Cellist Violinist Violist

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 short documentary for an art studio that involved Irish music. I love certain types of Irish music and the beautiful melodies. I was the composer and recording artist. Most of the time, the smallest project are the ones that mean the most to me.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am working on dance music with cello and the chinese instrument Guzheng. I also actively produce for a couple pop singers, and I record some fun videos for my social media and friends.

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

A: I can recommend tons of mixers and musicians on Soundbetter. I am very happy with the service.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog always sounds better, but I need to have access to everything in one convenient spot, especially when handling all of these different instruments. Digital is more convenient.

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

A: I promise to update you on my process and treat your project as if it was my own.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get to hear and enjoy the projects at the end and all the days after that. I love the sound of real strings that have emotion and depth.

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

A: "Can you play by ear?" I am unique in that I can learn a lot of different parts by listening. I can write out the whole piece, and can pick out the chord tones fairly quickly. It's a great question since string players are typically very specialized with sheet music.

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

A: That recording is easy. I have a hundred things to keep in mind to make sure the quality, artistry, and timeliness of the project all align, while also keeping the big picture in mind.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What's your definite due date? I work great with due dates and this helps me figure out the time frame I have to finish the project.

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

A: Strings can be much more expressive than you think. Research other string writing examples and get a clear idea as to what you have in mind. The more of an idea I have of what you want, the better!

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

A: Just a cello, and maybe a grill...

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

A: I was exposed to recording technology growing up my household, and everyone in my family created music. I learned about microphones, interfaces, studios, instruments, and the culture of concerts very early. I have been recording since around 2014, either in my own studio or at other studios in NYC.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is romantic and modern, with a strong respect for the classics and old masters. I am not trying to reinvent stringed instruments, or change my sound just to make more money. I think certain elements of other musical cultures can seep in and make a big impact, but I think these instruments were made for a specific type of sound.

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

A: I would love to work with Yo-Yo Ma one day or any of the producers associated with Sony. I love their arrangers and the creative ideas they come up with.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always organize your project so you can stay focused on the art and not the files.

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

A: I typically work on film music the most. It gives me the freedom to explore new styles and try new things with recording and mixing. This also goes into similar genres like dance music and jingle house music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My ability to change my style of playing according to the project. I have studied and been a part of so many styles of music, that I start to see the connection between all of them. This involves having a good ear and knowing how string can make a project even better than before.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring over a decade of string playing experience knowing the in's and outs of playing and recording stringed instruments. I draw from a huge variety of styles and cultures like western art music, the blues, traditional folk music, pop, classic rock and contemporary pieces. I am an active performer outside of the studio and I have learned what different audiences love.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I first listen to the clients track and any references they provide. References help me understand what the client has in mind, which will guide my style of playing. If I am given sheet music, I will practice the parts and make notes. If I have no music, I will write out my parts or chord charts. I go through a process of exploration with different styles and mic placements until I have found the ideal set up. With a large string ensemble, I typically start with a couple cellos, add violins, then violas, then fill out the cello and violins more. I actively pan and mix parts while recording to simulate me playing in a real group. I tend to change my playing style and instrument on each take to make a more realistic orchestra with different players involved.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Each project lends itself to a different microphone configuration. For most cases, mono recording is fine for a single cello line. If I need more string textures, I bring in a condenser microphone close to the bridge and bow. I use an Apollo Twin interface, and run everything through Pro Tools.

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

A: My first inspiration was Yo-Yo-Ma's playing and the producers involved in his albums, such as Stephen Prutsman. The textures are smooth yet maintain the character of stringed instruments, and seamlessly integrate the cello into other style of music. I frequently use these albums and ones related to them as references for my mixing and arrangements.

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

A: Solo cello is my most popular service for songwriters, filmmakers, jingle houses, and composers. Styles range from background whole note pad style lines to style specific cello solos. Unique and contemporary string textures are also popular, and I can provide this will all instruments. Clients frequently provide just a couple string parts, which I can then expand on with other instruments and parts.