Electric violinist

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

A: As "Production Manager" for Tomplay in the past years, I have recorded thousands of musical pieces and responsable to edit the scores. So i had the chance to work with many artists and orchestras in collaboration with the label Deutsche Grammophon. I think i liked the most working on a particular piece of Rachmaninoff: "Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini" that i recorded with Marco Streccioni and BNR Symphony Orchestra. This collaboration with Maestro Streccioni was so evident that we still continue to work together now...

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working actually on many projects few songs that i'm composing for clients and creating some video lessons (masterclasses in improvisation on violin for classical musicians) with pedagogical musical training (my compositions).

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

A: I'm pretty sure, but i didn't had the time to look who is on SoundBetter yet... In any case i would recommend myself first, because I'm sure about my capacities! :D

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: It depends of the project, but in e general way, the most i know the client - what he/she likes, the feelings, the story, etc. - the most i can custom the music for them. But i ever explain them that I'm also a rules breaker and that I often surprise my clients...so i need some liberty of expression to reveal the best of music.

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

A: I started the violin at age of three years old with Suzuki method. I'm today 38 years old. I gave my first concert at age of five years old and i never stopped since. I studied the violin with some of the most renowned violinist in the world (Maestro Tibor Varga, and many others). I worked in an orchestra during my studies until my graduation. Then i started my career of solo violinist in a tango band for about ten years. I discovered the possibilities of the electric violin (in 2007) and started to play and improvise music with DJ's (Ricky Galliano, Mirco Many, etc.) in clubs. Then I become a violin performer for "Scarlett Entertainment" Agency and gave private concerts worldwide (all styles improvisations). In parallel I started to teach violin, piano, singing, composition, harmony and improvisation. When my wife had a brest cancer, i reduced my soloist activities and did more pedagogical activities as Music Teacher in Geneva. Then I accepted to work as "Production and Business development Manager" for Tomplay in the musical Industry in collaboration with the label Deutsche Grammophon. In January 2020 I stopped my activities for Tomplay and developed my own activities (at Unimat Sàrl) as violin soloist, teacher, violin expert and music producer. I have the chance to work with a wonderful team of world renowned musicians, composers and sound engineers.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I really like both words because i need them to do what i like most, but if i have to do a choice it would be analog, because it is easier for playing on violin.

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

A: My clients will be EVER 100% satisfied. I will work night and day for that.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The pleasure to create new music, to mix styles and share all this emotions with other people is what I like the most.

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

A: "How can you create music so easily?" I answer: "I WORKED A LOT since i was a kid...and I STILL WORK EVERY DAY!"

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

A: Simplicity and obviousness in music are the most difficult things to achieve.

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

A: The communication is the key of a good work and to satisfy both client and producer. Trying me is adopting me...so try and listen the difference.

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

A: - My Violin (for my soul and express my emotions) - My Computer (for entertainment and fun) - Microphone (for talking and recording) - Internet (for general knowledge and curiosity) - The Holy Bible (for spirituality and inspiration)

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I like to mix the classic and the modern. I like the beauty of the classical melodies, the simplicity of the modern harmonies, the experimentation of the orchestrations in the classical symphonies, the beats of the modern songs, the veracity of the live instruments and the power of the electrical sounds. My artist name "Electrum" symbolizes my desire to mix classic and modern like gold and silver.

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

A: Daft Punk: because i love the sound of this band. Muse: because Matthew Bellamy is a real genius as a melodist (and also a good multi-instrumentalist). 2Cellos: because they do what i love the most...to mix the styles with virtuosity.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: If you want to get good sound with an electric violin, be sure to invest in a good violin. The better the sound of the instrument without amplification, the better the result.

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

A: Music is a whole. I hope to continue to discoves styles and practice them all my life. I often play classical, pop, rock, Celtic music, tango, jazz, world ethnic music, blues, country and electro (cinematic electronica, deep house, etc.) music...but i think i could play on anything.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I'm a virtuose of the violin. My best competence is to be able to play and achieve everything i hear in my mind. I also teach composition, music theory, singing and piano. I i'm a complete artist and multi-instrumentalist.

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

A: Daft Punk, Timbaland, Sia, Muse, Worakls, Max Richter, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Astor Piazzolla, Sibelius, Max Richter, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Grieg, Chopin, Paganini, etc.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring a touch of magic in the song because the violin has his own soul. Like I'm specialised in improvisation (in many different styles), i can adapt and change the entire spirit of the song (for exemple I can play in a very celtical way, or a very old classical way or with effects and strange sounds, or maybe something that sounds more ethnical like armenian duduk, etc).

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First i ask specifications to the client and establish a quote. I ask the client to pay 30% of the fixed price. Then i start composing a demo with piano (for harmony), violin (for melody) and drums for the client., After acceptation and correction of the song i proceed to create the orchestration and record all the voice tracks and violin tracks. Then i send the project to my collaborators that are specialised: Sky76 for sound design, A. Kacinari for orchestration, mixing and mastering and M. Streccioni for orchestral recordings and 5.1. At this point, I deliver to the client a first version of the final product and proceed to any modifications required. Usually at this point i can send the final track to the satisfied client and ask for the full payment (70% remaining).

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: For recording my classical violin (Guarnieri) I use AKG C414 XL II and DPA 4099 microphones, Zoom L-8 and Cubase Pro 10.5. My electric violin is a Zeta Strados 5 strings (also MIDI). I use many effect pedals (Roland), loop pedal (Boss) and VST Plugins (Spitfire, etc.). For editing scores i use Sibelius 7 and Dorico.

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

A: I record violin tracks or i produce songs (composition, orchestration, lyrics and score editing).