Session guitar & bass

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

A: The second Carnivores record, Let’s Get Metaphysical was recorded live off the floor in 6 days, no click tracks and minimal overdubs. I wrote all the songs and acted as co-producer with Bruce Rintoul, who also engineered, mixed and mastered the record. I lead the band through a month of pre-production in a rehearsal room working out arrangements before we played the record in full in the studio.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I’m working on two of my own projects currently. One is a melodic rock record with an old friend and the other is a solo piano record.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both! Why limit ourselves to a binary option of formats. Both have validity when used correctly.

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

A: You’ll find some players who can shred more than I can, but they don’t have my energy or my ears.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The variety of working on multiple projects.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is your timescale for this project? Where do you see the project going?

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

A: Don’t be restricted by your own limitations, be that what you can play or how you can record it. Let your imagination run wild!

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

A: My custom ESP with Evertune bridge (I hate tuning), my Kemper profiler (why take one amp when you could take them all?!), a mac to record, an interface and an SM58.

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

A: I started playing in cover bands in high school, which lead to playing pub and function gigs when I was 15. I studied for three years to achieve a BA in Commercial Music in 2006 before leading my band Carnivores as singer, songwriter and guitarist. After retiring that band in 2015, I returned to study production at home while focusing on my day job as a computer technician.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Airtight rhythm guitar with unusual chord voicings.

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

A: I’d love to work with Julien Lage, the jazz guitarist.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Monitor quietly! Anything sounds good when your turn it up loud. If it sounds full and energetic at a low volume, you’re onto a winner.

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

A: I usually work within the rock genre, but have also produced folk artists, worked on soundtracks and studied jazz. I am also working on an album of solo piano performances.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Being objective. I don’t like to follow ‘traditions’ or ‘rules’ of recording, which can lead to making creative decisions based on what’s expected rather than what the song requires.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I can bring energy and accuracy to rock guitars. I love the ‘slam’ when tracked guitars really work with a great drum track. I pride myself on super tight rhythm playing and left-field leads.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: iMac Logic Pro X Audio Pro monitors Shure IEM Slate Digital AAP Apogee interface Orange Thunderverb Orange Tiny Terror Orange 1x12 cab Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Kemper Profiler Fender Jazzmaster Fender Stratocaster Fender Telecaster Fender Precision

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

A: Production; Kurt Ballou, Will Putney, Steve Albini, Chris Sheldon, Flood, Alan Moulder, Catherine Marks, Ken Andrews, Justin Meldal-Johnsen. Musicians; Simon Neil, Brian Wilson, David Bowie, Brian Eno, James Hetfield, Graham Coxon, Danny Elfman, Nels Cline.