Shandri on SoundBetter

I turn your track into a dynamic psychedelic, cool as hell, analog-feeling record. I’m Shandri, a producer and multi-instrumentalist based in the Bay Area, working within psychedelic rock, garage, kraut, and indie-driven music. My approach is predominantly: emotion-music-emotion. Let's make your ideas sound unforgettable.

I’m Shandri, a Bay Area–based producer, session guitarist/bassist working within the psychedelia realm. My work is centered on creating records that feel immersive, alive, and emotionally grounded — where every element has intention, space, and character.

Over the past years, I’ve developed a production approach that blends analog textures and techniques with modern clarity. I focus heavily on feel: basslines that move naturally and support the song, synths that add depth without overcrowding, guitars that incite multi-dimensional travel, and arrangements that evolve in a way that keeps listeners engaged. Whether I’m contributing a single instrument or producing an entire album, my goal is always the same — to elevate the emotional core of the music.

Oh and I'm also a therapist, so my most important edge is my ability to quickly understand an artist’s vision and intention, and translate it into musical choices that feel true, cohesive, and fully realised, so I work best with artists who care about detail, mood, and sonic identity. If your track needs groove, atmosphere, and a sense of depth, I can help bring it there.

Send me your demo — even if it’s rough — and I’ll let you know how I’d approach it.

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Languages

English
French
Spanish

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Interview with Shandri

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Eva Lisa. Producing everything from the ground up. I really like how I connected with the artist and how much synergy there was even though we were in different countries, time zones and sometimes languages!
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Personally, I'm finishing a 2-volume album. Working with two artists at the moment (Germany and Mexico) in their projects.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Personally, analog- it forces you to be more intentional and patient. Almost Zen. But I'm comfortable working either.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I always hold discipline as a fundamental value of art, so I promise to be disciplined, and facilitate that for you. That is how you transform ideas into something palpable.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Transforming feelings, memories, wishes, etc, into sounds.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That I can be too strict.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What emotions do you wanna evoke with your music? What does making music mean to you on a personal level? Is there a recurring theme or idea you feel connected to right now? What kind of experience do you want listeners to have when they hear your music? What artists or projects do you feel closest to right now (sonically or emotionally)? What do you want this project to do for you (emotionally, creatively, or professionally)? What instruments do you currently use or feel comfortable with? Are there instruments or sounds you’ve always wanted to explore? How do you usually write songs? (alone, jamming, structured, etc.) And many more.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: A lot of people can make amazing music, but will they make the music you envision? Go for whoever understands YOU better.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Crestwood guitar, Hofner bass, Fender amp, loop pedal, Binson Echorec.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: In a nutshell- I've been a musician for as long as I can remember. Music is always in my head. Started exploring music professionally in 2019 and since then I've been exposed to some of the most interesting artists out there and enriched my own music + the music I make for other people. Spent 2021-2024 learning all I could about mixing, production, mastering and writing while living in Baja California Sur and working as a session musician and festival producer.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: The melodic richness + hypnotic flow + high sensitivity for dynamics (knowing when to get heavy and when to get calm).
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Would love to work with GOAT. I love how they mix world music into psychedelic rock. Both musically and aesthetically.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: A good take is worth more than a good mixing effort.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Psych, Indie and Garage Rock
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Instrumentation.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Aside from a unique sonic fingerprint; technical knowledge of music, music gear, recording techniques and a rich knowledge in different music genres, what my clients usually are happiest with is how well I managed to understand them and their vision.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Getting to know the artist and their vision is a must so I always start sending a series of questions to better understand what they're after and what they envision. I send a document called the "Artist Vision Form" that holds a number of questions that allow me to do that. After that, and upon agreeing how many songs we'll work on, I'll build up on the demos they have (or come up with demos from scratch if they're singers only). Then, upon a couple of feedback rounds, I, they, or we, get into the studio to record what needs to be recorded. What follows is mixing, with a few feedback rounds, and then mastering. I can do both mixing and mastering and have a solid network of well established professionals for this stage if the artist prefers to outsource.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Mainly work with Logic Pro X. Universal Audio & M-Audio Interfaces; Guitars: '97 Burns Marquee, 2020 Epiphone Crestwood Reissue; '12 Fender Stratocaster; '89 Hohner Acoustic. Basses: Hofner Club 200 & Fender Precision Bass Amps: Fender Champion 100, Fender twin reverb, Vox AC 30, Fender Rumble 25. Multiple pedals from Boss, Warm Audio, Electro Harmonix, MXR... Can source top quality drums from various professional recording studios.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: John Dwyer, Melody Prochet, Kevin Parker, Zero7, Stu Mackenzie, Ruban Nielson, Tomo Kurosawa, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Black Angels.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Music Production for folk, indie rock, garage and psychedelic rock artists.