Jesse Johnson on SoundBetter

Touring bass player with a passion for collaboration.

Hey! I’m Jesse. Home to me is in Annapolis, Maryland. I’ve been an active member of the Maryland music scene for over 10 years and have toured all across the country. When I first started playing music, I knew I wanted to share the stage and collaborate with as many people as I could and to always have a good time doing it. Having recorded in multiple projects, I have experience in live, studio and remote recording environments. My main goal is to record a bass line that is authentic and supports the song while aligning with the artists overall vision. Being a self-taught bass player, I rely on the feeling and vibe of a song to create the best possible bass line. I’m also a fan of experimenting with the boundaries of what a bass guitar can sound like, so if you are looking for some atmospheric or outside the box sounds in your song, let’s talk!

Send me a note through the contact button above.

Credits

1 Reviews

Endorse Jesse Johnson

by Falcon Morris
Jesse sat in with our band The Caffeine Rush for a live show in the Baltimore area summer of 21 and he did an amazing job. He filled in when our bassist came down with covid right before our show. Even last minute Jesse was able to learn the material (mostly originals) and the show went off without a hitch. He's great to work with, courteous and professional, you won't regret choosing Jesse for whatever project you have.

Interview with Jesse Johnson

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: The Vibesmen album titled 'Influence of Sound.' While my role in the band is predominantly the bass player, I also took on the role of songwriter, co-producer, and guitar player for some of the songs on the album.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: To deliver an authentic bassline that helps the artist feel confident and happy with the song.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: - my '98 Fender Jazz Bass - my Aguilar AG700 head - an 8x10 cabinet (so my desert island neighbor can hear me practice) - laptop - interface
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been playing music since I was 10, but I didn't join a band or start playing shows until I was 16. While working as a gigging musician, I attended college and received a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: My style of playing is rooted in feel and foundation. I play to the song and hold the groove down with the drums while also creating a unique moment in the song that doesn't compete with the other elements. I'm the bass player, not the frontman.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Rock, Pop, Reggae
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Communication! I value communication and am willing to listen to any ideas or feedback and make any adjustments the artist may have. I also reply pretty quickly to messages.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring a willingness to listen and experiment with tones, sounds, textures, anything! Whatever I can do to support and lift the song up. I also like to bring a perspective of a music fan to recording. When I record a track and listen back to the song as a whole, I want to recreate the same feelings and moments that hit me and made me want to listen to it on a loop.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I listen to the song a few times to understand its structure. I then record a few different takes until I find the one that feels the best and makes the song better than when I got it. After that, I'll make any revisions necessary.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I'm primarily inspired by bass players like Duff McKagan and Robert DeLeo, but I've found some inspiration recently in bassists I've discovered on Instagram like Ian Allison and Camilla Charlesworth. I'm also a fan of other bass players that are actually found on this website! Guys like Joey Howard and Corey Britz.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Tracking bass guitar and other sounds with a bass guitar.

I'll Leave by Joint Operation

I was the Bass Player/Composer in this production

Bass ElectricAverage price - $100 per song

Feel free to send me references of what you want your track to sound like. I'll allow as many revisions as possible until the artist is satisfied with the track. Average turn around time is 2-3 days.