Cellist, Orchestral Producer

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently touring with the world-renowned rock band, the Eagles on their Hotel California 2022 tour.

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

A: Carey Clayton is an incredible guitarist, songwriter, and producer!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I'm all analog - strings, winds, horns... There are no plug-ins better than the real thing!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: How do you want this to feel? How do you want to make others feel?

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

A: It's all about trust. Trust me when I say I want to get you the absolute best product available when it comes to composition and performance. Trust me when I ask you specific questions or come to you with an opinion. We're here to make magic, together!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I have a passion for strings arranging!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: A client will send me a song and after a few listens, I'll make notes to send over with my suggestions. It's always a conversation with the client, because we need to both absolutely love the song. I'll create a demo and send that over to the client to approve and/or request a revision, and then I record it all in my home studio.

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

A: I write and record any strings or horns you need! I'm a cellist, and I produce string arrangements and orchestral versions of songs.

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

A: I produced an orchestral EP for electro-pop artist VÉRITÉ. We performed live with my 25-piece orchestra and then recorded 5 songs at Bunker Studios in Brooklyn. It's completely analog and completely gorgeous, and really shows the listener that recording your songs with an orchestra can have a ton of emotion, energy, and suspense even without drums.

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

A: I'll work tirelessly to do your song justice because each song - like each artist - is completely unique and deserves to glow on its own, in its own way.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love creating music with people who love creating music. That's the most beautiful thing there is.

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

A: 'Orchestral production' does not mean 'classical musicians only.' If you're a rapper, you can integrate an orchestra in your song and still have it bounce. If you're a soul artist or a high-octane pop artist, you can still have beautiful melodic strings or flutes floating in between your words. There is no genre when it comes to an orchestra. Everyone can have their own orchestra, and it starts here, with me.

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

A: I've been performing for 22 years and writing/producing for half of that. I wanted to change the way orchestral instruments (violin, viola, cello, flute, harp, saxophone etc!) were seen by the pop industry -- less classical, less background noise, but truly thick and rich like any other digital production on the market. I taught myself how to compose and arrange, and built my entire company myself.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Film-score-adjacent. Emotional. Boundless.

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

A: Syd. Her voice is incredibly unique, and she is one of the greatest writers/producers of our time.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Be willing to change your mind and try something new. Closed ideas are like closed doors - they lead nowhere; whereas the openness to change will lead you to extraordinary things!

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

A: Whatever moves you, in the realm of pop, indie, RnB, hip hop, folk, soul.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Elegance. Beauty. An honest, loving warmth that only real cello or orchestral strings can bring into your heart.