The undeniable power and energy of a live Samba School Bateria on your track. Surdo, caixa, repique, tamborim, shakers, pandeiro… pick an individual instrument for colour or a feature, or leverage entire instrument groups for power and impact. Don’t settle for imitation, this is the real deal.
Alex has been at the heart of Rio Carnival for 16 years. A master percussionist, he toured with Monobloco as a student and performs and parades with Brazil’s first ever samba school (Estácio de Sá).
Alex prides himself on delivering immaculately edited recordings at pace.
Alex’s unique offer is that he provides authentic session performances and precision audio editing with all communication with the client conducted in native english language.
Never has the world of samba school percussion been more accessible to you in the studio.
Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.
Interview with Alex Talbot
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital if you have to carry it. Analog if you don't.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I am very good at it. I like doing what I'm best at.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Laptop, microphone, interface, headphones, pandeiro. That's all I need to create a vibe wherever I am.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Get the demo to vibe and everything else is just time.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Samba.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My playing. My performances are by far my strongest asset.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Energy, vibrancy and epic scale.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I take client requests, make suggestions based on instrumentation, and then just deliver.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My room is small and also completely dry with no reflections, this allows for pinpoint editing after recording which is essential to creating the audio I produce. My recording signal chain is designed for speed. A single condenser microphone, a lightweight interface and logic pro. My focus is on performances and my setup reflects that. Clean, fast, one of a kind.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I am inspired by scale and spectacle. I love cinematic scores and even a splash of musical theatre.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Clients ask me to replicate the evocative sound of an authentic samba school within their tracks without disrupting their overall production.
I was the Percussionist, Arranger, Editor, Mixer in this production
- play_arrowPercussion Showcase 2026, Alex Talbot
- PercussionAverage price - $150 per song
- Full instrumental productionContact for pricing
Projects for clients are delivered to their inbox on the same day as the session. Tracks arrive flat, ready for mixing. No revisions.
- Treated Studio Space
- Remote Recording
