Acoustic Expert & Producer

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

A: The Band "Nic & The Iceni" (Spotify, Deezer) found me on the web. They asked me to record one banjo track, then two, and three more instrument tracks. They were thrilled with it. We became great friends! I flew over to Manchester (UK), assisted with the post-production. I was also featured on the video for the album single. I loved the "online" interaction becoming live and real. This has happened again since then. I love those occasions to connect with new artists this way.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: We are currently recording and producing the second album of Les Sales Gosses, a children's choir that I run. Against all odds, they're only 8-13 years old, and they write and compose their own songs! My job there is to train them to sing and write, "ghostwrite" = finish their songs, arrange, produce and mix. The whole process is exciting for them and for all of us. The first album is on my SoundCloud "The Organic Pulse".

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

A: I only just signed up on SB, and I look forward to meeting new artists here. I'll keep you updated on this question!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Acoustic instruments, of course. But digital recording because it's easy and clean. I do have a tape recorder to warm it up, though!

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

A: I go to great lengths to captivate the very core of your music, to make it sound even better than your vision.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: What I love most is the ability to express myself artistically, connect with talented artists and create music we love, while making a living off it!

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

A: "Have you done this kind of work before?" With time, I get to say yes more and more, but I love to take on new challenges and to work off paved roads as much as I can.

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

A: I've done very different genres from soundtracks to theatre plays, rock to R'nB... As a result, I have been sometimes labeled as the guy "who can do a bit of everything badly", as opposed to an expert in one field. I am now reasonably experienced in composing, arranging, producing, and mixing acoustic and electronic music and proudly call myself an expert in that domain! An acoustic expert!

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are your reference artists or tracks? Give me keywords or describe your vision, with your words. What's your budget? Because where I can see talent, I do my best and consider all budgets.

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

A: I'd definitely go acoustic. A guitar, a Cajon, a ukulele, a double bass, and singers.

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

A: I have been teaching music since the age of 16. I graduated from ETM, a music college in Geneva with professional training. I then lived in London, UK, and trained at Islington Music Workshop. London life took my guitar off of me! I got into house music, trance, drum&bass, hip-hop, and composed music for theatre plays, art exhibitions, and broadcast documentaries. I was exploring electronic and sample music, in the vein of Brian Eno. Back In France, I created a music school, which I still run successfully. In the meantime, I compose music and produce artists, in the inspiring scenery of the French Alps. I am a family man. I've made music for a living for the last 12 years.

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

A: Xavier Rudd. Because his music remains minimalistic, and his vibe keeps growing. He has a unique way of getting high energy across while keeping the music super simple.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Yeah! The most valuable one to me : give your music a good rest between work sessions.

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

A: I have worked for years on indie/rock and pop style commercial soundtracks & jingles, and I have great experience in those styles. My tastes, influences, and skills have evolved, and now I work more on folk/acoustic songwriters and dub/reggae artists. And I jump on every occasion to play my uke, banjo, or lap-steel! I love to mix all those genres, too.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is probably my ability to uplift a song with simple acoustic arrangements, such as adding a banjo part, composing a guitar track, or enhancing a bridge with a lap steel guitar solo.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I don't want to be pretentious there! But, from the first listen, I always look to get the very essence of a song. I aim to make it sound better than what the artist imagined. I can only achieve that thanks to up-level communication with the artist. It's what I enjoy most!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I first listen to the song on a deep level. I get the essence, the vibe, and the message of it. In the meantime, I connect with the artist on the closest possible level, looking to a high level of understanding and collaboration. I dedicate a fair amount of time to getting ready. I let the music evolve in my head as long as possible before I start working in the studio. But when all is ready, I know what I'm doing and work fast.

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

A: The better the communication and understanding, the better the results.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: A gentle mix of root reggae/rock, a heavy touch of traditional instruments on uplifted dub beats, spiced with airy vocal harmonies.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I like to keep it simple, too! The room has a solid DIY acoustic treatment. I have an Imac with a Behringer UFX1604 Desk, DI and Valve preamps, Yamaha HS8 monitors, a few Rode & AKG condenser mics, a couple of the must-have Shure mics, and the Komplete 88 midi keyboard. That's pretty much it for the hardware. Software-wise, I work on Logic Pro with NI Komplete soundbanks and Slate Digital & Waves full Bundles. Where my studio stands out from the crowd is by the variety of fretted instruments I have handy, ready to play and record: upright piano, couple of drum sets, Stratocaster, Telecaster, 6 & 12string Acoustic & vintage classic guitars, banjo, Lap-steel guitar, ukulele, 8 string baritone ukulele, bouzouki, mandolin, djembe, percussions, and handcrafted instruments.

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

A: I grew up with the big rock & prog-rock classics, lots of reggae and old school rocksteady, Celtic and traditional music from Eastern Europe and North America. I have been very inspired lately by Mumford & Sons, Xavier Rudd, Beck, John Butler Trio, and Toots and The Maytals.

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

A: Artists often ask me to arrange and produce songs from a very early stage of creation. I assist in writing, composing, structuring the song, getting the message through.