Producer / Session Guitarist

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

A: It was the most recent show I produced for an artist, where I produced unique arrangements aiming to synchronize with the show's images and lighting, where great musicians will be performing the show. The production was a success and this has been a show that has sold the singer more shows. The managers and contractors can feel the energy of the show and always give great feedback to the artist about the show.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm working on producing a show by a Brazilian artist and on some productions and recordings for different artists.

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

A: I still don't know anyone here.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Currently digital. Because the Impulse Response technology is incredible and in a blind test, it is no longer possible to differentiate which is better or worse, but the advantage of digital is the accessibility to great technologies combined with great prices.

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

A: I am not satisfied until the customer is satisfied.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Knowing that what we create is an art that will be eternalized after our passage in this life.

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

A: - What is your deadline? A: Normally for session recordings, up to 3 days and for music productions, up to 5 days to deliver the first instrumental version. - Why would you be the best option for my job? A: Because I love what I do and I live for music, seeking to deliver the best result, which matches the client's expectations.

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

A: Thinking that a good musician or a good producer can fix a bad song.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I often ask for musical references that I want the song to be close to. I also like to know a brief history of the client, understand their personal tastes, and what the client is looking for in a new professional, that the previous one may not have liked. This way I get great accuracy.

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

A: My advice is that the client knows what they expect from the music. As a session musician, know if you want lots of layers of guitar, or if you're looking for something more intimate. Something more modern or vintage. As a producer, the client must understand that the music can change to have more life, be it with a different tonality, different tempo, or even instruments that they did not imagine it would have, but that add to the final result.

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

A: The first two would be my acoustic guitars because there probably wouldn't be electricity on the island (laughs) and if anyone else got lost on this island, they could make a sound with me. I would also take a cajon, a ukulele and some percussion. In the worst case scenario, everything is wood and could help become a boat or firewood on cold days (laughs again).

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

A: I started studying music 21 years ago, so I started playing in some rock, jazz, MPB, pop, country bands. Professionally I started working as a sideman for artists in Brazil and I also started working as a session musician for studios. I recorded some big audiovisual projects here in Brazil for national artists and then I started working as a music producer, bringing the best I could learn from each producer I've ever worked with.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is a mix of many styles. I seek to be influenced by different styles to have a very unique dictionary of ideas, always seeking innovation without losing the essence of the music.

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

A: It's difficult to name just one, as I have many inspirations in different musical genres, but I would like to work with those who actively participate in music production, understanding that it is work together with the music producer and not just a product that the producer creates and teaches the artist to perform.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Understand what the artist expects from the music, and bring the artist's truth to this production. Avoiding thinking only about the market, but about something that can have the artist's personality so that wherever someone listens to this music, they can identify the artist in that production.

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

A: Pop music, country music (a type of Brazilian country), Folk, Country.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My passion for music and eternal thirst for learning.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring all my experience as a session musician and performance musician, aiming to deliver music that works both for digital platforms and has a good energy for shows and concerts.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First I listen to the song, many, many times to understand what it proposes. So there are two ways in which I work: - When I work as a session musician, I first record all the guitar tracks, then quantize them. I listen again and again to see where more or less information fits into what I recorded, then I deliver the final file to the client, always with a mixing option as a suggestion. - When I work as a producer, I like to create some guitar ideas first, then I create the beats, drums, percussions. Then I move on to recording the electric bass and other guitars. Finally the electronics and effects. I then send an approval version to the client with a basic mix. If approved, I do the final mixing to deliver the final file to the client.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: In my studio, I work with a MacBook Pro for recording and editing, using ProTools. For electric guitar recordings, I use my Suhr Stratocaster guitar, and to process the effects, I use Neural plugins a lot, but I also use my GT100 pedalboard for some tones. For acoustic guitar sessions, I record with a KM184 microphone paired with the Takamine Gb4c or Takamine Ef341sc guitar line. For other productions I use a midi controller, for virtual instruments.

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

A: All those who manage to work for the music and not for their own ego, so the end result always becomes impeccable.

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

A: The most common work I do is recording acoustic guitar and electric guitar sessions for producers. However, I also work a lot with music productions for composers.