Dani Lévy on SoundBetter

Profesional, versatile bass player Recording/touring credits include La Plazuela (one of the most in demand new acts in Spain) or flamenco luminaries David and Carlos de Jacoba.

With a strong foundation in modern music, as i studied electric bass jazz bachelor in Conservatorium van Amsterdan, i provide profesional bass playing. I take pride in being versatile and adjusting to what the music needs.
My experience range from blues, soul or jazz to more commercial pop/funk music, as i've toured or recorded with many artists in these fields, mainly in Spain.
I have recording experience in big productions with Universal Music, among others, and currently i work with spanish studio ¨La Puerta Estudios¨ based in Granada.
I've worked with some great flamenco artists, David and Carlos de Jacoba, Gatito, etc. who looked for some fusion with funk/soul music, flamenco/funk act La Plazuela, many different independent bands, including Elemento Deserto (psych rock), Red Passenger (instrumental, filmesque music), many spanish/international blues artists, such as Jo' Buddy, Richard Ray Farrell, Ñaco Goñi, etc.
I offer reliable, quality work. I am quick learning songs and can send different tracks with different bass lines options.

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Interview with Dani Lévy

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Being on La Plazuela albums has been great for me. They trusted my vision with bass duties and i got connected with some great musicians and industry people. My basslines are all over Spain now, as the band is really becoming famous.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Getting ready for a big production, regular gigging, studying doublebass, some teaching
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Just arrived here!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both can be great, more and more they are getting closer. I love analog, as most of the music i like has been done that way.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Profesional results, flexibility with dates and with the work.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Being around music/musicians all day. Is my passion
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Mostly they want to know about my style, references, working conditions, etc. I try to be as clear as possible with what i do and how i do it.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Music not being serious enough to maintain myself. Being like a hobby, most people don't have a clue of how many hours we spend working/studying
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What do you want this to sound like? do you have a specific bassline/sound/feeling in mind? always ask for references.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Take the time to know me. Not all of my work is online or properly credited (Spain has a really shitty situation for musicians). Give the professional some trust on the decisions regarding his craft.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Moollon p bass, Ampeg portaflex, double bass, a drummer and a keyboard player!
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've a profesional for 10 years, since i was 19 years old. I've studied a jazz bass bachelor in Amsterdam, and since i relocated back to Spain, i've worked with a lot of artists, touring and recording. I really want to push my freelance career further.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Very influenced by people like James Jamerson, Rocco Prestia or Joe Dart. Bitting but relaxed, sitting back in the tempo, not too pushy. I have a wide funk/soul/jazz vocabulary
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: D'Angelo would be a dream. Killer songs, killer bands and killer basslines!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Basslines are not so great when you edit everything to the grid. Leave some room for the bassdrum and a little behind bass brings it much more alive (depending on the style of music)
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Funk related music, mostly fusion with pop/electronic/flamenco. Also very condifent in blues/soul derived music, as i have a very bluesy/funk style of playing, in the style of Motown, Chess records, etc. but i'm open to anything.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Fast learning songs, good tempo, i am very used in working with a click.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I think i am pretty imaginative with basslines when needed, but also have a clear sense of ¨less is more¨and how to serve a song. Knowing harmony can help to avoid dissonance with other instruments in case the bassline is already composed, and can offer different solutions.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Listen to the song and ask for references, both in style of playing and bass sound. Work out 2/3 different basslines and send some orientative work to the client. After the client chooses which one he/she likes, i work on the final bassline, sending corrections if needed.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have my Avalon U5 preamp always ready. It's a pretty simple sound chain but effective. From the preamp to my audio interface (Audient id22). I have a great solid state/valve Mesa Boogie in case reamplification is needed, with an EV RE20 mic, or something similar.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I am deeply inspired by many bass players, mostly by sould/funk ones like James Jamerson or Rocco Prestia, but also Tim Lefevbre or Kevin Scott are a huge inspiration for me in terms of versatility and a great bass tone
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Usually they want me to record a bassline for their songs/albums. They ask for my opinion regarding bassline/bass sounds, rythm section approach, etc.