well. I really enjoy playing both ways, and it's nice to have the lyrical ability of the bow and the "to the point" style of jazz pizzicato playing.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I take the most time finding the right bass part. The part what the song demands and needs to develop. I really like my role as bass player, because I can elevate the music from the background.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: As I have already mentioned in the first question a lot depends on the bass line. It's not easy to say what exactly makes a bass part "click", but usually when there is a good bass part, no other explanation is needed. It just works.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First I get familiar with the material that is given. I decide what kind of approach is needed. Sometimes I need to write things out when the music is complicated, sometimes I spend more time on making the bass sound right for the particular song. I always work towards a goal in my head, which usually develops after a few listens of the song.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I own several instruments. My main instrument is my custom made upright bass. It took some time to break in, but its sound is really close what I imagined and I really enjoy playing it. I really love my fretless Collins Masterbass, which I can tailor the sound of pretty much any way I want to, specially with all the pedals, and preamps I have. I have a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass, and a six stringed Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI on which I can play in higher registers than a normal bass would allow. I usually record upright bass with two large diaphragm condenser microphones (one about head height, looking on the fingerboard and aimed at the bridge of the instrument) through an onyx blackjack audio interface into reaper. I have an armada of effects and many preamps, many of which I built myself, so when I record bass guitar, I usually take some time to consider if the song in question needs some coloring, distortion or any kind of modification of the signal coming from the pickup. I also have cabinet and amplifier simulation software, so I can further adjust my sound after recording as well.

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

A: I think there is no such thing as good or bad music, only good or bad interpretation. I think it is about the people, who makes the music. When the musicians in a group look to each other and to the music in a humble manner. When we can almost feel the attention. Maybe this is why free genres of music like experimental music, and improvisation really inspires me.

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

A: Every songs soul is the bass line. Everything depends on a good bass motif: it is in the background but everything and everybody relies on it. The most important task that I do is to play a bass line in good time, and feel. The time and feel the particular song is in need of.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Trust your intuitions and gut feeling when you choose a performer. Be as precise and open as you can and communicate all of your concerns and preferences. Be open in general.