Rootsy Rock'n'Roll Guitarist

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

A: I was in a band called Spur58 and we did a record called Sleep Walkers. It was the first proper record I'd ever played guitar on and wrote for. We were on a label and had a decent budget. We went into a nice studio called Platinum Labs with producer Paul Mills for pre-pro, then into a nicer studio which is now Smoke Stack to track the album. We had Jerry MccPherson and all his arsenal of amazing guitar gear to work with. The thing I'm happy about with that record is, all the experience I gained from working with a label, producer and an A list session player. That gave me a lot of what I draw from today.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently I'm working on finishing up writing for my next solo project. Also starting an instrumental project that'll be more soundscape based.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both.... It depends on what piece of gear it is. I record digital with analog gear running into it. I'll use plug ins when I need to, but minus the and plug ins it's all analog for me.

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

A: That I'll work hard to give them exactly what they're looking for. I obsess over things being right and don't rush just to get onto the next project. That song means something to them and as a writer myself I'll completely respect that.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Connecting with people. Music is such a beautiful language to engage with another person in. On a spiritual level sometimes there's a message in a song someone else wrote that I needed to hear and I have big gratitude for moment when that happens.

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

A: What am I thinking when I write parts? First off I use my ears and imagination. I go into my head and imagine what different treatments for the song would sound like. I always start there. I have a good musical vocabulary to draw from and that helps me find what I'm hearing faster.

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

A: That it's all just from a place of being naturally talented and having fun. It takes years of learning, making mistakes, and maturing as a player to do this kind of work. It is fun but there's always work going into it that nobody sees.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask what services (guitar, production, bgv's) or how involved me speaking into the song they'd like first. Then I'd ask if they had any references from other artists they're feeling inspired by. How dense would they like the track? Meaning are they wanting a lot of layers or more space. I can get a lot of information from those few questions alone.

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

A: To have their song or songs as well done as they possibly can. To have a strong sense of vision for their project so we can both get on the same page for the expectations they have.

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

A: One of the new Martin Vintage OM series acoustics. If there was power on the island.... My 60's blackface deluxe reverb, K-line thinline tele, Mad Professor comp, Klon overdrive, and Strymon El Cap. That's 6 things but I am guitar player, I can't help myself.

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

A: Music has been the only career I've ever had. I've been a working musician for a little over 25 years now. I've had 2 normal jobs for about 6 months at a time to get me through a few lean seasons.

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

A: Chad Martin

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is soulful and intentional. I'm all about great feel, tone, and parts fitting into place. I like a little bit of tension and attitude as well. Some sort of blues rock, country vibes with some Americana ambient thrown in there.

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

A: I'd love to work with Chris Stapleton on the country side of things. I love his soul and raw feel. I also dig how big the songs feel with minimal instrumentation. The Foo Fighters would be my Rock'n'Roll choice. It would be fun to preform with them because of their energy and Rock'n'Roll spirit.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Listen to the song a hand full of times before trying to play along or think about normal things you'd do to any song. Try humming along with it and see what you would sing before getting out your instrument. I believe the best hooks, and parts have a singable quality about them. Those parts get you singing along and pull the listener into the song as a participant.

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

A: Indie rock, Americana and singer songwriter.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Writing hooks and parts that help produce the song out. I have chops and can play some fast and complex ideas, but often I don't feel most of the stuff I get hired to do calls for it. I really just want to make the song great and check my ego at the door.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I believe I have a great ear for writing a good hook and dialing in great tones that stack well together. I listen to everything happening in the track and find ways of dialing in my tones to fill out sonic space that's missing. A lot of that is in listening to the eq for me.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First off find out what the artist is going for. Get references of songs or albums they like and what they like about them specifically. Then I'll listen to the references and their song and see what common threads they may have. I'll then listen a few more times and sing along during turns and other parts of the song and see what melodies jump out at me. Then I'll grab my guitar and start tweaking tone and working with some of the parts I've started singing. Once I've written and recorded the main parts I'll work on layering chords and other ideas that fill out the track. Even parts that will be tucked lower in the mix.

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

A: Rick Rubin, Buddy Miller, Jay Joyce, Paul Moak

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

A: I get hired to do guitar work but it turns into arranging/production quite often. A client will send me a demo of them singing with an acoustic guitar or piano with no click track or hooks. These kind of projects can be a lot of fun for me and the artist once we've negotiated that they need a little more help than guitars only.