Session Guitarist

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: N.E.R.D. In Search Of... — my band, Spymob, recorded the live instruments for this album in 2001, at a time when blending live rock instrumentation with hip-hop was still uncharted territory. Rolling Stone has called it the "standard-bearer for elusive, genre-hybrid hip-hop albums," and its influence has been cited by figures like the late Virgil Abloh. I'm also very proud of our most recent album, Another Night, which Spymob independently wrote, recorded, and produced from start to finish.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Andrew Coleman. Drew and I have worked together for many years on Pharrell and N.E.R.D. sessions, plus many songs Pharrell & Chad produced and wrote for other artists. Drew has worked with Pharrell since day one and has an incredible ear.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I love recording fully analog and enjoy the challenge, though I rarely track to tape these days. Instead, I treat digital recordings the way I'd treat tape — a lot of tracks now are built from looped sections, so rather than copying and pasting four bars, I'll often play a full take through an entire section to keep the feel consistent. As for amps, I lean heavily on real ones over digital modelers. It's hard to beat a great vintage or boutique amp through solid mic preamps and compressors — and honestly, it's often less work to mic up a great amp than to dig through a thousand mediocre presets.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love the detail work. I'm not a fan of rushing — I've always preferred having the time to really dial things in.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: "Are you going to use a real amp or a modeling amp?" I typically track with both, but primarily I use real amps.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That it's going to be easy and everything will come out perfect in very little time. It can take time to get the right part, the right feel, the right sound — and I think that attention to detail is what goes missing a lot these days. Recording is easy with plug-and-play gear now, but dialing in something that really stands out often takes more time than people expect.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Send tracks bounced from a zero point and include the tempo. If possible, try to stem them out. Don't send MP3s, since they add time to the front of the file and make it harder to line tracks up when you get them back. A chord chart is helpful but not necessary — give me as many notes as you can on what you're hearing, even if it's not perfect. It can be a part you hummed into a voice memo, a certain vibe, a certain sound. Don't feel shy about sending rough ideas — vulnerability is part of the process. We're not here to judge; we're here to work together and figure out what might spark the magic take.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Pro Tools, Logic, Melodyne. Great River & API mic pres. Distressors. Apogee & Universal Audio interfaces. And a lot of dope vintage guitar goodies 😁

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: Most of my work is in the studio as a guitarist, though I've also done quite a bit of production work. A lot of that production work has involved groups with multiple vocalists, so I've built a good reputation for comping and tuning vocals as well.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Right now I'm focused on session work and my band Spymob — we just released our sixth album, Another Night, in September 2026. I'm also doing more workshops and masterclasses on the recording/production side of guitar.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Find the take that feels right, and don't let comparison or self-judgment creep in. Trust your instincts.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Pop, Hip-hop, Funk, and R&B.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Understanding what the song needs. I don't need to show off — the song comes first. I've spent most of my life as a professional musician on major-label sessions, and the biggest lesson from all of them is the same: play for the song.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I start by asking what the artist or producer is going for. On first listen, I take notes on what I'm hearing, then set up to match that direction.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: To give you tracks that serve the song in every way. I've spent a lot of time and money making sure I have the gear to deliver tones that fit and support what you're making — and I'll admit, I'm a little cocky about my sounds 🤣. But seriously, I love sending back guitars that can sonically compete with the greatest tones ever recorded. I'm also detail-obsessed. I run organized sessions, and that same care carries into every track and edit — I don't rush. At this point, every session is still a chance for me to learn and get better, and I think that mindset is a win for both of us.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What kind of feel are you going for? Give me some examples of what you want. Is there a particular guitar sound you'd like?

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: My vintage '57 Tele. My Matchless amp. My laptop and interface. My Great River mic pres. My Distressor compressors.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: 1999 was my introduction to the professional music business — my band was signed to Epic Records that year. I've been playing and recording music professionally ever since.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Skanky!

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Too many to list!

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: As a session musician I approach a song like a producer does. I think that's the benefit of having a good amount of production credits and also working with Pharrell & Chad — over the years I've learned to focus on tone, feel, and what actually serves the song, rather than forcing something that doesn't fit.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Pharrell Williams. Tricky Stewart. Ryan Leslie. Kendrick Lamar. Tyler The Creator. Steely Dan.