Dali on SoundBetter

Do you need the perfect part to elevate your latest song even further? Do you need the bass and guitar lines to be sitting tightly together, impress, create the desired mood and do you need them real quick? Or would you rather start a project from scratch, have the music or parts written and recorded for you? If so, I can definitely help!

I am a London based guitarist, bass player, music producer and songwriter. I have worked as a session player for the past 23 years, gigging, touring and recording with numerous artists. I have had my compositions and recordings placed on TV programs and advertisements and my work received radio airplay in the UK, Europe and USA. (BBC6, BBC Alba, KALX fm Berkeley- California, Fun Radio, RockFM Radio among others). I write and record music for BMG and other publishing companies. I am classically trained, graduated at playing guitar as well as songwriting and took part in many international rock and jazz master classes and work shops. I have recorded film music with a national radio symphonic orchestra, produced music for bands and singer-songwriters, recorded, mixed and mastered songs in world's top studios (Metropolis, Assault & Battery, Air studios, The Yard-Miloco...) as well as in my home studio. I have played hundreds of concerts and festivals, live TV and radio shows. My recording and gigging experience at a professional level covers many genres of music including Pop, Rock, R&B, Electronica, Folk, Funk, Jazz and Blues, Classical, Singer-Songwriter and more.
I specialise in all kinds of guitar music, acoustic and electric as well as bass guitar and music production. When required, I will record guitar or bass guitar parts for your project fast and in professional quality.

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1 Reviews

Endorse Dali

by Abi Hercules
I have had the pleasure of working with Dali both live and in the studio for several years now. He is a great collaborator and support, delivering beautiful guitar and bass parts that always serve the song and complement the voice sensitively. Dali really knows how to shape an arrangement and has some really creative approaches to recording techniques. He is a natural musician, diligent, dedicated and a really good listener for whom nothing is too much trouble. Work with Dali, you won't look back!

Interview with Dali

Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital for recording (though I do use analog when working with my friends-producers who have big enough tape based studios), but my approach is mostly analog when it comes to sounds and guitar effects.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: A song of mine which was recorded by me and my friend producer in a different country, very quickly, based around natural acoustic guitars and bass, which then was selected by a publisher for a 'Positive Summer Hit' album and placed in an advert.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: 1 singer-song writer acoustic EP, one full electric loud rock record and an alternative, art rock album.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Abi Hercules as I work with her and she's a real pro and and amazing singer.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I'll deliver the parts as required, sounding as good as possible, cleaned-up and cut so they can be used right away or mastered later etc.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Everything, mainly being a part of a great song.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: What do I think the direction for a particular song should be? I suggest one or two ideas how to approach it, so the song could work at it's best.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Nothing comes to mind
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: How quickly do you want me to deliver the tracks, what sounds would you like to go for, references if you have any in mind, but none are fine too so we can be as creative as possible.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Listen to samples of music provided, try imagine the description and sounds as a part of your project or just go with what sounds right and similar to your approach to songs.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A vintage acoustic dreadnought guitar, Telecaster/Stratocaster type electric guitar, Precision bass, good valve amplifier and some 8 track to record on.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Over 20 years as a session player, in studio and live, some 5 years of recording music for TV and advertising.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Healthy and heart-felt. Natural acoustic sounds with a lot of space, valve-driven energised electric sounds.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I'd like to work with people who have great ideas, powerful melodies and can deliver nice vocals, but need other layers, parts and arrangements to finish a song off.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I come up with ides for and existing song or write parts from the scratch, once I have a vision for the song, I start test recording, adjusting sounds, parts, arrangements and choose the best possible instrumentation. I then record all necessary parts, cut, mix and master them and send to you as a full mix or individual tracks, that can be mixed elsewhere, as required.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I use products by Apple, Focusrite, AKG as well as Gallin-Krueger, Marshall, Yamaha and others. I sometimes combine computer software with a more old-school yet digital recorders for sound variability. I use a 2-mic technique for recording rich, natural and warm acoustic guitars, mostly using vintage instruments. I also use valve amps and preamps for a natural electric guitar sound and work with midi too if required.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Always listen to the melody of the vocals and support it with instrumental parts as well as possible, even if it means not playing in certain places. Rather than just using effects from your computer software, run tracks (even already recorded ones) through out-board machines to experiment with sounds. I usually end up with a desired effect, warmer sound, more impressive old-school tremolo etc.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Singer-songwriter, rock and r&b.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Instrumentation, arrangements of parts and healthy guitar and bass sounds.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I believe I can bring fresh ideas, push a song to it's best possible version, but also if required I can re-create traditional sounds from a specific era.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Many great artists from all decades of electrified music, songwriting, production and recordings from The Beatles, The Shadows, Bob Dylan and The Kinks via Queen, Chic, Neil Young and Johnny Cash to Dave Stewart, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, Weezer, Nashville guitarists, Radiohead, Dionne Farris, Tracy Chapman, Willy Mason, The Killers, Meshell Ndegeocello and more.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I will write, arrange and record guitar parts, bass lines and other stringed instruments. I can provide full versions in electric, acoustic, electro-acoustic styles but also stems, edits and different versions as required. I can suggest production steps, arrangements, instrumentation or write all of the music for you.