I am a professional recorder player with a top class technique, composer with over 15 years of experience as a recording and performing artist, over 400 shows on international stages with a UK based award winning band PerKelt, have worked with a Grammy award winning producer Youth. My original tune Pilgrim has currently over 2,7M views on YouTube.
I am a classically trained professional musician, producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist mainly focusing on writing music and playing recorders, sometimes tin whistles. I studied at a music conservatoire and later at an Academy of music and Performing Arts in the Czech Republic where I graduated in 2009 with BcA ( HONS ). Now I live and work in the UK. When it comes to my signature style I blend virtuosic recorder playing with a modern edge and hauntingly beautiful melodies with Celtic vibe, my style was shaped by years of performance on international stages with my band PerKelt with which I released 4 critically acclaimed albums and won several music awards. Example: Exposure Music Awards - Best Live Act UK 2014 & Unsigned Only USA - Best song in World music category 2024). I also recorded 2 solo albums of which the second one was produced by a world renowned producer Youth ( Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Take That, The Orb,..). If you need something unique and really effective for your track or an album, you can hire me as a session musician, I can guarantee my recorders will elevate your music in a very unique way!! Please note that I do remote recording sessions only as I am also a producer equipped with my own sophisticated recording studio. I am happy to write and record recorders or vocals for you ($300 per song). Looking forward to hearing from you!
I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.
Languages
- Czech
- English
Interview with Paya Lehane
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I think I should mention a collaboration on several albums with a renowned music producer Youth ( Take that, Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Dolores O'Riordan,The Orb), together we produced an ambient/new age album Hollow Skies and I also contributed vocals and recorders to other albums produced by Youth like Indotranceltic-Stone Horse, Elfic Circle - Bardic Spring or India-Duende-Collective - Escapology. With my band Perkelt I have released 4 critically acclaimed albums and won several music contests ( Exposure Music Awards - Best Live Act 2014,Unsigned Only USA 2024, International Acoustic Music Awards - finalists) which I am really proud of.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: A couple of things at the moment. I have just finished writing and recording of two music tracks for an illustrator in USA, also getting ready for some live gigs in mid October with my band and I am also finalising a couple of new tracks for my solo release in early 2026.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Stepan Honc
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I don't have preferences, personally I don't think it matters.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I can promise to do all my best to help to make your project stand out in the best possible way.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I like pretty much everything about my job but mostly is connecting with more artists. It's like being a part of a huge family. That's the best bit!
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Can you write and record a solo recorder music? Yes, I can.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Well recorders are so underestimated instrument that they are not even listed on this very website. But that can be fixed hopefully soon.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What do you think a recorder sounds like? And then I send them some of my music. :)
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Please, when you describe your desired music or which instrument you would like me to record for you, provide as much detail as possible. Because once I was asked to whistle with my mouth instead of playing a whistle. Even a small confusion like that can slow down the work timeline.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Not sure but I could probably squeeze in a whistle.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I have started playing recorders when I was 4 years of age, then I studied other music instruments like piano & oboe at the Academy of music and performing arts, in 2008 I started a band called PerKelt with my co-founder guitarist/producer Stepan Honc. So we have been releasing and performing our music on international stages for last 17 years. Since 2018 I have also releasing my own solo music as Paya Lehane.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Energetic, technically precise, unique.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Afrocelt Sound system, Mediaeval Babes, Orbital. Mainly because they have never had super fast recorders in their productions. :)
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Never over edit vocals. It takes the music soul away from the vocals.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Either ethereal, epic fantasy, new age, medieval styled music or upbeat, electronic, energetic music with strong beats.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Recorder music playing and writing.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Mainly energy, high technical skill as an instrumentalist, atmosphere and originality as a music writer.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: It depends on each individual project. Usually I talk to my client or email first about their music goals, what they require and then I usually write and record music for them and at the end I send them the files typically along with a Paypal invoice.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a fully equipped home-recording studio in Hampshire, my kit list is rather extensive but I am happy to send it in pdf via email if asked. Definitely worth mentioning: DAW Studio One V6, LDC mics - AKG414 (stereo matched pair), preamp - Golden Age Studio Project Pre-73 Jr ( neve 1073 clone ), interfaces Behringer UMC 1820 U-PHORIA, audio interface Presonus aiostation,...
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Flook, Afrocelt Sound System, Emilie Autumn
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I write & record music, mainly for recorders and vocals.
I was the Recorder,tin whistle player, vocalist, producer, composer and a co-writer in this production
- FluteAverage price - $300 per song
- Singer - FemaleAverage price - $300 per song
- Songwriter - MusicAverage price - $300 per song
Remote sessions only, single or double channel recording within the basic cost ($300), up to 3 revisions for free, additional costs - $30 an hour
- Afro Celt Sound System
- Flook
- Enya
- DAW Studio one V6
- LDC
- mics- AKG 414 xls (stereo matched pair)
- preamp-Golden Age Audio Project-73 (Neve 1073 clone)
If asked to write and/or record multiple songs I offer 10% discount per each track
