Session guitarist, Producer

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

A: There are a few that I can think of. - Crash Test Dummies, Puss N Boots, 2003. It was my first real production gig with a real budget, but the best part about it was I got to record my Father on that record, and that was his last recording session ever. Great memory. - Alicia Toner, Joan, 2020, I received a call to produce Alicia's first record a few years back, which was a blast alongside of my production partner Peter Fusco. Then to make a second record with her was even more special, because you start to grow with the artist. Yup, we're about to made a third record with her! - Sadie Campbell, Darkroom EP, these are incredibly personal songs that Sadie trusted us with, and turned into something very special. This is why we're going to keep working together. Sometimes it just works!

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Starting up a new record with Alicia Toner, and another with Sadie Campbell

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

A: Sadie Campbell for vocals.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Well, I like to combine the two, so I can't pick and choose.......but if I was forced to pick, I'd go with analog because of the darkness of the tail from the delay

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

A: I promise that I will always do my best and what's right for the song

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That every single recording project is completely different, therefore I never get bored

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

A: Red or white wine? Answer, red, always red

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

A: You'll have to ask my peers about that!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What inspires you? How far would you like me to take this? What sounds do you like that aren't necessarily in your genre, and would you be willing to explore that?

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

A: Please give me a reference, and things will get done a lot easier

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

A: My Martin 1964 00-18, Nash JM-63 Jazzmaster, Vox AC-30 50th Anniversary, Diamond Memory Lane Analog Delay V1 and my MacBook (it's gear afterall)

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

A: This has always been my career path, ever since I can remember, this is the only thing I have ever wanted to do

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

A: I'll have to get back to on that one, because most of them have passed on

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always do what's right for the song, and don't just play because there is space. Sometimes we need to let it breathe

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

A: Americana and indie rock

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Knowing that I will do my best, and will treat each recording with the same amount of commitment and passion

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: It's always a great feeling when a counter melody appears, and you can't hear the song without it. Hooks!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I'll load a song into Logic, open up a few guitar tracks, and just play along with the song to get a feel, and also to chart it out. Then I simply start recording, and won't stop until I feel that a part is complementing the vocal, but also adding to the melody.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I'm running Logic Pro X on a Macbook Pro, Adam A7X's, Yamaha NS-10's, Apollo Twin X interface, MOTU 828 interface, Universal Audio OX Box, Neumann TLM 49, Neumann 105, Sennheiser MK4, Samson CL2 pair, Shure SM57, Audio Technica M80s, Vox AC-30 50th Anniversary, Vox AC-15, Fender Blues Jr, Fender Deluxe, electric and acoustic guitars for days, Fender 400 Pedal Steel, National New Yorker Lap Steel, and a TON of guitar effect pedals

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

A: Musicians that inspire me are the ones who push every boundary.

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

A: I mainly take on songs with my production partner, and explore every option we're capable of, and just go for it! A lot of times it just ends up being something very basic, or what the song needs to breathe.