Bass Guitar ability
Expert
Keyboard ability
Expert
Vocal ability
Lead singer
Vocal range
Bass
Producer ability
Expert
Singing styles
Favourite genres
- Electronic
- Hip-hop
- Jazz
- Classical
Influences: Paul Simon, John Doyle, Johnny Cash, Nine Inch Nails, Michael Jackson, Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons, Frank Turner, John Denver, Prince, Queen, Justin Timberlake, The Eagles, Black Eyed Peas
I'm a musician and audio engineer with experience across a variety of instruments and styles, particularly the piano/keyboard and bass. For pianos, I own a Nord Stage 2, a Casio Privia PX-350M, a Novation Impulse 61 and a Roland Synth-AX keytar, which are what I normally use for wedding functions and pit orchestra work. I'm also comfortable with softsynths and Mainstage, among other programs. For basses, I own a five-string Ibanez, an Eastcoast electric upright and an 1950's Hungarian Double Bass, as well using the keytar for synth bass work.
I'm also apt with vocal harmonies, sight-reading and transposition.
I spent the best part of seven years singing bass with Out of the Blue, an all-male a cappella group based in Oxford, so I'm pretty confident with vocal harmonies. Contrary to being a bass, my vocal range is extensive (both upwards and downwards) and relatively versatile in tone with a solid falsetto. I also have a strong knowledge of and some experience with barbershop quartets.
As a pianist and bassist (among other instruments), I've been playing with a number of bands over the past six years, which usually involved learning considerable amounts of material on short notice, including backing vocals. As such, I'm confident with performing in situations where little or no rehearsal has been had beforehand, although I am highly appreciative of the value of an efficient and productive practice. As a musician, I'm excellent with sight-reading, vamping, transposing, improvising and picking things up by ear where necessary. I'm comfortable playing in all sorts of genres, ranging from all variants of classical, right through to all types of modern electronic music.
My degree (first class honours) is in Sound Technology & Digital Music, with specialisms in Ensemble Music Performance and Music Production, so I'm experienced with both setting up and operating technical equipment in both live and studio situations, as well as performing with a large variety of ensembles in a myriad of contexts and situations.
Outside of playing instruments, I have also musically directed a number of productions, both amateur and professional. Recently, I transcribed and arranged a score for a five piece band for "The Dolls of New Albion: A Steampunk Opera", a ninety-minute, four-act musical with steampunk stylings; a show which was performed in Oxford and at the Edinburgh Fringe festival as part of Clockwork Hart Productions.
I've done a lot of travelling as a musician in many capacities, from all over Asia, North and South America, most of continental Europe and even Antarctica!
Fundamentally, I'm currently looking for opportunities to play great music with great musicians, in order to continue doing what I love.
www.samuelwoolf.co.uk/
