20 years as a pro Electric and Upright bassist,playing and recording with many of Ireland’s top musicians. Based in Barcelona, my main focus is recording and producing for original artists and singers.
Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Interview with David Duffy
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Another album for singer Ksenia Parkhatskaya
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Andrés Giraldo
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both, if it sounds good, it sounds good - but still love analog whenever possible
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Increíble bass tone, feel and energy
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I just love playing bass, and what that does to the music, and people when they hear it
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: It’s easy and it’s just a bass. The difference between a great bass line and an ok one is far more significant than people think.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Let’s have fun and enjoy this wonderful process of making music
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Vintage P Bass, laptop, audeze headphones, UAD Apollo, Moog
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Studied music in 2002, and went onto do to a masters, during that time began working professionally. This led me to working throughout Ireland and the UK as a session player
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Open hearted, intuitive and responsive - everything I play I want to feel in my body. That’s where it all starts
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: John Mayer, I have always been inspired by his songwriting, work ethic, drive, and passion for music
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Work fast, your initial intuition is nearly always best, the give lots of space to those ideas, and when you come back you will know what’s working From a technical perspective, understanding your low end, how kick, bass line and any other low parts are interacting is where a great mix happens
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Americana, singer songwriter, Pop, Soul, Rnb
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My creativity
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: 20 years experience as a professional bass player and producer. Having worked as a producer for 100s of tracks this greatly informs my bass playing, as I think holistically about what the song needs from the bass.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I like to have a call or email, to discuss influences and references, to really understand what the artist needs, and on that day usual play a rough bass line so me and the artist/producer agree on the direction . I then track separately and send 3 takes 1. My choice and edit of a mixture of my favourite takes 2. The simplest bass line 3. A more fun, free open interpretation The client gives feedback on this and I do one follow up session if required
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: 63’ P Bass called Dennis, into an API preamp, to my Apollo 6 thunderbolt, MacBook Pro M1, to whatever DAW you prefer
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Singer songwriters, producers, other bassists
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Recording incredible bass parts, always with my taste as a producer influencing instrument choice, tone and space
- John Mayer
- Mary Spender
- Allen Stone
- 63’ P Bass
- Apollo 6
- API Preamp
