Adam Tressler on SoundBetter

My name is Adam and I play fretted instruments. Credits include: "Birds of Prey", Pet Shop Boys, Demi, Camila, Selena, Lil Nas X, "Modern Family".

I've been living in LA for 10 years and have been lucky to work on some great projects. I co-wrote the last 2 songs on Demi Lovato's most recent multi-platinum album and have recorded with Camila Cabello, The Pet Shop Boys, Andy Grammer, and dozens of excellent indie albums.

Lately I've been playing on a lot of film scores like the 2020 DC movie "Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey", and TV("Modern Family", "The Unicorn", "All That", "A Million Little Things").

I also do a lot of live playing and am proud to have played/toured with Selena Gomez, Lil Nas X, LP, Angus and Julia Stone, and Kacey Musgraves. I've done gigs with 100+ artists all over the Americas+Europe.

Lastly, I'm a songwriter myself, currently published by BMG. I have placed original songs on NBC, CBS, MTV, Showtime; in a Tyler Perry movie and a skateboarding doc. I've released several albums under my own name.

Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.

Credits

AllMusic verified credits for Adam Tressler

Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Jordan Smith
Chelsea Williams
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato
Andy Grammer
Sydney Wayser
Pet Shop Boys
Brendan James
Brendan James
Gabriel Mann
Lizzy Greene
Dani
Dani
Dani
Mark Sholtez
Lord Huron
Megan Burtt
Megan Burtt
Megan Burtt
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Lord Huron

5 Reviews

Endorse Adam Tressler

by Nicholas P.
Verified
Adam is a musical wizard, a master of guitar, banjo, and mandolin. He tackled the project with speed and precision, delivering top-tier quality. I'm blown away by his talent and dedication. Highly recommend working with Adam – he's a true musical powerhouse!
by Richard D.
Verified
Adam delivered. Went above and beyond by offering options, as I wasn't quite sure where I was going with the song guitar-wise. He came up with great ideas. Ended up finding something that surprised me. That's always nice. His tone is delicious and his playing is soulful and seasoned. Really great textures added to my music. Highly recommend.
by Donald T.
Verified
Adam was great !! Couldn't recommend him highly enough.
by Leo K.
Verified
Fast, innovative and professional!
by Matias E.
Verified
Worked on an R&B track with Adam and was quick to deliver some amazing parts. Great ear for texture and narrative. Obviously an outstanding player. If you're looking to lift your track to the next level, this is your guy right here. Really laid back as well. Would recommend to anyone with a guitar part in mind for their track!

Interview with Adam Tressler

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I was honored to play on my first major movie score recently, "Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey" from the DC superhero universe. Through two weeks of sessions we played brilliant music by Oscar-nominated composer Daniel Pemberton. Guitar was a critical sound in the score, from Tom Morello whammy madness to James Bond vibes. Going to see the movie at the Arclight Dome was a definite bucket list moment.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I graduated from Berklee and moved to NYC, then relocated to LA in 2011 after signing a publishing deal with BMG. Since then I've made my living as a session and touring guitarist.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I've been doing a lot of scoring work lately. Last year I played on 8 different TV shows, including the final season of "Modern Family" and perennial child favorite "All That". Next month I go into the studio with one of my favorite bands to add additional guitars to their album. And I'm writing some more solo music.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I get to interact with musicians from all over the world. And as much as I love playing live, there's something more creative, artistic, and lasting about being in the studio.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are some recordings you love? What are you adding to this production after I send my tracks? What role does guitar have in this song?
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Is there electricity on this island? To be safe, I'll bring my Martin OM-28 acoustic, my National Dobro, my nylon(also Martin), and a banjo. And a box of strings.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I'm a typical "session player", I have great time and can fire off tight doubles, can sight read anything, and have pro gear/tone that fits right in.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Your parts don't exist in a vacuum, they exist in a song. Your part should serve the song, not your ego. Space is okay.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: It varies. Primarily pop/R&B/singer-songwriter. I love lush+pretty tones. But one thing I like about playing on film/tv is how extreme the styles are, whether it's metal or bluegrass you have to capture the vibe.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My intuition has improved through my experience working with successful composers and producers.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Taste and musicianship.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I like getting as much info from the client as possible. Reference recordings, abstract descriptions, thoughts on instrumentation, and the production in general.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I primarily use Logic and Pro Tools. I have a Miktek CV-4 tube mic(for acoustics), into an API Lunchbox with preamps/compressors, into an Apogee Element, into my Mac.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I'm incredibly inspired by the musician community here in LA. The future is in good hands.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I love to craft parts that suit the song. I don't think every song needs 10 guitar tracks, but that's fun too. I have a lot of different types of fretted instruments and am very comfortable on banjo+mandolin.