Buck Elliot on SoundBetter

30 years of professional experience as a session musician, vocalist, songwriter and producer in Los Angeles. I'm an artist, too, so when I get involved with a project I make sure that I bring everything I can over and deliver above what's been promised to make sure the end result sounds even better than it did in your head!

The tracks here are all me, from songwriting to instrumentation (except sax and lead guitar... honestly, any compelling guitar work you hear is basically not my playing). This is what I do full-time, so, I have a purpose-built studio, tons of top-flight outboard gear, microphones and instruments. All of the latest and studio stand-by plugin suites. The resulting files will be expertly recorded and delivered to you in the format of your choosing.

Remote session work is its own niche and it for it to work well for the client, the talent has to have more than just chops. I'm highly organized, a strong communicator, very collaborative and truly will not be happy with the project unless you really dig it. I can work almost any end of a project with/for you. As a co-writer, lyricist, arranger, session musician, vocalist or producer who also hires/records additional musicians. And perhaps most importantly, while I'm completely comfortable in genres that would surprise my oldest cohorts (I've done a ton of vocal work recently for a slew of great UK-based EDM artists) I'll be the first one to tell you if I'm a bad fit for a given project.

Americana, roots, soul, R&B, rock, alt-rock, country, alt-country, blues,jazz, EDM.

If want your project to have a unique vibe, be it a throw-back vintage sound or just an original voice, click the button and let's start a conversation!

Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.

Credits

Languages

English

6 Reviews - 2 Repeat Clients

Endorse Buck Elliot

by Hot M.
Verified
Buck is the real deal. World class vocals and deep production knowledge. If you want to stand out in a crowd and level up this is your guy.
by Chris H.
Verified
BB did a great job with my song.. I was looking for a deep, gritty rendition and he delivered in spades. Plus his turnaround was beyond great! Looking forward to joining up with BB on future projects!
by Sean Flynn Music
Verified (Client)
BB is a lot of fun to work with! Very clear direction, feedback and great tunes! Lots of soul, great changes and solid, solid writing. I’d jump at the chance to do more work with BB for sure.
by BMUSICLEE
Verified
BrothersBrim provided the perfect match to complement our music project. Not only has unique sound and talent, he executes the work in an efficient and professional manner.
by quepaso
Verified
2nd project with him. I can't be more satisfied. I can feel he puts real emotion and real passion in his work and that's why the vocals he delivers are perfect!
by quepaso
Verified
I want every people who I collab with to be like him! Great, collaborative, helpful, we both shared advices, we both learned, it was phenomenon.

Interview with Buck Elliot

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Andrew Capra Because he's a talented cat and a really nice guy.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: For me? Both. If I had to start from scratch due to a terrible zombie attack? I'd probably go all digital.... The tech's so great now, it's ridiculous.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise that I'll deliver more that we agreed that I would provide and that I will try my very best to make sure that at the end your project sounds even better than it did in your head when you first wrote it!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: When a client loves what we put together!
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That blues harmonica is a real instrument
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What will you be doing with this tune... Airplay, demo, synch, etc What do you need help with?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: If you're looking for a singer try not to be inflexible with the key of your song... It's infinitely easier to find a new loop than to find the perfect singer for your production!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Power generator... My computer/interface... A keyboard, guitar and an SM7!
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: 30 years...
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Greazy
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: You!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Perfect is the enemy of good... Especially for new songwriters.... Don't obsess over every tiny thing! Create!!!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Over the last year or so, I'd say a lot of my demo work has been in genres of alt-country, alt-indie rock.... Soundtrack-wise, soul jazz/funk, which I love playing!
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Communication
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Chops, ears and taste.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Have a chat! I want to talk with the client about the tune... Were there any musical influences that spoke to her when she wrote the tune... if so, who... What tune? If you could hire anyone in the world to sing or play on this tune who would it be? Ideally, I want to be able for us to agree on a general direction before I fire up the studio.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Purpose-built, great acoustic treatment and isolation which allows me to achieve a truly professional high quality recording whilst still being able to wear a bathrobe and look at my window and see my wife's chickens running around the garden. All analog front-end. Universal Audio, Neve, API mic preamps. 1176s, LA2As, LA3A, DBXs of various flavors. Big mic locker. AD/DA conversion is RME. My DAW of choice in Studio One 4 Professional. A ridiculous collection of plugins (it's a problem). Depending on the production, my setup allows me to stay all "in the box" or to basically just use the computer as a patch bay and tape machine and use my outboard compressors, EQ's and stomp pedals, etc.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Who doesn't?! Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, Jerry Reed, Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Jimmy Smith, Beastie Boys, Miles Davis, Gil Scott Heron... Anybody who hires and appreciates musicians!
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Lately? A lot of EDM stuff out of Europe! Singing soul and old-school R&B "sound alike" stuff. I also keep fairly busy as a session musician playing keyboards... mostly Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Hammond B3. I'm also very good a creating "real" sounding electric bass and acoustic drum parts utilizing a large collection of virtual instruments, a musician's approach to playing the instrument as a drummer or bass player would/could, etc Aside from that, a good deal of my session singing is surprisingly a lot like it began in the late '80s... Singing on songwriters' demos. In addition to that, lots of jingle and tunes that are meant to be picked up as cues or theme songs for TV/film.

Me, City of Angels

I was the Songwriter, Singer, Musician, Engineer in this production

Singer - MaleContact for pricing
Top line writer (vocal melody)Contact for pricing
Songwriter - LyricContact for pricing
Pop-Rock ArrangerContact for pricing
Full instrumental productionContact for pricing
Programmed drumContact for pricing
Keyboards - SynthContact for pricing

Turn around typically 48 hours; depends on scope of project.
Harmonies/Doubles & Two revisions included, additional subject to additional fee.
Each project is unique. Contact me to discuss!