Session Bass and Cello Player

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

A: I am eager to work with people I don't know and would never know if it wasn't for this page. I really enjoy listening to music that I never listened to, or would never have the chance to be a part of in my home town. I don't have a specific person on my mind, I want challenges!!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always pay attention to what your team thinks!!! Talk to each other and make sure everyone is getting the producer's idea. Music is mostly done by a group of people, and you can always tell by listening if that group of people is playing tight with the same horizon or loose doing what they individually think and not listening to the rest.

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

A: In my home city I have worked on many different types of music. I don't even know how to start explaining! I started my musical journey as a classical music student, playing in orchestras and camera music. Then I got the metal/hard-rock fever and started playing electric guitar and bass with lots of distortion. When I was about 19 years old I started working as a session player for several pop/folk/rock/alternative groups and solo artists. I studied in a jazz oriented school, there I learned a lot about the jazz language but also studied lots of Latin music. Nowadays I am the bass player for a Salsa band called Calle Vapor, a Latin-jazz ensamble called Tangrama, and a few songwriters.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I believe my strongest skill is creativity. I have a very strong tempo/time feel. There's no way my lines will be sloppy. I can guarantee my bass, cello or guitar tracking will be on grid if that's what the client expect (and the backing track isn't a mess). I can play offbeat or follow the backing track too if it isn't on grid.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I think I have much to bring to a song, I don't really follow trends or fashions at all. So I always bring freshness to the music I record, new ideas that the client hasn't though of, if given the chance. I am also very good at doing what I'm told and will play exactly what you ask if needed.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First of all I listen to the music, paying special attention to the humor of it and the emotions it evoques. Then it depends on how much I know my client, if I don't know him/her at all I start asking a few questions. I try to picture what does the client wants before tracking anything. Many times the client doesn't have a finished idea of what he/she wants, in that case I send a sample and start working from there with the client. Then it comes the time to deploy my knowledge and skills.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a home studio, I'm currently investing in acoustic treatment. I own several instruments, electric basses in all the most common string configurations (4, 5 and 6), and also fretless bass, upright bass, cello, electric guitar and acoustic guitars, both nylon and steel. As to my recording setup I have a bunch of dynamic microphones, a Rode Nt1 condenser, and record them through my Audient iD14 mkII.

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

A: I'm inspired by lots of musicians and professionals, I really enjoy getting to know new people and be inspired by their music. Although I admire people I try to be inspired by their music and not think of following other people's life roads.

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

A: Mostly I record bass lines, and almost every time I compose that line. I record cello too, I write arrangements for two, three or four voices and then record every voice.