Percussion:all styles, remote

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

A: Really enjoyed recording percussion for Jonathan Butler, his music has a lot of energy and I get to be very creative with the percussion.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Working with a songwriter-producer, Adam Hawley, he sends tracks every so often.

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

A: if you need any guitar tracks, reach out to Tariqh Akoni

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I like them both, but analog has more body, BUT you can deliver that with digital as well.

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

A: My clients will always be happy with my percussion recordings, and hopefully coming back for more sessions.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The fact that is does not feel like a job, because I love what I do.

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

A: How fast can you have this done ? lol Depends on how much I have to record, usual turn around time is a day or two.

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

A: Some people think percussion is only for latin music, when in fact percussion fits all styles perfectly. It has to be played appropriately for the style, and that's where I come in.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Is there any specific percussion instruments you want on the song? What is your timeline ?

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

A: bongos, pandiero (brazilian drum), guitar, cajon, flute.

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

A: I have always wanted to be a drummer/percussionist, and educator in the music industry. I have been performing, recording for over 25 years.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Easy approach and always listening to the conversation, whether it's music or something to talk about.

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

A: There are so many!! Sting and John Mayer come to mind because I feel I could add some great percussion to their music.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I always like placing the microphone above, facing downward when recording the shakers and tambourines..it seems to capture the full movement of the instruments.

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

A: I work on all styles of music. One day, I had to deliver a track for a country artist in Nashville, and later that day a rock track for an artist in New York.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My timing is at the top of the list, but I also have the ears to hear what instruments fit the song as well.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I do my best to lift the song and play for the song.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I begin by listening to the song, then making notes as to which percussion instruments are needed. I usually begin with the 'glue' instruments first:shaker, tambourines, then move into the hand drums and always reviewing what I recorded as I move forward.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I run Protools, with Blu Robbie pre-amps, and Austrian Audio Microphones. I have a huge selection of percussion instruments from around the world to deliver whatever is needed for the song.

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

A: All styles are inspirational if the music is real. If a song grabs my attention,I'm full ears and heart. I enjoy the clarity of each instrument or voice on a professionally produced album.

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

A: I create a foundation of percussion for most recordings. I record what the song needs and if needed, I get creative with the sounds of the instruments.