Flamenco guitarist, producer

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

A: 'La virtud en el aire' is an EP by Rocío Guzman and myself. It was the first recording in which I took responsibility for the whole production. I'm very happy with the result more than 2 years after.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm composing and producing the music for a video dance, I'm producing one of my songs as a solo artists, and I'm working as a session guitarist in a couple of projects.

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

A: I'm new here but I'm sure this is plenty of very talented musicians.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both, we live in both worlds now.

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

A: I take my job very seriously. You will never feel that your song is not important for me. I care for the results as much as you do.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Being able to sculpt sound and to share love for music with other professionals and with the audience.

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

A: Delivery time. It depends on the job. Do you know what you want and what you want me to play? It will be fast.

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

A: That there's only one way of doing things.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask about musical and emotional descriptions of what they want. I ask if they have any references in mind. I ask technical questions regarding the workflow.

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

A: Find somebody who fits the job. You may like the work of a musician very much but he/she may not be fit for the job.

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

A: My guitar, a computer, a Large condenser microphone (with the cable soldered:)), my headphones, and an audio interface. I hope I would find some kind of mic stand there!

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

A: I've been playing guitar for 25 years, 18 years on stage. From the beginning I was really into recording music: first with a cassette recorder, minidisc until I got my first computer for recording. The oldest recordings I have in my computer are from 2003 and they sound awful! I then thought of recorded music as a transcription of live music. Year after year I learnt how they're quite different animals. Since then I've recorded music for films, choreographies, commercial productions, etc.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Sentimental, fierce, subtle, and sophisticated.

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

A: I would love to work with Björk because I've always loved her creativity and her ability to finding new ways in music.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Music is a collective act. It involves composers, lyricists, musicians, engineers, etc. Never forget to tell that collective story in your production.

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

A: Flamenco, latin, jazz, film scoring. I also like challenges.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I love my work and I love doing it right. I'm creative. Although I can be an artisan I love to be an artist. I'm a profesional all along the way: it's not all about playing. I like to understand what the others need and how I can translate it. I'm fast and I have an efficient workflow so I won't waste time and you won't either.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I can bring a professional touch: 'I want you to play this', OK, I'll play it. On the other hand I can put my personality on the song according to your requirements: 'I love what you do and I want to have your personal touch on my song.' That you can have it!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I have a conversation with the contractor in order to understand his/her artistic needs. I'm also interested in technical questions, delivery format and time, etc. Once everything's set I do my job and deliver it. If something haven't gone as expected I review my work.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have an isolated and treated small recording room. I have different microphones that allow me to choose the right one for the project: I have ribbon, tube, dynamic, LDC and SDC, stereo pair. I connect the microphones to my preamp Focusrite ISA Two, an excellent preamp with impedance selector. From the preamp I go to the Sonifex Redbox converter which turns the signal into digital. I enter the computer through a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 whose preamps I only use when I need more than two preamp channels. In the box I work with Logic Pro X. I use plugins by Waves, Native Instruments, Plugin Alliance, Softube, etc. In my productions I also use Kontakt, Reaktor and Alchemy for vst and creating sounds.

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

A: I really like musicians and groups like The Bad Plus, Björk, Enrique Morente, etc.

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

A: I record flamenco guitars for productions. I also can do the arrangements for several guitar. I can do the whole production with vst, synthesizers, etc. or recording real musicians.