TOP Roots Reggae DUB Bassist

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

A: Venice Beach Dub Club released an album this year. It topped the reggae charts for a few days. There were single off that album that also topped reggae charts. Working with the songwriter for many months, I produced and mixed the whole record. Musically it was a nice accomplishment, that made me feel empowered. Additionally, some of the featured artists on the tracks were some of my long time favorites, so that always a plus. The record is still going strong and it has opened up some great doors for me. I picked up a lot of skill while working on this record. Feel good to see hard work pay off. Very thankful.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: A hip hop track with two featured artists. 1st Verse rapper is done. The 2nd verse rapper is recording his vox on the east coast. Should have the track released soon. Millions of followers for these guys, excited to wrap it up.

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

A: Not yet, just getting started checking it out.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital because its quick and nimble, sounds to standard quality.

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

A: I'll do everything I can to serve your needs.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get paid for dancing, even if i'm sitting down.

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

A: Can you get it done by X date? Yes.

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

A: People think i'm partying all day, just jamming out, blasting music. Truth is I get a lot of screen time and have to focus deeply on my work for many hours. I have to balance those long work hours by staying healthy and fit in order to optimize performance so I can deliver my best. Getting exercise and sun breaks each day is an important part of my work routine.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: How would you like your project to sound? Is there a style or sound you have in mind? Any specific parts of your piece you would like to stand out, or apply a certain effect? Do you have any type of reference tracks that inspire you for this piece?

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

A: Make sure you find someone you can easily communicate with. Don't be afraid to ask any questions at all. Make sure you're clear about your project's timeframe, and that the the provider is able to commit the necessary delivery dates, while factoring your own review time for any necessary revisions.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I always start with listening to the client and understanding what they want. If I'm hired for bass recordings, I'll then listen to the music and chart out any parts, Then I track the bass as efficiently as possible to quickly deliver back the client. I'll usually send a raw wave file of my bass, but also include an mp3 with my bass mixed into their audio, so that they can listen in context, and on the go if necessary. For mixing, I first I listen to the project given to me, take notes on audio defects, or any problems I hear. I'll also take not on the arrangement and where energy is focused or built up. I may share the notes with the client if I feel it to be productive. Sometimes I offer editing out things like bad audio pops they may not of heard. Next, I start carving out any dissonant frequencies or mud before adjusting any track levels. I may go back and forth between these steps, being careful to preserve and hopefully amplify the original energy of the piece. Once I feel like I have a good mix, I'll send and notify the client, while also communicating any timeframe for revisions if needed. For mastering, its pretty simlar, I listen to what the client is going for, what they think needs to be improved, and I'll get that baby sounding beautiful while preserving their unique creativity.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: In Venice Beach, I have a stand alone studio with two acoustically treated rooms and a bathroom. This is my work space, and I live in an apartment on the same property. I have a maxed out IMAC from 2015, Avalon 737 Preamp, Focusrite Clarett 8Pre Interface, Yamaha HS7 Studio Monitors and Sub, Avantone Mix Cubes, Beyerdynamic headphones (both open and closed). I have a wide range of Custom Boutique Bass Guitars, like F-Bass BN5, MTD 535, Fender Jazz, Fender P, Bossa OB6 six string bass. I also have Fender and Musicman Electric Guitars, along with some acoustic guitars. For my Plugin and sound libraries I keep up to date with Native Instruments "Kontakt Ultimate" suite, FabFilter Pro Bundles, Izotope's full plugin catalog, along with Valhalla Plugins, Slate Digital and a few others. Mostly in the box setup.

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

A: A Japanese STR 6 string bass, fEARfull full range bass cab (built by me), Mesa Boogie Walkabout bass head, a grand piano (weatherproof please), and the most amazing drumset in the world (hopefully that counts as one piece).

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

A: I've been a pro bassist since I was 15. I'm now 37, so 27 years for that. As i'm touring a lot less since 2016, I'm focused on my family, and plan to be a session bassist for the rest of my life. Audio Engineering is another love for me that i'm still growing in. I started producing music around 2006 with DAW like Reason and Cubase, which was music mostly used for reference in live band settings. I started to get serious about audio engineering, specifically mixing in 2012, when I was working with Scientist for his classes he gave at Musician Institute (MI) in Hollywood. He highered me as a bassist for the classes, and then I was soon mixing an album with him for my band The Divine Crime. Working in that setting, watching him on a big SSL board, really made me want to get serious. Turns out it still took a few years, and I started producing, mixing, and mastering in 2020, just before the lockdowns and all my live gigs disappeared. It was perfect timing. I started to get paying clients and really was able to sharpen my skills quickly. Even though it's a lot of work, I love music production, especially mixing. Hopefully I can do this for the rest of my life.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Earthy, sexy, and surprising.

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

A: Koffee, her attitude is so positive, chill, and level headed. Her voice and style is fire. So smooth and tasteful for such a young artist. I recently performed a big festival "Lightning In A Bottle" and I got to meet her, and I just see something really strong in her. I'd love to help bring out that shine even more.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Sometimes the sound or frequency you crave to hear more of, is actually a crave to hear less.

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

A: Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Afrobeat, DUB, Hip Hop, Soul, R&B, and Down Tempo / Lofi / Ambient

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Observance of detail.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring cultural flavor and elegant taste. I was brought up in a home full of Big Band music, Flamenco, and Jazz. My mother is from Chile, my Grandmother was half Moroccan, which brought me tons of rhythm. My father was a US WW2 hero who loved big band music his whole life, which helped me phrasing and harmony. Myself, after childhood violin lessons and classical music appreciation, I ran to heavy metal and punk rock in SoCal, moved to New York as a teen in high school, fell in love with Blues Jazz and Funk, so much that I tested out of high school early to study music and gig. I wound up back in California and somehow became an in demand Reggae and Dancehall bassist. I've traveled the world with reggae, dancehall, afrobeat and hip hop. With the amazing cultures i've integrated with I always try to bring that twist to any song I work on, even if subtle, I want to enhance flavor.

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

A: For music production, i'm heavily inspired by Stonebwoy (Ghanaian Producer), Don Corleon (Jamaican Reggae / Dancehall Producer), Scientist (Jamaican Mixing Engineer and Dub Artist, whom I've worked with mixing albums), and musically I love Bassists Robbie Shakespeare, Victor Wooten, Flabba Holt, and Richard Bona. Right now, I'm really digging the artists, Koffee, and Davido

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

A: I help songwriters develop their music to a more polished and full state, while preserving and helping to augment their creativity. Next, i'm most busy mixing projects for my clients or tracking sexy baselines that make hips move.