Session guitarist

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

A: I am very proud of my last solo release, Escape Velocity. I feel like it is a fantastic representation of my music and I was also able to work with the great keyboardist Derek Sherinian on this release! That was fantastic!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am currently working on the 5th Scott Allen Project release scheduled for release in 2021. Also getting the groundwork writing done for a new original project.

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

A: Actually I am new to SoundBetter, so I haven't gotten the chance to know anyone yet! I will get back to you!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: The right answer is both. But in the modern world it is mainly going to be digital. That doesn't mean that we don't use good mics, mic pres and amps and guitars, but that it is going to end up digital for the mix.

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

A: My promise to my clients is to create a part that will elevate their song and their track. Let your imagination run wild and I will try to come up with a part to match that!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: What I like most about my job is that not only do I get to play guitar (which I love), but I get to be creative.

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

A: The question I get most is can you play this or that style of music. Unless the music requested is Traditional Bulgarian Folk music or EDM the answer is yes!

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

A: The biggest misconception is that a session job is not collaborative. It is in the back and forth of my creative instincts combined with the clients that makes a good finished product.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always ask if there are any special requests that they would like to see in the finished product. Is there a guitar style or tone that they would like me to emulate for their track.

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

A: My advice would be to have a good idea of what you want the final version of your track to be. I am capable of giving a number of workable ideas and it really helps if the client can see the finish line clearly.

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

A: If I were on a desert island I would take my Vigier Excalibur custom electric guitar, my Taylor acoustic guitar, my computer, my pro tools interface and my trusty Peavey 6505 amp.

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

A: I graduated from GIT back in 96' and I have been playing in various bands ever since. The most consistent has been my own band Scott Allen Project which released its debut in 2006, and has since done 3 follow up records. I have also been a full time guitar teacher with a student roster around 60 private students weekly for most of the last 20 years. I have done sessions with various artists along the way that whole time as well.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is like a combination of Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Reb Beach, Neal Schon, Steve Lukather, Alex Lifeson, Joe Satriani, Trevor Rabin, John Petrucci, Jake E Lee and Warren DeMartini. I take something from all of them to make up my style.

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

A: The artist I would most like to work with would be Eddie Van Halen so that I can play rhythm guitar and watch his brilliance from just a few feet away.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is a Pro Tools rig with an Avid ElevenRack as my interface and guitar pre amp. It is used in conjunction with a TC Electronic M350 multi effects unit and an ART Pro Channel 2 channel strip. I use that with a pair of Tannoy studio monitors. I also have live amps from Peavey, Marshall and VOX, that I will mic up to get certain sounds. I also have a variety of electric and acoustic guitars to paint any color I need to.

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

A: Probably one of my biggest inspirations is Eddie Van Halen who is probably my biggest influence. But I am also a huge fan of session legends like Steve Lukather, Reb Beach, Dann Huff, Michael Landau and Tim Pierce.

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

A: The most common type of work is adding guitar leads to their projects. A lot of people have an idea for a great solo section in their tracks and I help to make that happen.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: One production tip is to make sure that there is no clipping either at the source or on a particular track. A long as everything is recorded cleanly it can later on be molded into whatever the artist wants.

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

A: I typically work on music in the Rock genre, but I have also recorded pop music, folk, classic rock, prog metal, funk and much more. I am comfortable with both acoustic and electric playing, rhythm and lead.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill set is my wide ranging guitar skills and my ability to work quickly and nail a track.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: What I bring to a song is many years of experience playing live and in the studio. Also a passion for great guitar playing and adding that perfect touch to make a track even better. I am not limited stylistically either so I can give each track a unique vibe.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Typically a client will get in touch with me with specific needs for a track. If it is only texture guitars or solos then the client needs to send me an MP3 of the track along with the BPM's. They will then let me know what sections need what parts. I will import the track to a Pro Tools session and lay down the requested part and send it back as an MP3 for notes. Revisions are done as requested until the client is happy and then I will either email or dropbox the WAV's of my parts for them to add to their mix. If a tune doesn't have any guitar parts and they want me to add them then a lead sheet of the tune along with the backing track will be needed. Then the process is the same as with the solo only track.