Tx Country Session Guitarist

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

A: Working on some songs with the outfit I'm currently with. I put a lot of my personal feelings into a few of the songs and I'm proud to have them be produced and released.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Writing songs for a few friends!

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

A: Not currently.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Hot take, I like both. I use my kemper a lot for practicality, because hauling a pedal board and head and cab to every gig would be a giant burden on my back and the gear. At home, I love the sound of my amps. Nothing beats them in a controlled environment.

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

A: I promise to be prompt, communicative, and professional.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the fact that I can help people achieve the sound that they've been dreaming about for years. that sense of fulfillment is next to nothing.

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

A: Who is your favorite guitar player? John Mayer, second answer is usually SRV or BB King.

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

A: That it's easy! Music is as difficult as it gets. You get out what you put into it for sure. It can wear you out or boost you way up, but its all up to you the direction you go.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What's your vision for this project? Is there anything specific you want me to add? How can I help you see that vision to life?

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

A: Don't settle for mediocrity, let me elevate your project to the vision you're seeing.

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

A: Oh boy.. I would take my 1967 Hummingbird that was gifted to me by my Great Uncle. I would of course take a capo and tuner. I'd probably take my 2011 Eastman 335 and a Deluxe Reverb as well.

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

A: Well, I started playing guitar when I was around 6. I played as a hobby until my freshman year of high school, when I joined the Worship Band as a lead guitarist. From there, I really blossomed and deduced what kind of player I would grow to be and where I would go in my musical journey. From there, I joined a band and played locally to Fort Worth. I decided music as a whole wasn't for me anymore so I hung it up and pursued my professional career as a Firefighter. About two years later, I joined another Texas Country/Alternative style band and have been traveling around Texas with them since. All in all, I've been playing "professionally" for about 6 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I am a mix of blues, rock, and some country. Growing up in Texas exposed me to a lot of interesting artists, (Bowling For Soup, Stevie Ray Vaughan, George Strait) so I think that my playing style reflects my upbringing through life and music.

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

A: I'd really enjoy working with someone like John Mayer (duh, who wouldn't?), because I feel like he is very well spoken and thoughtful about music. I feel like he sees the bigger picture and his metaphorical writing is unmatched.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Save every fifteen minutes!

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

A: Alternative, Texas Country

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Personally? Communication. That rolls into my professional life as well, because I always want to make sure whoever I'm working with and myself are on the right page. I think that it's important to be able to communicate with the music as well. I am a big proponent of playing what you feel without choking, or drowning out the music.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I'd like to think that I bring life and vibrate to a song, whether it be with my vocals, or guitars. I enjoy songs that are dynamic and pleasing to me as the listener so I aim to reproduce that in my work.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I usually am a bit obsessive when it comes to projects. If its a particular solo, I'll record a few scratch tracks to listen back to and then pick out the good ideas from there and produce something pleasing to me. I like the trial and error in that aspect, because its fun for me to hear what works and what doesn't.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I run Logic Pro X into a 2022 MacBook Pro. I have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 that I use to record most of everything I do. I navigate Logic with ease thanks to a Behringer X Touch One control surface. I have multiple high end guitars, ranging from Gibson to Nash, a Kemper Profiler, and boutique amplifiers such as the Tyler JT-14 head and cab.

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

A: Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Mayer, Josh Serrato, Taylor Kimball, Tyler Martin

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

A: Live electric guitar, lyric writing, sound advice.