West African Guitarist with a unique style for your modern music! Credits with Liam Payne, Cheat codes, Philip Lawrence, NBC, TBS + More!
Born in Ghana, West Africa, my guitar technique has been infused with a certain panache that is indeed worldly. Afrobeats, Reggae, Bachata, and Soukous are some of the worlds I've lived in for fifteen years. I am also able to bring a unique vocabulary to melodies and progressions to pop music. I'm easy-going, enjoy communicating, and I'm very flexible. I speak Ga natively so don't be shy to ask for personally recorded phrases in your next project. Let's add something fresh and unique to your music, overdubs, or pitches!
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Credits
5 Reviews - 2 Repeat Clients
Endorse Theophilus Akai- check_circleVerified
Theophilus is a 10 out of 10. Professional, quick turnaround, creative and talented. I don't think I need to say anymore. LOL
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Theo was extremely professional as well as attentive for what I wanted done for the project and was the absolute perfect addition to the track. Would definitely recommend and work with again any day!
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Theophilus did an amazing job on a few guitar tracks that I wanted and his turnaround time was very reasonable. He also gave me options and additional parts, some of which I used and can't imagine the track without. They just made the whole song better. I'm looking forward to working with him again.
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Hey Theo.,
Thanks for the beautiful guitar hooks and the added afro intro. I did arranged them to fit the track and they sound great. Great job
....Dunn - check_circleVerified
First time working with Theophilus. He played 8 guitar parts that needed re-working that I played myself and added some of his own extra parts, giving me more options for the production. He added tight rhythm tracks and riffs and was happy to add some edits to the tracks that I wanted with a fast turnaround.
I highly recommend using Theophilus if you want tight sounding funky guitar elements in your recording. *****
Interview with Theophilus Akai
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I worked on a song that made it to Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson's show, 'American Song Contest'. I was the guitarist and co-producer and that lit the fire for me wanting to get into the TV sync space.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Right now I'm working hard to earn a place in the TV sync world.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: I'm still meeting the right people to fit my clients' needs!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both! I love digital, especially for ease-of-use and portability. I like analog gear because well, it's analog! haha
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise to bring my very best to the table. I promise uphold the original intent of your project while injecting a little bit me me!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love when customers are satisfied with our collaboration. I love to serve others in this capacity.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Customers normally ask me what genres I play and I usually answer with my main genres. I am also honest about genres I'm not comfortable with or have never touched.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Most of my family and friend think I just sit in my studio and jam haha!
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: I ask that you enjoy your project thoroughly before bring the project to me. It's more fun if it isn't "just another proect".
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Be upfront and honest with what you are looking for! We are all adults and should comunicate like it. I'd rather you have as much information upfront than come back multiple times with many changes.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Two acoustic guitars and 3 sets of strings!
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been playing and recoding music for 15+ years. My aim is to do music full time as I currently have a corporate day job.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I'd describe my style as a mixture of my youth with a West African underpinning. I tend to listen to instruments like drums, horns, and bass much more than I listen to guitarists. That gives me a rhythmic feel when it comes to my lines and melodies.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Nile Rodgers because his ability to think rhythmically as a guitarist is infused into every project he touches. He has a very subtle and simple approach to playing. THE POCKET!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: When recording a guitar rhythm, record it twice and hard pan them left and right. It makes for a very full and robust sound!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: World and Pop music.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest skill is the ability to extrude melodies that are out of the box.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring a unique flavor of melody and chord arrangement due to my African background. I tend to bring a sense energy and happiness to most projects.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I start by listening to a project all the way through to catch the vibe and essence of the artist. I then cue 20+ empty tracks where I begin to lay idea lines, tones, and melodies. Sometimes my kids come into the studio to pass judgement haha.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I use my Kemper Stage for most of my guitar tones and sounds. I also use Bias FX 2 and Guitar Rig as plugins when recording with Ableton Live. My Mac Mini is linked to a UAD Apollo Twin X with a pair of Adam Audio 5 inchers - Perfect size for guitar!
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Nile Rodgers, Taylor Swift, Israel Houghton, and pretty much any musician who tends to write from a guitar point of view.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: 95% of the time, I get the call to add unique guitar sounds, especially of the African variety, to projects. I also tend to get calls to compose chord progressions, toplines, and other melodies for singers.
I was the Guitarist/Aux Musician in this production
- Electric GuitarAverage price - $200 per song
- Acoustic GuitarContact for pricing
- Songwriter - MusicContact for pricing
- Songwriter - LyricContact for pricing
- Bass ElectricAverage price - $150 per song
Turn-around time is 2 - 5 days. Same day delivery is an option with additional fees. I will revise projects 1 time to your tastes. We can discuss any more revisions if necessary.
- Kemper Amplifiers
- UAD Apollo
- Kali Audio
- PRS Guitars
- Papin Guitars