Producer, remote session work

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My gig is to bring out the best in my artists and help them realize their star status and their own uniqueness. I do whatever I can to let their own muses shine through. Because I've produced many artists and scores, let alone music for my own solo career, I am often asked to incorporate some of my world music elements in other peoples' works and that gives them an extra edge.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Yes... LISTEN! Listen well.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I play, arrange, engineer,... but the most important skill of all is... to listen! I listen musically and listen to what an artist or company wants.

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

A: My "Fringe Of Blue" album changed my career and my life. A few talented musician friends of mine played on it and I brought in some good engineering expertise to mix several of the tracks. I produced it and was the artist as well. Because "Fringe Of Blue" was a solo album of mine and early in my career, it was a labor of love and I learned much from the experience. Once finished, I dealt with radio, the press, distribution all on my own. It was not long before I landed a distribution deal and shortly after that, my first record deal.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm scoring music for a play called "Sister Africa" which just opened in Chicago. I recorded singers from the Congo, using my mobile studio and they are part of the score. As I write this (August 23, 2017), I'm in Chicago, playing live in the actual play production. I've also just completed a new RebbeSoul track which will be released very soon and I'm starting a new track for the Shlomit & RebbeSoul project, featuring Yemenite singer, Shlomit Levi, just mentioned above. Soon, I'll be giving a special world music concert with my band and special guest musician from Syria at Sonoma State University as part of a world music series.

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

A: Satisfaction.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Fulfilling the dream.

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

A: "How much?" "If you have to ask, you can't afford me." - Bruce Swedien (one of my faves)

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

A: Many people think producers are simply responsible for the quality of sound. That's a small portion of what a good producer is. We are also arrangers, mentors, guides, psychologists, directors, and in the end, partners. As Willy Wonka said, ""We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of the dream."

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Musical Artists: Where do you see yourself musically? What do you represent? What do you want to bring to the world? Companies: What do you want to bring to the world and how can I help you?

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

A: Find a producer that understands your vision and pays attention. Of course, his work must be impeccable.

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

A: A guitar and my balalaika mainly and something to listen to music on.

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

A: I started out as a studio/session player in LA years ago. During that time, I produced artists in LA as well. I wanted my own sound so I discovered it in my ethnic roots and began a career in that direction. There have been 5 RebbeSoul albums and more singles to date and of course I've produced other artists.

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

A: Which artist? Whoever is reading this! I'm interested in finding out what new and exciting music you are about to bring into the world. If you are doing it with the right attitude and really have something to say (musically and/or lyrically), I look forward to being part of it and making it possible.

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

A: I do quite a bit of world music as that is a real love and fascination of mine and brings to the table a unique element. I've produced many tracks in other genres such as hip-hop, jazz, pop, and rock where people ask me to add some ethnic and world music components to give the track something a little different, separating it from the rest of what's out there.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Anything it needs. Often times, I am hired because people like the way I arrange and the way I play. I play guitar, bass and other stringed instruments. Arranging is something I do a lot of and it's tidying up the songwriting if it needs it, organizing the structure, and orchestrating the instruments, organic or electronic.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My typical work process is to always follow the artist's dream and to make that a reality. It's different every time. Sometimes I start by going to rehearsals. Sometimes one-on-one with a guitar, pen and paper. Sometimes with us at the computer and I design some sounds and beats to get things rolling. For companies, I first listen to what they want from me and then I set to work creating it, either starting with recording instruments or programming into the computer.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a full-blown studio in the San Francisco Bay Area that has Mac computers, a vintage Soundcraft console, lots of outboard gear, including a TC2290, Genelec and Tannoy studio monitors, and even a old 16-track tape machine if we want it to use it. As I travel a lot, I'm in commercial studios often unless I'm using my mobile studio where I have Universal Audio plugins, an Antelope interface, Logic Pro X, Harrison Mixbus, Native Instruments and Spectrasonics, and some great microphones like a brass capsule AKG 414 and several handmade mics. On my mobile set-up I've recorded complete tracks that have been on radio, used in movies, etc. Often, I do preliminary work that way and finish in a bigger, commercial studio.

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

A: Musicians that make an artistic statement, inspire me: Coltrane, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, Willie Nelson, Adele, Céu, Picture This, Barcelona Gipsy Klezmer Orchestra, The Kings of Leon, Lewis Berry, Tinariwen, Ojos de Brujo, Angelique Kidjo, Azam Ali, Baaba Maal, Infected Mushroom, Manu Dibango, Peter Tosh, Victor Wooten, Youssou N'Dour, Eddie Van Halen, there are too many to mention! A few of my favorite producers: Sir George Martin (the greatest), Butch Vig, Bill Laswell, Mark Ronson, Hugh Padgham, Ethan Johns, and Quincy Jones.

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

A: Many of my artists are singers, sometimes instrumentalists, and also clients who need content such as advertising companies. As a producer, I'm responsible for the quality of the entire project. When artists hire me, I attend to their artistically creative needs and vision and the needs of the project. Do we need a certain type of studio? I'll come up with the right options and together, we'll decide. How will the songs be arranged? I'll do whatever it takes to bring out the best in the artist and present him/her to the world in the best light. Often, that entails guiding the artist down the right path, arranging the sound and even coaching. Sometimes, it's creating a new musical personality that's fitting to his/her vision. I do lots of programming and can be very hands-on when it comes to creating beats and synth sounds. Do we need additional personnel? I am connected to a host of musicians and pride myself in finding the right match to complement the artist's vision. If we need technical people such as engineers, I'll find the best for what we need. When it comes to recording in the studio, I'm there and will create the optimal setting so the artist is comfortable and we'll get a great performance and have a great time while we're at it. Speaking of studios, I have a mobile studio I can take anywhere, if we desire something outside the usual studio environment. Coaching and mentoring also play an important role in how I can best serve the artist and his/her career. I've worked with bands on their live stage shows, from helping with the flow of a set list to movement and placement on stage and interaction with the audience. The business side is another aspect that can require some of my help, whether it's dealing with press interviewers or registering copyrights. For content providers such as ad agencies, film companies, etc., I’m a one-stop-shop. We discuss what they need, and I deliver.

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

A: Shlomit Levi, a fantastic singer who is a delight to work with.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I like both and use both. Digital is simply easier to use and more ubiquitous these days, consequently I'm in the digital domain most of the time.