Session Guitarist/Engineer

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

A: I worked on Bully Pulpit with Jared Deck and got to work with the drummer from Turnpike Troubadours. That project just sounded so good I loved everything about it.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Tracks for a Billy S that uses SoundBetter, as well as some tracks that i do for a local artist.

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

A: i don't personally know anyone on SoundBetter but there are many that I admire.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. Analog is more trustworthy to me, but digital is a necessity in this day and age.

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

A: Satisfaction.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: i love the music the most.

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

A: They say hey I am looking for someone to play something that sounds like -blank-, I am honest and say yes or no.

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

A: The biggest misconception is that I have practiced all these years and can play my instrument so practicing is no longer needed. I definitely need to practice, every day.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I usually ask them how they like their tracks delivered and if anything needs to be fixed.

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

A: Hire someone who you see yourself getting along with over someone you think is an elite provider.

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

A: Two acoustic guitars, a djembe, didgeridoo and a tambourine.

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

A: I completed a guitar degree in 2012 and worked in the OKC music scene for seven years after that. I went back to get a Masters Degree in jazz studies in 2019 and completed in 2021.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Authoritative and tasteful.

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

A: I would like to work with Anderson Paak because he seems to share some of the same values as i do on music from the past.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Less is more.

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

A: Blues, jazz, fusion, country, and gospel.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Listening is my strongest skill.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring originality, execution and flavor.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I listen to the demo track or read a description of what the client wants and figure out what tone I am going for. Then I make decisions on what will serve the music and client the best and pick mics, amp, and guitars from there.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I run Pro Tools with some outboard pre amps that I solder together so I can work on them if need be. My microphone is modest but very useful. Most of them are solder up kits from Mic parts.com as well as some SE Electronics and AKG.

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

A: Derek Trucks has always been an inspiration to me. He can play many different styles and always serves the music first. His playing is unmistakably his own and I aspire to find my own identity as strong as his.

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

A: The most common work I do for clients are guitar tracks that are not written at the time and it is up to me to write and perform the part. They are usually rhythm and guitar solo oriented.