Expert guitarist and pedal steel player to bring your vision to life. Working musician in the Los Angeles country scene, experience playing jazz, folk, rock, pop, blues.. Undergraduate and masters degrees in music, 1,000 lifetime gigs, dozens of recording projects
Hello,
I am a session musician with a fully equipped home studio in Los Angeles. I love working with artists on their original songs. I can bring value to your project by offering traditional/conventional performances or we can work together to accentuate your unique sound.
I am just getting started with sound better and am hoping to build up my credits.
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Languages
- English
Interview with Jesse Shafer
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I recently completed a composition project that will be played in surround sound as part of an art exhibition. This music took a lot of work and we created something unique.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I have a few of my own recording projects, constantly playing live gigs around Los Angeles.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both! Depends on the sound we hope to achieve.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That will we work together until you get what you need.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love being a part of creating something new.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That country music is simplistic music!
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Do you have reference tracks? How would you like this recorded? What kind of performance do you want? (Clean & precise/ gritty and full of mojo)…. How much of my own voice should I put into your music?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Providing as much information as possible is very helpful to me.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A MacBook Pro! My MSA pedal steel My 59 Les Paul Junior A Fender Deluxe Reverb A line 6 DL4
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I began playing bar gigs and recording with friends as a teen in South Carolina. I have continued on this basic path to a greater scale - including multiple degrees and a college faculty position along the way.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Steeped in tradition with an awareness on modern sounds. I aim to sound timeless.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I would love to work with contemporary pop country artists like Post Malone, Shaboozey, and such as their music speaks to me on many levels and is the new evolution of country music.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Create a solid workflow that you can easily step into. Always have a game plan!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I generally work on country music.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest skill is my ability to hear exactly what a song needs and then execute it with precision.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring 20 years of experience and a lifetime of practice to the table. I am positive I can match particular styles and traditions as needed as a utility musician, or, I can create a new unique sound for you. I have a high level of virtuosity, but generally lean towards clear, simple and strong parts.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I will ask for as much guidance from you as possible (reference tracks are very helpful), we will create a game plan and timeline for your project, and I will stay in touch as I work on it. I will send a few variations off the bat to you.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I use Logic Pro and have a wide variety of instruments, amplifiers, microphones and preamps. My prized guitar is a 1959 Gibson Les Paul jr.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I am inspired by leading country and pop session musicians, as well as film composers, ambient musicians and producers such as Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I typically perform live and record tracks for clients on guitar and pedal steel.
