Shawn Walrus on SoundBetter

If you want a professional who does his homework (hey, can't take that for granted), a seasoned and versatile bass player with a passion for the groove, and an all-round personable (and funny) guy to be around, you have just been divinely led to this profile for a reason. -wink wink nudge nudge!-

Hello! I'm Shawn (aka Walrus) from Singapore.

A bass player since 2003 and a music-lover since 1988 (when I was born), I'm hugely passionate about music (obviously), nature, art, and learning. In particular, I'm a huge fan of metal, funk, jazz fusion, and rock. If it's heavy, groovy, or technically challenging, it's my can of stout.

Much of my experience has been in the Singaporean praise & worship music scene, where I've contributed to multiple albums by Awaken Generation and others in the areas of songwriting, arrangement, live performance, and studio sessions as a bass player. However, I've also done the same for multiple tracks of heavier genres such as alt-rock and progressive metal for various bands / projects.

Keen to expand my horizons though, so hit me up for whatever you've got!

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

Credits

Languages

English

2 Reviews

Endorse Shawn Walrus

by Kenny
Super solid musician! Enthusiastic and very skilled! Always looking forward to work with this man
by Daniel
Had the great blessing to have Shawn record bass on several tracks that I was producing and he nailed them in ONE take!! A consummate professional and I won’t hesitate to have Shawn record on my upcoming music!

Interview with Shawn Walrus

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Michael League (Snarky Puppy), Tom Barber (Lorna Shore, Chelsea Grin, Darko US), Vulfpeck, Jordan Rakei, Hiatus Kaiyote, Bethel Music, Elevation Music, Meshuggah, Limp Bizkit (nope, no shame!), Norma Jean, Michael Jackson.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I'm really analytical, and my instinct when I listen to music is to process it cognitively first, and then ~feel~ it. Once I'm in that mode, I'm all about the GROOVE and VIBE. So I would say I bring a very balance viewpoint to any project - a melding of both heart and mind (which I believe collectively make up the soul).
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I have two! Not artists, but styles. Firstly, I would love to work on a Metal project that's groovy and heavy. As a huge fan of styles such as Metalcore, Deathcore, Djent, and Hardcore, I have to say nothing really beats vibing to a beautifully heavy song (that you contributed to) that transports you to another world and gets your head and body moving. Secondly, I would love to work with any Gospel artist, simply because of the challenge that this genre poses to any musician, both rhythmically and harmonically. Gospel is perfect because it incorporates so many styles I love, such as Jazz, Blues, and Funk. I think to successfully write / play bass for a Gospel project would be a huge, huge achievement for me.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: The ability to give the client not just what they need, but what they want ;)
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: As a maximizer, I love turning something 'good' into something 'great'. So I bring that little spark of musical interest that an otherwise bland track may need - a polyrhythm here, an inversion there, and heavy groovy-groovy-grooves everywhere else (only if you need it, of course).
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I am especially proud of the live album 'Our Light Has Come' by Awaken Generation, on which I co-wrote, co-arranged, and played bass. Check it out on any streaming platform! I particularly enjoyed the songs written, and how my bass sounded in the mix - it cut through brilliantly without losing body. I also enjoyed performing it and writing the bass lines - it was more than a regular-sounding Praise & Worship album; it was a musical masterpiece!
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm working on some new material for my Alt-Rock/Electronic band, per[sona.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Yes! Loudandclear is a great studio I've worked with and they do an amazing job not just at production, arrangement, and performance, but they are fun and personable people with an integrity rarely seen elsewhere.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Depending on what the objectives and limitations, either!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise to place your needs and the needs of the project above my own creative sensibilities.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I have a few jobs - all creative - and what I'd say I love most about my jobs is that I have the flexibility to express who I am while making a living. I suppose that's the dream life for most?
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are your goals / objectives for this project? What are 3 key words to describe your desired outcome? Who is your target audience?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: If you know and can communicate what you are going for, that's half the battle won!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: If it were a desert island there wouldn't be any electricity, so the music gear I'd definitely bring along are an acoustic guitar, a didgeridoo, a tabla (so I can finally get down to learning to play it), a sitar, and a drum kit.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Since picking up music in 2002, I'd been playing the bass, guitar, and singing in various churches. I'd always been a fan of
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Rock, Metal, and Praise & Worship.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I live lean: Logic Pro, an Audient interface, my trusty Maurizio Uber Bass, a Darkglass Microtubes X7, and my MacBook Pro are all I need, really.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I mostly help to write, arrange, perform live, or session for Christian Praise & Worship-related projects - and the various similar styles such as Contemporary Christian Music and Gospel. Otherwise, it's other heavy genres such as Rock or Metal projects.