Session Guitarist

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

A: Last year, I played acoustic and electric guitar on the demo of a song called "Music To Cry To," off of Karley Scott Collins' debut album. Her producer liked several of my parts enough to keep them in the final master. This is my first credited master scale session, and I'm very grateful to have played a small role in the project.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I'm currently having a great time working on remote sessions in my home studio while I'm off the road.

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

A: Luke Sumner and Wyatt Newcomb are highly talented musicians (and an even better people), whom I've had the pleasure of working with over the last several years. I'd highly recommend hiring them for your next session or project.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both are great and have their place. Of course, nothing beats the real thing, and the real thing is usually more inspiring when you're dialing in tone and coming up with a part; however, digital has gotten so convincing and is both convenient and accessible. Whatever inspires you and is best for your work flow!

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

A: I'm not happy until you're happy. We're on this journey together, and I will make sure your end product is the best it can be.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Getting to meet and work with talented artists and producers. Being trusted with the music they create, something that's so personal to them, is an incredible honor.

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

A: Customers typically ask me what they need to send me. A solid work tape/demo where the acoustic guitar or piano and vocals are clear and recorded to a click is preferred. Sending me the BPM so that I can properly set up my session file is a big help, though I can tap it out to the demo and double check that tempo with you.

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

A: That guitar players are attention-hungry rock stars. For some, that might be true. But for me, what I do leans more into the service industry side of things. I show up with my truck full of tools, like a plummer or electrician, and I work with you towards a common goal. In your case, how can I best serve your song and bring it to life the way you envisioned?

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I always love asking about their influences, what they're listening to, and what reference tracks they have. Getting familiar with their previous work is a great starting point, as well.

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

A: Communication is key. The more you communicate what it is you're looking for, the better I'll be at delivering the final product you deserve. Always happy to jump on the phone at your convenience! Having solid reference tracks is always a plus, as well.

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

A: I'd take my telecaster, ES-335, princeton reverb, apollo twin, and MacBook Pro. Hopefully I remembered to pack extra quarter inches and batteries/chargers in the cases...

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

A: I have lived in Nashville for nearly ten years. I attended Belmont University from 2016-2020 and graduated with degrees in songwriting and music business, though I've been a guitar player all my life. I got my first touring gig, playing for country artist, Levi Hummon, in the spring of 2019, a year before graduating from college. Since graduating nearly six years ago, I've been a full-time working musician, having toured with artists such as Cassadee Pope, Tenille Arts, Travis Denning, Hailey Whitters, and many others. When I'm off the road, I love getting to do in-town sessions and remote recording.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is a reflection of the music that inspires me, which is a combination of country, blues, rock, pop, R&B, and more. I'm always listening to new music, in an effort to stay inspired. To be a session player, you have to be a chameleon and be able to play multiple styles of music really well. My ultimate goal is to evoke the proper feelings and emotions that different genres of music offer.

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

A: I want to work with YOU! The best part of my job is meeting and collaborating with artists from all around the world.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don't over-commit to an effect, unless it is essential to the part you're playing (example: a dotted eighth note delay part, reminiscent of The Edge from U2). You never know who will mix the song, and you don't want to box the mix engineer into a corner (by printing a rhythm pass drenched in reverb, for example).

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

A: I work on a variety of music, from country to rock, pop, R&B, and Americana. Nashville has become a place where genres are blended more than ever before. Getting to work in many different styles of music keeps my job fresh and exciting.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Being able to listen to and interpret what the artist/producer wants and give them a final product that exceeds what they originally heard in their head.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: A good attitude, an attention to detail, and the drive to make your song the best it can be.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I'll listen to a work tape or demo and ask the artist/producer if he or she has any reference tracks that will help me better understand the vibe of the song. This will ultimately help influence my decisions, such as which guitar I grab, what tone I dial up, and what kind of part I create. Before I sit down to record, it's important that all of my instruments are set up and intonated properly. You do NOT go in the red if your guitar is out of tune! Finally, I make sure that all of my stuff sounds good at the source. If the source itself doesn't sound good, you're not gonna get very far off the ground. Good parts and good tone are key, at the end of the day.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio setup is a combination of new and vintage guitars and amps, as well as a plethora of pedals. Electric guitars are typically run into an amp of my choosing, which is then run into a Two Notes Torpedo loadbox. Getting to use real amps with a variety of great IRs via the Two Notes is the best of both worlds. Acoustics are primarily recorded with a Neumann KM184 small diaphragm condenser mic. All instruments are run into my Apollo Twin X, where I use a variety of in-the-box preamps, compressors, EQs, etc. Everything is recorded into Pro Tools on my 2024 iMac.

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

A: I am inspired by a ton of Nashville and L.A. session musicians and producers - Dann Huff, Tom Bukovac, Steve Lukather, and Paul Jackson Jr., to name a few.

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

A: I track a combination of electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and mandolin for different producers and artists here in Nashville. Projects range from demos to master scale sessions.