Soul is what brings it all to life. Touring and session keys player with remote session experience looking to help you bring your vision to life through soulful style developed over 14 years of playing. I have a deep love for the electric piano and the B3 organ and enjoy sharing the beautiful tones of these instruments with the world.
Hello. My name is Simphiwe and I am a keys player mainly specializing in playing the electric piano and the B3 organ. I have 14 years of playing experience and I am a touring musician working in Johannesburg South Africa.
Life without music would be hell and I am just one heaven’s agents, trying my best to keep Lucy’s flames far away from this lovely home we call the earth.
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Languages
- English
Interview with Simphiwe Mema
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: One project that means a lot to me is the Gospel Live Recording we did in my hometown of Sasolburg. Its a very small place and not really well known but it has a plethora of talent hidden there and the project is just a step towards the world knowing about the beautiful talent hidden in that place.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I am working on some gospel and world projects at the moment.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Not at the moment.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Analog. I just love buttons, knobs and sliders. I don't know why.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: To give you my best. Nothing more , nothing less.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Its fun.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Can you? I can try and give it my absolute best.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That I am confined to s specific style or genre. I like and make a lot of things.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are you trying to say and to who?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Just have fun.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Pretty much anything that makes noise, a collaborator and an audience. Music is best when its a shared experience and when its made for someone specific in my experience.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I used to play in church as a young boy. I was then recruited to partake in projects outside of church and I have been working on those to this day.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Soulful. Haha I've said soulful so many times in this interview but that's my only answer. Tits truly at the core of what i do.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Beyonce. She's been doing her thing at the highest level for a very long time and I would like whatever she's doing in the studio to rub off on me so I can produce things of that quality that consistently as well.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: If it feels good its right no matter what anyone else says.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Gospel, Soul, Country.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I would say my strongest skill is my ability to use my ear. Growing up, my teacher strongly emphasized ear training and good relative pitch skills so I would say my ear is well trained.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Soul. That's what gives the song life from my experience so I try to put a piece of me into every song I do.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I usually communicate with the producer to gain clarity on the task at hand and what needs to be accomplished. I then give myself a bit of time to evaluate and ideate possible approaches to the specific project at and away from my studio. After careful consideration of possible approaches I then lay a few ideas I thing would satisfy the
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a small bedroom studio set up that comprises of equipment I've been collecting for several years now. I am proud of the cozy setup I have been able to build and I am really looking forward to growing and expanding it.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I draw a lot of inspiration from great South African musicians like Hugh Mesekela, Miriam Makeba, Lucky Dube amongst a plethora of others.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Gospel, Soul, Country, African Traditional session work.
I was the Keys Player and Producer in this production
- PianoAverage price - $100 per song
- Keyboards - SynthAverage price - $100 per song
1-2 Days turn around for project. 2 Revisions max.
- Roland FA 06
- Samson Graphite 49
- Presonus studio 24c
- Audio-Technica ATHm50x
- Extensive Kontakt Library