Percussion

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

A: How much does it cost to record the parts? For a full compliment of percussion instruments, ie 2 or 3 hand drums , shakers , tambourines, percussion fx, cymbals, I normally charge on avg $150. But it may depend on your budget (which I am happy to discuss and work towards) and our conversation on what you might need.

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

A: As a percussionist I often find people will try to get through potential percussive parts on their songs, by recording it themselves, because often the feeling is that they can do record simple percussion parts themselves. And while that may be the case, it makes a huge difference when you get a professional percussionist to record even simple percussion parts. The nuance, difficulty, and depth of percussion often gets lost in its apparent simplicity.

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

A: I get hired by Singer-Songwriters/Folk artists a lot. Artists that want a grooving percussion part to their songs.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I start with a conversation about their project. What they are working on? How they feel about it? etc then more question come from that. And it is different every time.

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

A: If I had to choose from the tons that pop in my brain. Son House. I would like to play drums for him. But he is gone now. Just to get that injection of that feeling. The roots of all that is popular. Or maybe Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee when they had band stuff. Or Muddys band.

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

A: I worked with an independent roots band in Western Australia in my early career. I recorded , engineered and played drums on their second album. That was a proud moment because it set me on the path to production work and we managed to achieve a decent amount of local success and accolade. We did the album in 10 days in a farm house with a limited amount of average quality gear (we could not afford much else) and achieved a great result. It was hard work and a great learning experience for me that imprinted lifelong lessons.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I am writing and crafting, sifting through ideas for the second album which will hopefully be out late 2023. Also, I am actively working in the West Australian music scene as a session musician, with various local artist.

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

A: I am relatively new to SoundBetter, so just getting to know the community.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Analog AND Digital. The depth of analog coupled with the ease of use and flexibility and consistency of digital is a win win.

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

A: A drum. guitar. tent. fire starter. floaties....?

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I love playing grooves. I love a strong backbeat. In my formative days I would listen to Luis Conte a lot, he played percussion for all the pop, folk stars of the 80's and 90's and beyond from James Taylor, Jackson Brown to Madonna and Phil Collins. His whole thing was groove. My favourite thing to do is support a singer-songwriter with great songs.

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

A: Incredibly hard to list. I am inspired by a lot of original independent musicians and artist in my community. But a whole host of industry professionals inspire me from the likes of percussionist Luis Conte, to the American legend Levon Helm, to producer and drummer Steve Jordan, folk legends like John Hyatt and Jerry Douglas, to mix engineers like Dave Pensado and Andrew Schepps.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Great tone and groove is at the source. Not in the mics or the preamps or converters. Get a good drum and a great player.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Whatever the song needs. And sometimes that may mean, not a lot. A little sprinkle here and there, to a carefully crafted hand drum part, or a full on percussion ensemble attack.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I listen carefully to your song. I gather ideas. I send you an mp3 or a draft of the parts. We discuss and then i go back to execute and bounce the tracks. Clear and frequent conversation to stay on course along the way.

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

A: I've been in the business for 20 years now. Started off playing percussion with my uncles Funk/RnB band, then in big bands around town during college, fusion latin bands, made my way to clubs playing with DJ's, toured with blues bands and did every other session i could pick up in between. I did sound for bands, mixed bands, produced bands, worked in venues and bars. And even did a sound engineer residency at a world music venue in town.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: UA preamps , ApolloX interface, some high quality mics........and percussion instruments with fantastic tones.

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

A: If you are not happy....i am not happy. We are in this together!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get to be happy ....by making other people happy.

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

A: I am very happy to take direction. You can be specific, detailed or leave it up to me to improvise. Open communication is great. I will get to know what you need very quickly. I really just want to make your project the best it can be from a drum and percussion standpoint.

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

A: Folk, Singer-Songwriter, Americana, Pop, World music, Indian music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Rhythmic improvisation. Soloing.