15 years Cirque Du Soleil violinist and erhu player. Most of my home recordings gigs are for 5 stars video games company like UBISOFT and GAMELOFT. My sound and creativity is my weapon.
First of all I'm a touring musician since the last 25 years. I spent 15 years with Cirque Du Soleil. So I have a lot to offer in music style. My favorites are world, classical, pop, rock, Latin, Asian, Arabic, and of course improvisation. I learned many styles from many countries. I also specialized myself as a erhu player (chinese violin).
After that I got many gigs with country and bluegrass bands. I also often toured with Canada's pop singers.
As a session musician, I played violin and erhu on a few Cirque Du Soleil albums. Check out OVO on Spotify.
Since 2018, most of my session gigs were for video game companies such as Ubisoft and gameloft. I really enjoy it because I feel that I can express completely who I am as a musician.
For 100$ I can record a single track on violin, viola, baritone violin and erhu. Each tracks are recorded in my soundproof booth,with my apollo twin sound card with a ribbon mic. I don't put any effect. So that way you can add effects yourself.
Can't wait to perform on your tracks.
I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.
Interview with Sébastien Savard
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I played Chinese violin for the game For Honor from Ubisoft. The composer told me that I was playing as good as a Chinese. I was very happy and proud.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: The next big game of Gameloft. I cannot tell you more.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Playing violon. And being part of someone's project. It kind of become mine as well. As if I was part of the team.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Do you need me to write you down the chart? The answer is often no. I have perfect pitch. But I you want me to play a specific melody, the answer is yes.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What's the energy of the song? Where do you hear violin? Should I play a solo?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Be precise on what you want us to do. Don't just say like (Play anything you want) because anything is like nothing.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Violin, smartphone, computer, solar power battery to recharge my phone and my computer, and that's it. I can do everything with my phone and computer.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started at 6 years old at the music school back home. Than I went to conservatory school when I was in high school. At 23 I left university to join cirque du soleil for a long 12 years of tour non stop and 3 years part time. This was the best time of my life.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I play violin like a singer sing. I try to sing with my violin because it's easier to express emotions with a voice than a instrument. So I don't play violin, I sing violin.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Don't be to close to your mic when recording violin. Or you'll get to much of the violin noise you don't really want. And isolate yourself from any kind of noise.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop, classical, bluegrass, country, world. And all in between
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Being real with my instrument. If it's sad song, I'll make you cry with my violin. If it's a heavy rock song, I'll make you step up and dance. Improvisation is also one of my favorite skill.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: The sensitivity. My goal is to make something that touch the people's heart. If we touch, it's a success.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I put the track on and listen the energy of it to find what exactly the song need. I wanna match my violin to the mood. And not over play or not match the emotion. It's a question of a fine balance.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I made a soundproof booth to keep all the noise away. I use a apollo twin sound card which is the best one and a ribbon mic because this mic remove everything we don't like of a violin. It warm it up.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: As a violin player, I can't ignore Itzhak Perlman of David Oistrakh. But I also love the violinist from the Indian band Shakti. I'm also a big fan of Mark O'Connor.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: They explain to me what they are looking for, what type of playing, energy they want, if they want a violin solo and than I record the track and send it. I usually do a follow up to see if everything is OK or if I need to change some stuffs.
Be precise on what you want. I want to be on the same page as you are. I do 1 revision.
- I use my soundproof booth
- with a apollo twin soundcard and a great handmade ribbon mic.
