Session Guitarist and Producer

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: The main machine in my studio is the Kemper, fully loaded with the best tones around. My studio located in leafy Barnes, south west London, has become an instant hit within the local community of artists, writers and musicians, who have all been immediately taken by the super relaxed ambience of this musical oasis. It is the perfect workspace for small group recording, writing sessions, overdubs and mix sessions. Here is a list of the equipment I have access to in my studio: Mac 8 core | Software by UAD Soundtoys Waves | Neve summing | Neve and SSL Mic Pres | Hiwat guit amp | Grestch Kit | Mics C12, 414 X2, 313 X2, sm57, Ribbon | Upright piano (and Yamaha CP1) | Fender Rhodes Mk1 | Wurlitzer | Selection of great basses and guitars.

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

A: Would definitely recommend Matt Wong and Leo Abrahams. Great lads!

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

A: I'm especially proud of my university band, Batu Malang. I put the band together while I was at Berklee College of Music, and we recorded a couple of tracks for my friends assignment. The band was very unhinged noise punk and no ideas were off the table. I wrote, arranged and played the guitars for it and the whole process was extremely inspiring and exciting. I also helped with the vocal melodies and lyrics. Watching the songs come to life in the studio was amazing. To this day it's still the most musically exciting project I've ever been involved with and I haven't heard any other band that even sounds vaguely like it.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: My bands EP, of which you can hear a track on my profile.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. The more options and possibilities the better.

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

A: Quality, attitude and passion filled guitar tracks.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Being immersed in music on a 24 hour basis. Regardless of the style or the instrument, I love music and I love that it is my job and pays for all my bills.

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

A: I mostly get asked about specific feels and sounds for tracks. Mainly lead parts and riffs.

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

A: That I'm playing to show off. That Kemper are no good. (You will be pleasantly surprised)

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Are there any specific things you want on the track, like a certain tone, a specific line, a specific style of playing? Are there any references you could provide?

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

A: Don't be shy. Let me know about any ideas or concepts, even the most vague thoughts can inspire something useful. And don't be afraid to ask anything.

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

A: Kemper, Strat, Laptop, interface and a beer so I could do some slide guitar solos!

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

A: I've been doing this since I was 11. Always been in bands, and always been creating music, for myself and for the bands I was involved with.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Slick and raw.

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

A: I would've loved to have worked with The Beatles in the mid sixties. Because it would've been amazing to discuss concepts and ideas with such amazingly innovative and creative people. Also, Max Martin, Josh Homme and Quincy Jones. So I can find out about all their secrets.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I think the key to a killer rock guitar tone is double tracking. Layering guitars to get one big fat guitar sound.

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

A: Mainly rock in all its variations.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Immersing myself in the music and becoming a part of it. Strong work ethic, and fluent communication.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I pride myself in playing with attitude, charisma and feel. I like to play what feels right, right for the song, and right to the ear. I am also technically proficient enough to play complicated parts and even really fast parts, but only if the song will benefit from it. I truly believe that if you play with energy and attitude you can 100% hear it on the end result, and ultimately it will lift the song to a different level, and that's what I can bring to the song; another level.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First and foremost I listen. As many times as I need to, until I can hear in my head, the parts that I think will make the track come to life. Then I work out what I hear in my head on the guitar, I find the right sound that I think will suit the track and go ahead and record it. Once I've recorded the main guitar part I start building the track by adding more layers of the same part or adding more ideas that I may have heard along the way. Once I'm happy with the recording process I balance everything so it fits into the track nicely.

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

A: People like Josh Homme, Kevin Parker, Max Martin, Tyler the Creator... Artists who have an uninhibited clear personal vision of production, performance and songwriting, will always make go and explore anything related to music and life, wether that's sounds, recording techniques, instruments all the way to lyrics, chord progressions and aspects of everyday life. Ultimately, personality and charisma are the things I find most inspiring.

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

A: The most common work I do is guitar tracks, everything from loud rock bangers, smooth funk stuff, to gentle jazz recordings. I also produce songs, I'm very good at taking an idea and making it come to life in any genre specified.