Jack Armbrust on SoundBetter

An accomplished & accessible pianist, keyboardist and vocalist who makes songs better. Jack seamlessly navigates styles and brings tasteful, expressive clarity to every project. Specializing in indie folk, singer-songwriter, and pop genres, Jack's sound takes influence from his training in jazz, neo-soul, RnB, and classical music.

In the vast sea of musicians, my artful and sensitive touch cuts through the noise and leaves a lasting impression with each client. Whether I'm recording on my beautifully warm felted upright piano, arranging synth parts on an indie-pop song, toplining vocals or providing texture with BGVs, I specialize in making every song better. I believe in the power of a soft & gentle but thoughtful & assertive approach which tugs at the emotional center of each listener.

Some recent projects of mine have included piano session work for Olivia Dean-esque soul pop, lush BGVs for an indie-singersongwriter project, full production on a Norah Jones-inspired holiday cover, synth parts for my personal indie folk project, and more. I take pride in my ability to navigate seamlessly between musical styles while maintaining a sonic through line of presence and reverence for the song.

While my musical credits and completed projects serve as testimonials of my proficiency, I also received a Bachelor of Music studying Commercial Music at Belmont University in Nashville. Here, I studied under jazz pianists and vocalists while honing my craft as a keyboardist, songwriter, singer and arranger. Beyond demonstrating complete musical facility, I remain grounded in my belief that music is about people, and enjoy providing a unique warmth in personality with all clients.

Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.

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English

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Interview with Jack Armbrust

Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I am currently writing and recording songs for my solo artist project as well as my band Safehouse.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: My friends Molly Frances and Elise Petersen are beautiful vocalists - you should hire them! After you hire me, of course :)
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: My style walks the line between indie folk and singer-songwriter and jazz and pop. While it may seem like a random amalgamation of genres, I have found immense value in being well-versed across musical styles. No matter the sonic aesthetic of the music, there is a through line of my unique touch - one of softness, curiosity, and creativity.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring a unique sense of care and sensitivity to every musical project. My favorite music to play and consume is a complex weaving of intentional parts that work together to create something that feels effortless. I believe that's the secret to music which is timeless: capturing the feeling of ease while working tirelessly to achieve the sound you're after.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: While it depends on the project, I always begin by achieving a well-rounded understanding of the musical vision. This hinges heavily on the emotional pursuit behind the project, and therefore involves very close communication between myself and the client. I am fully dedicated to supporting the music in whatever form is required, and am always open to pivoting and trying new ideas until the project is fully realized and feeling right.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a beautifully warm Yamaha M1 upright piano in my Brooklyn studio, which adds a magical closeness to every record. I switch between my AKG C414s as well as my SM7B for instrumental as well as vocal recording. Everything is recorded through my Apollo twin interface into Logic Pro X.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I am just as much inspired by renowned musicians as I am inspired by my close circle of musician friends. Some of the greats I take influence from include Herbie Hancock, Jon Batiste, Jack Antonoff, Madison Cunningham, Norah Jones, Hayley Williams, Brandy, and more. Some friends who I take great inspiration from include Abigayle Oakley, Molly Frances, Mori, Walker Burroughs, Elli Rowe, and Bridey Costello, to name a few.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Acoustic piano arrangements from simple accompaniments to complex, lush orchestrations. Indie singer-songwriter acoustic guitar parts. Atmospheric synth parts. Spatial sound creation. Topline vocals or background vocals. Songwriting over a track. Productions of cover songs and originals.