15 years Cirque Du Soleil violinist and erhu player. Most of my home recordings gigs are for 5 stars video games company like UBISOFT and GAMELOFT. My sound and creativity is my weapon.
First of all I'm a touring musician since the last 25 years. I spent 15 years with Cirque Du Soleil. So I have a lot to offer in music style. My favorites are world, classical, pop, rock, Latin, Asian, Arabic, and of course improvisation. I learned many styles from many countries. I also specialized myself as a erhu player (chinese violin).
After that I got many gigs with country and bluegrass bands. I also often toured with Canada's pop singers.
As a session musician, I played violin and erhu on a few Cirque Du Soleil albums. Check out OVO on Spotify.
Since 2018, most of my session gigs were for video game companies such as Ubisoft and gameloft. I really enjoy it because I feel that I can express completely who I am as a musician.
For 100$ I can record a single track on violin, viola, baritone violin and erhu. Each tracks are recorded in my soundproof booth,with my apollo twin sound card with a ribbon mic. I don't put any effect. So that way you can add effects yourself.
Can't wait to perform on your tracks.
Send me a note through the contact button above.
Interview with Sébastien Savard
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I played Chinese violin for the game For Honor from Ubisoft. The composer told me that I was playing as good as a Chinese. I was very happy and proud.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: The next big game of Gameloft. I cannot tell you more.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Playing violon. And being part of someone's project. It kind of become mine as well. As if I was part of the team.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Do you need me to write you down the chart? The answer is often no. I have perfect pitch. But I you want me to play a specific melody, the answer is yes.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What's the energy of the song? Where do you hear violin? Should I play a solo?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Be precise on what you want us to do. Don't just say like (Play anything you want) because anything is like nothing.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Violin, smartphone, computer, solar power battery to recharge my phone and my computer, and that's it. I can do everything with my phone and computer.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started at 6 years old at the music school back home. Than I went to conservatory school when I was in high school. At 23 I left university to join cirque du soleil for a long 12 years of tour non stop and 3 years part time. This was the best time of my life.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I play violin like a singer sing. I try to sing with my violin because it's easier to express emotions with a voice than a instrument. So I don't play violin, I sing violin.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Don't be to close to your mic when recording violin. Or you'll get to much of the violin noise you don't really want. And isolate yourself from any kind of noise.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop, classical, bluegrass, country, world. And all in between
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Being real with my instrument. If it's sad song, I'll make you cry with my violin. If it's a heavy rock song, I'll make you step up and dance. Improvisation is also one of my favorite skill.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: The sensitivity. My goal is to make something that touch the people's heart. If we touch, it's a success.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I put the track on and listen the energy of it to find what exactly the song need. I wanna match my violin to the mood. And not over play or not match the emotion. It's a question of a fine balance.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I made a soundproof booth to keep all the noise away. I use a apollo twin sound card which is the best one and a ribbon mic because this mic remove everything we don't like of a violin. It warm it up.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: As a violin player, I can't ignore Itzhak Perlman of David Oistrakh. But I also love the violinist from the Indian band Shakti. I'm also a big fan of Mark O'Connor.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: They explain to me what they are looking for, what type of playing, energy they want, if they want a violin solo and than I record the track and send it. I usually do a follow up to see if everything is OK or if I need to change some stuffs.
Be precise on what you want. I want to be on the same page as you are. I do 1 revision.
- I use my soundproof booth
- with a apollo twin soundcard and a great handmade ribbon mic.
