Psych Folk & Indie Bass

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

A: Less is more - but there usually needs to be one moment that surprises you. Bass also has tons of control over the feeling of a song, it can support your harmony or turn it inside out. Many times people don't realize they like a song cause the bass player re-harmonized the whole thing.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are you going for sonically? Send me a reference or two. Do you have a chart?

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

A: Have a clear reference or two for the feel you're going for. The more context you give me, the faster we get somewhere good

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Post synth folk wave

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

A: Indie, folk, psych, rock, dream pop, shoegaze, and synthwave. Also original instrumental music for games.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Basslines and mixes lined up, starting a new game score this summer.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Hybrid is the way imho. But tape machines are the most fun for personal enjoyment. Not too practical in the modern world, now that computers are so strong.

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

A: Subtractive synth. Acoustic guitar. Mic. 8 track tape machine, headphones.

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

A: Music school, freelance bassist, founding member of signed band, self produced albums where I learned everything not to do, 15 years of touring, even more session work, do a lot of composing for games recently. 30 years.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Build your music around a strong idea, not 5 mediocre ones.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Perseverance. The truth in art is this. Not every idea is amazing, only some of them are. It’s only done when we love it.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Having recorded with fantastic songwriters and also produced my own solo work, I always stay focused on the vocals. Bass is counterpoint and support, but it never should distract the listener from the singer. I will use bass to point the listener to you. When mixing my chief goal is repeat listens. I want the artist and listener to want to hear it again and again, always pleasing, always satisfying.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Send me your track and any references for the feel you're going for. I'll come back with a bassline that serves your song. Two to three revisions included.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Using a hybrid setup, with a fairly robust Mac running Protools. 1073 to Distressor to Apollo 8 is the signal path for bass and mics. Been using this pre/comp combo for 20 years and it’s nails on bass. Have some nice outboard synths and reverbs too.

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

A: Great players and songwriters are the most inspiring to me. I love to hear what producers are cooking up. However, to me it’s about the source. Great musicians can play mediocre instruments through crummy gear and make incredible music. So playing and capturing performances is paramount.

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

A: Session bass for indie and folk artists, mixing for bands making organic guitar-based records, and original music production for game developers.