Session Turntablist

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

A: Music Producer, over 17 years now as a self proclaimed professional.

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

A: I co-wrote the music for and produced Eva Edith's Freedom Road EP, you can buy it here https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/freedomroad or https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/freedom-road-ep/id1071684798 or https://evaedith.bandcamp.com/

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: At the moment I am working on a Spanish Bossa Nova/Chill Music album with Eva Edith Hernandez. I am also working on my own 8 song instrumental album with all original music, every song was made on my kalimba and then built on with every other instrument I play in my home studio, the EP will feature 8 ALL original instrumental compositions with 7 short interlude melodies made with only the kalimba in between the 8 tracks. My goal is to release it before Summer 2017.

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

A: Eva Edith Hernandez is an amazing Singer/Songwriter and Jazz/Latin/Soul Vocalist. Michael Makowski is an amazing Mixing/Mastering Engineer.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both, always, always be open to use all tools surrounding you. I started out as a DJ, so I started out as a musician bound to electricity. Knowing that my deep love for music could only exist where there is electricity pushed me to learn acoustic instruments and embrace ALL music.

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

A: I will do my best to bring your ideas to life.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Providing the sound someone was looking for is always enough for me, getting paid for it is a bonus.

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

A: They usually ask me if I understand what they want, most times the answer is yes.

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

A: I don't know, maybe I look mean or judgemental, but I am very solution/goal oriented.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What type of feeling are we portraying with this song?

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

A: Do your research on them, Youtube is best place to start.

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

A: Classical Guitar, bongos or congas, an acoustic or upright bass, some type of woodwind or horn to practice and Steel Drums or Vibraphone to learn as well. Lol

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Open and laid back, sometimes intense and sometimes so peaceful you can sleep to it.

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

A: Bebel Gilgerto or Seu Jorge because I love Bossa Nova and would love to learn a new language thru music.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always be open to new processes.

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

A: Hip Hop, R&B and Bossa Nova.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I think my strongest skill is listening and applying my work tastefully.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I like to let the song tell me what I can bring to it, sometimes it is something out of my ability, this pushes me to get better, sometimes it doesn't ask me to bring anything, that can also be a tough pill to swallow, but I do my best to listen and take to the advice of the music because the music is always right.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Depends if it is just session work or if I am producing the track, if I am producing, I like to start by brainstorming on what I want to make and from there I can pick my first instrument to record. From there it is like painting a canvas, I have my direction mapped out and I just take my time getting to where I want to go.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have 2 Turntables, a Mixer, Serato, a Microphone, Bongos, Kalimba, Kaizen Steele Tongue Drum, Djembe, Electric Bass, Electric Guitar with Wah Pedal, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Steel Guitar, Reason 9 with an Akai MPK 25 and a Macbook Pro.

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

A: I am inspired by many artists of many different genres, I would say some of my biggest inspirations are Raphael Saadiq, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Bebel Gilberto, Sade, Seu Jorge, Trent Reznor, EL-P, Gang Starr, Dilated Peoples, Living Legends Crew, Invisible Skratch Piklz, DJ Craze, Everlast, Bonobo, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Rick James, Simply Red, Chicago, Kanye West, J Dilla, the Beatnuts, the Beat Junkies, DJ Abilities, Atmosphere and Babbletron.

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

A: Scratches and cuts, sometimes beat juggles if specified and music production. Hopefully Guitar and Bass sessions more often moving forward.