Andrew Sovine on SoundBetter

I'm a seasoned producer, studio owner, and multi-instrumentalist with a handful of Grammy nominations.

I've been around music my entire life, and made it my career when I was sixteen years old. As a sideman I've worked with Ashley McBryde, Ian Noe, Don Gallardo, Kelsey Waldon, Chase Rice, Cale Tyson, Jaime Wyatt, Hannah Dasher, Jace Everett, and more. These days I'm producing a lot of singer songwriters in the Americana world as well as scoring films.

I do a lot of single song overdub/session work on electric and acoustic guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, lap and pedal steel, and various toy keyboards. I am adept at the "Americana" sound for all of those instruments, but I can shift into bluegrass, rock, punk, old country, new country, rockabilly, chicken picking, blues, and even ambient stuff.

As a songwriter and composer, I understand that the song is the most important part of any production. I can help with song structure, arranging, and lyric tweaks if we need it. My ultimate goal is to make the artist's best qualities shine. Make it sound amazing. Make the listener know they're hearing something special.

My studio is packed with great gear, and is always expanding. I'm more than capable of getting what we need here, but as a native Nashvillian I have access to amazing studios should that need arise.

Whether you need a guitar overdub or a full production, I can do it.

If you have any questions, please reach out. I look forward to working with you.

Send me a note through the contact button above.

Credits

Discogs verified credits for Andrew Sovine

Kelsey Waldon
Hannah Aldridge
David Newbould & The Stowaways (7)
Ashley McBryde
Side Pony (2)

3 Reviews

Endorse Andrew Sovine

by Bunky Hunt
Andrew is a true collaborator! I've been lucky enough to work with Andrew on several albums that I've produced and he truly adds to the vibe in the room and is able to take recordings in any direction. If you need rock guitar, all bases are covered. Country pedal steel guitar? No problem. Even Lanois-esque atmospheric tracks are on the menu. His experience, capabilities, and great ears will sure elevate your project beyond expectations.
by Joseph Shipp
I hired Andrew to produce my debut album. I was a fan of his solo music and his mastery of the guitar. Andrew is a pro through and through. He really cares about the songs first and foremost and spent the time in pre-production to tighten everything up. He really listened to my goals for the album and helped me get the most out of every song. We recorded most of the album at his home studio, The Back Room, in Savannah, Georgia. His musical contributions were immense and sonically shaped the project. I'm very happy with the record we made. Highly recommended!!
by James Reilley
Andrew is a gifted musician and producer. As a producer myself, I require those I hire to be able to perform well the skills I ask, bring a collaborative willingness and a spirit that is up for adapting to the often changing environment and forgetting the ego enough to not be offended if something isn’t working. Andrew embodies all of these qualities handily. As a producer, Andrew has boundless energy and complete inventiveness. You can’t go wrong with Andrew. He’s one of the best I’ve seen in 36 years of doing this.

Interview with Andrew Sovine

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Working from home is easy.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a fairly simple home studio, but it's growing. I'm working in Logic Pro X and LUNA for DAWs. I have an Apollo x8p and Twin as well as several UAD, Waves, Soundtoyz, and Valhalla plugins. I have various options for microphones, instruments, effects pedals, and amps of vintage and modern varieties.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Ashley McBryde's "Girl Going Nowhere" is one of my favorite projects I've ever worked on. I played guitar, lap steel, and mando-guitar on it. It gave me three grammy nominations. Definitely a feather in my cap.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm working on a surf rock project where I'm playing drums and guitar. It's gonna sound wild.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Shawn Byrne, Aaron Shafer-Haiss, Dylan Wissing
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both have their place. Depends on the situation for me.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: To do my best to help fulfill your vision.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Creating something out of nothing.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: I get asked "how much for ___ ?" I have to know more details before I give an exact quote. I also need to figure out if I'm right for the project. If I'm not, I will refer you to someone more appropriate.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are your reference points musically speaking? What instruments are you hearing on this? Do you have specific melodies in mind? Is this part of a whole album or a standalone track? Read any good books lately?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Don't pay attention to the smoke and mirrors. Everyone can make themselves sound better than they are. If you want to make art, work with artists.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A Casio keyboard, a telecaster, small amp, an echoplex, and a four track tape recorder.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started playing guitar at age four. After years of learning songs from my uncle I finally landed a gig playing guitar in a band when I was sixteen, and it took off from there. Since then I have toured with artists and bands in several countries and have played on scores of albums and sessions. It's working so far.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: My personal style is greatly informed by classic country and bluegrass, but thrown in a blender with a few too many fuzz pedals and large reverb chambers.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: The first time I heard a Tom Waits record my life changed. That's a dream artist for me.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Have a vision, but be open to the changes along the way.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Lately I'm working on a lot of folk and Americana tunes. I've started dabbling in scoring and sound design though.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Communication and understanding the overall feeling of the music is my strength. When I'm on the same page as my client it makes things so much smoother.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I have been told more than a few times that I have the ability to make recording sound "like a dream". I don't know that I agree, but I always try to bring something unique to the recording(s) when I can.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I receive a song or work tape and make a chart. Before recording I speak with the client about the overall sound and vibe we're going for. I will lay down a few passes at a pre determined time so that the client can listen back quickly. Once approved I send along the appropriate files types.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Daniel Lanois, Jesca Hoop, Buddy Miller, Sparklehorse, Emmylou Harris, Bjork, Brian Eno, Alex Somers, Warren Ellis, T Bone Burnett
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Most often I provide instrumental tracks and/or overdubs for artists and producers. I specialize in the Americana and Indie Folk genres.