Simon Orange on SoundBetter

Hi there! I'd love to work with you on your music.

I'm Simon Orange, a professional keyboard player, and I'd love to work with you on your project. I've spent many hours in the studio and on stage over the past 30 years working with bands, solo artists and producers. I've also completed work for media (TV, film, theatre), schools and churches.

I specialise in blues and rock, but I've worked in a lot of other genres.

The attached demo reel demonstrates only my playing and the sounds of the equipment I currently have available in my home studio. The piano is a software instrument. If you prefer the sound of an acoustic grand piano, I often work at a nearby recording studio that has a Yamaha G3 in a great room with an experienced engineer, but that will cost extra.

I can help you write a simple chart for your music if you don't have one.

Remote work can feel a little, well, remote, but if we communicate well it can (almost) make up for us not being in the same room.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

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

Credits

Discogs verified credits for Simon Orange

The Rootsman
Blues Broers
Blues Broers
Sons Of Trout
Theuns Jordaan
Valiant Swart
Lesley Rae Dowling
Valiant Swart
The Pretty Blue Guns
Gert Vlok Nel
Ike Moriz
Ike Moriz
Ike Moriz
Albert Frost
Ike Moriz
Piet Botha, Jack Hammer (7)

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Interview with Simon Orange

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: A couple of years ago I was the musical director for a show and I did the horn arrangements. Well, I thought they came out well. A sax player said they were 'hip'. High praise indeed.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm working on a piece of music for a social media brand explainer... and practicing for a gig on the weekend
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of the work. It's good to meet new people too.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: I usually ask for some references that I can listen to. I like to hear the musical world the client lives in.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: A piano.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started playing for paying audiences just over 30 years ago. Went back to study music at the local University when I was in my 40s. Still play locally. Occasional fly-away dates.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Bluesy jazz-funk.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Less is more.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Mostly music with acoustic and/or electric guitars, but I've done work on EDM projects, theatre soundtracks, hymns, world music.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Patience.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: People usually send me a rough mix of the current state of the song with the tempo and some notes on where and what type of keys they want. An mp3 is fine. I very rarely have to open other people's projects. I might request stems of the instrument groups if I can't make out exactly what's going on with the harmony. It helps if I can mute some of the instruments. Then I'll have a look at the chart if there is one, or write a quick sketch of the music if there isn't. Then I'll record some different approaches, perhaps one more 'background, another more 'forward' and send them to the client to see what they think...
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: In my home studio I have some large sound baffles that I put around things that have to be mic'ed up. I run Reaper on a PC. I have a couple of UA preamps, a Focusrite Liquid 56 interface, a Nord electro 3 and a Hammond SK2, an old Leslie 147 and a bunch of virtual instruments. Native instruments and Izotope.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I usually get asked to add keyboards to a project after the rhythm tracks are laid down.