Session Guitarist, Producer

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

A: Matteo Passarelli for strings arrangements/ Keys Session

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

A: a good interface, a good preamp, a good electric guitar ,a good tube amp , a good mic

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is designed for the creation of quality guitars, I happen to work in RnB, Funk, Pop, Smooth jazz, House projects, etc. so I try to have a good choice of instruments, amplifiers (valve and non-tube), in addition to the best plug-ins on the market. Guitars : Fender, Gibson, Music Man, Ibanez , Emme Guitars, Yamaha, Godin; Tube Amp : Mesa Boogie, Fender; Solid State Amp : Dv Mark little Jazz; Fx: Tc Electronic; Pedals : Tc Electronic, Xotic, Mesa Boogie, Boss Professional guitar plug in : Neural DSP Cory Wong, Neural DSP Plini, UAD Fuchs, UAD Marshall, UAD Friedman, UAD Fender; UAD APOLLO Interface; Mic : Shure SM57, AKG 414 XL II; Pre Amps : UAD - SSL - NEVE (plug in UAD); Eq : PULTEC (plug in UAD); Comp : 1173 - SSL (plug in UAD and SSL)

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

A: I'm so proud of all projects who i have work on as musician but I am also proud of how collaborations can be going on a site like this, I find very fascinating to collaborate from so far away parts of the world and to compare myself with other cultures, especially in a period particular like this.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Parallel to the work of guitarist, arranger and producer I am also dedicating myself to the production of Loops and sample packs for my label.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I think you are referring mainly to the world of the guitar, where this diatribe has been going on for years. I personally love both digital and analog. I always choose based on the sound in my head and not based on the business. Obviously both in the analog and digital fields, speaking more specifically of amps and effects for guitar, I surround myself with top level machines.

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

A: I'll always do my best!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love creativity, then every day you don't know what will happen to you, I find it very interesting and stimulating for my growth as a man and musician.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask to listen to their music, to tell me about their art, soundscapes etc. I am interested in knowing the artist, so I can interface better and create a top level work.

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

A: With my many years of experience I have understood that it is necessary talk with the artist to understand and find together the best solution for his music. I think that the best to do is to have the ideas clear before start working to be sure that the product delivered could be fine for project need.

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

A: I started self-taught, but then I wanted to study seriously, so I earned two degrees in the Conservatory: Jazz Guitar and Contemporary Writing & Production. I have been working as a professional for twenty years

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I like to keep up with the times but without forgetting tradition. For example, I am fascinated by technology, so loops, computers etc ... but I think you have to know music in a profound way to use technology in a creative way.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Before diving into the recording I think it is useful to understand exactly the direction to take. This involves analyzing the song very carefully, if anything, change something in harmony if necessary, imagine in advance the sound world and the result we want to achieve. Today plug-ins, reamping etc. allow us to change continuously but often make us lose direction. A producer must take responsibility of giving a precise identity sound.

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

A: I have worked in different genres such as pop, funk, R&B, smooth jazz, disco, hip-hop, blues, rock. Generally all music that requires groove and emotion

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Groove, Sound, Musicality

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I hope to bring / add something fresh, I call it 'a little magic' through my passion, emotion, professionalism, personality, my research on sound, with respect and kindness, trying to be as suitable as possible to the different conditions.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I listen carefully to the music / song that the client sends me, I hear his references. I like to take some time and talk with the artist for a while to understand his sound world . I think that as a Producer, Arranger or Guitarist I have to mold myself into the music I am going to work on to offer the best possible result.

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

A: Trying to learn as much as possible from any kind of genre and musician to be open and embrace new horizons

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

A: I arrange and make guitar tracks, this as a session player. I arrange and produce songs or instrumental music, I also happen to write music for songs, commercials, video games, etc.