Tons o' Guitar and Production

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

A: I'll single out the latest Bruce Chester album because it's a crazy band I'm in where I get to play more guitar than I'd ever be allowed too on a standard release. On the record I played the guitar but also mixed the record.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Personally I have four records in various stages of production for different projects I'm in. Everything from Chillwave to Math Rock. Haha!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Ahhh... both! They're both integral to the modern recording environment and in this field, the more options the better.

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

A: That's easy! That I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you're thrilled with the end result of what you hired me to do. I'm not happy and we're not finished unless you're thrilled.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I just love being able to use the skills and knowledge I've spent my life accumulating and honing in order to make great music with people. Nothing quite as satisfying as working my butt off on some tracks and then having the client come back thrilled with the results!

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

A: It's normally about the style and approach the client has in mind and whether or not I feel comfortable doing it. My answer is always, "bring it on!"

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

A: Maybe it's that I would have a "hired gun" mentality and wouldn't be into the 'hang' and communication aspect of working. I do believe myself to be easy to work with want the entire experience to actually be fun and not just a dry business transaction.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I mainly want to know what they're looking to achieve by hiring me as a guitar dude or a producer. I want to know which artists they are trying to get in the ballpark of. I want to know specific songs, tones and parts (if they can articulate it) that turns them on. I just try and gather as much information as I can so I can choose my direction wisely when its time to pick up the guitar and start laying things down.

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

A: Let's talk! I'm always happy to chat about projects and get to know a client before we begin work. One of my primary aims is to have the client be comfortable with our working relationship. I'm into collaboration and really want to understand what it is that they would be hoping to accomplish by hiring me. So just communicating any and all thoughts, hopes and dreams and then we'll get down working and I'll do my best to deliver work that exceeds expectations!

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

A: Oooo... 1) a power source 2) laptop 3) interface 4) midi keyboard 5) some sort of Strat (hopefully I get to squeeze a couple cables in the gig bag)

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

A: I got hired to teach guitar right out of high school and within a few month had other more experienced teachers getting me on sessions and gigs. I had planned to save up and go to music school but I got immersed so quickly in working that I never looked back. Just kept learning and working. Fortunately I'm still here doing what I love!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I've always noticed that the Jazzier musicians I've worked with say I rock like crazy while the rock guys I work with all say I'm a jazz guy! I think it's because I grew up playing and listening to rock but I really did study a ton of sophisticated music as I grew up. It all comes out in the wash and allows me to fit in in most situations.

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

A: Meshell Ndegeochello. Her records are always incredibly interesting and she's always experimenting sonically and also with blending genres- and all while absolutely nailing everything that she touches.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Yeah. Each section of every song has to have a hierarchy of interest. If you have multiple parts, instruments or vocals clamoring for attention then the overall effect and message is going to get lost and render the production ineffective.

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

A: It really is all over the map although I'd say that the workload leans toward middle-of-the-road rock and pop flavored projects.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: It's actually two things- one is my general guitar acumen but alongside that is where I've just always experienced making music from more of a listener or producer's standpoint. You'll never catch playing a bunch of unnecessary guitar junk in order to personally shine. I'm just always looking to elevate what's happening in the individual song and will do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A couple decades of making records and playing countless gigs in pretty much every major style. The knowhow to get all of the classic sounds, the nerdiness of having studied so many of the guitar and production greats styles and also the strong desire to make sure the client is over the moon when they get their tracks back.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It starts with understanding what the client wants to accomplish. Once we have that side of communication happening then I'll be listening to the production where it stands and deciding what I think it needs from the guitar chair. Then it's just a matter of tracking everything and sending it back for feedback and approval. Rather than be "just" the guitar player on a production, I'm also thinking like a co-producer and am happy to keep talking through the production to get at what the client wants.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My main setup at home is pretty compact these days (which I love). I have at my disposal a myriad of great guitars and amps which I'm micing with Shure and Royer stuff. Then I'm into my Phoenix Audio Ascent pre and then into a UAD Apollo interface after which we're inside Logic. That's the main chain!

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

A: Oh man... I'm a big fan of people who made great records from every era and love learning about and emulating them all. People like Irving Townshend, Russ Terrana and Eddie Kramer to Brendan O'Brien, Eric Valentine and even people like the brothers in Boards of Canada or Scott Hansen from Tycho. Guitar-wise I've always dug people who play creative parts on records that elevate songs to an insanely high level. I love guys from '80s bands like The Edge, Andy Summers, Jamie West-Oram and also all the serious session stalwarts from all eras.

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

A: The main work types I get up to these days are laying down electric and acoustic guitar tracks for clients but also individual track building and production for artist projects as well as jingles and and corporate projects.