Session Cellist

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

A: I would recommend my colleague Marko Otmacic(Violist and string arranger), fantastic violist and string arranger. Also, Martin Kutnar, very creative cellist, string arranger and accordion player.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Just finished one cover album and currently working on cello concerto with vst orchestra. Not every music get a chance to be performed with live orchestra and it's great to have options now.

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

A: That remote session work leads to lower-quality recordings.

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

A: I'm very proud of my cello cover of Olafur Arnald's song Saman. I made my own arrangement and played viola and double bass on the track. For that cover we filmed a beautiful music video in Samobor Castle, Croatia. You can listen to it on YouTube (Emanuel Pavon - Saman).

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, because of minimalism. Maybe few analog gear but I like to have only the gear that I actually use the most.

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

A: Customer: "I would like to add cello to my song, but I'm not sure how to arrange it. Could you listen to it and share your ideas?" My answer: "No problem, I can do cello arrangement for you. Let me record a short preview of the intro part and you can tell me what you think."

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What sound or emotion you want from my cello playing? Can you send me an example of sound or production that you want in your project? Do you what me to improvise or you will write me sheet music?

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

A: My whole studio equipment. :-) Cello, microphone (with stand), headphones, Macbook & audio interface.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I would describe my playing as very soft and airy.

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

A: Ólafur Arnalds, because of his approach to music. I like the fact that he is down to Earth and that his music is inspired by Icelandic landscapes and his own life.

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

A: Mostly pop songs with calm and ambient character.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I can bring simple warm strings touch to a song. One cello line or more to get ensemble sound.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I hear reference track and simultaneously record raw ideas. I record bunch of takes and then choose or record the best one again. If I have sheet music, I practice first with reference track and than I record cello line. After recording, I edit all cello tracks (pitch, time alignment) and then I export cello tracks in .wav format, 24-bit.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I rent a professional music studio for my work. Microphone: Slate Digital ML-1 Audio Interface: Universal Audio Apollo Twin mkII DAW: Cubase 12 Pro

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

A: I mostly record cello and make my own arrangements.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love that I can work with music because it's a different world to me, world with no worry, pure emotion and expression. I can forget where I am when I play cello or listen to music. It's something that defines me.

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

A: Just communicate with me, introduce me to your project and what sound or emotion you want from my cello playing. Every project is unique and deserves individual approach.

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

A: I play cello since I was 6. Production got my attention in high school but it got more serious when I started studying at the Music Production Academy in Zagreb in 2017.

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

A: High quality of my work! I can offer you good sound, recorded in fantastic room and well played. If you are not satisfied with my recording, I guarantee 100% money back!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Make more short breaks for clear mind and objectivity. Cello tip: when you don't look at your fingers or your instrument, you're more aware of the music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My most creative work happens when I'm offered full freedom in the arrangement.

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

A: Ólafur Arnalds, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Nils Frahm, Luke Howard, Giovanni Sollima.