I work with you one-on-one to:
Hone your writing
Find your sound
Go from demo to a finished mix
Turn a vision into musical reality
You don’t need to hire a studio full of session musicians to sound amazing. Save yourself time, money (we’re talking thousands) and the hassle of having to leave the house.
Unlike the usual one-and-done recording session, my goal is to create a fun and inspiring experience that keeps you involved at every step of the process.
1. Contact
Fill out the form below to get a quote and book a one-on-one call. We’ll discuss your music, ideas and any goals you may have.
2. Confirm
Your session will be confirmed as soon as you upload your tracks and submit a payment.
3. Listen
You’ll be sent a stereo mix of your track with the new parts added. If you have any revisions, I’ll take care of them free of charge.
4. Download
As soon as you’re happy with the way things sound, you’ll be able to download your individual tracks and mix them into your session. It’s that easy.
My expertise extends across multiple fretted instruments. While I’ve worked with all types of artists, the genres I specialize in are folk, pop, jazz, blues and Americana.
My goal is to create layered and nuanced parts for any track, filling it out where it’s needed and pulling back at all the right spots to make sure that your voice is what shines through.
Instruments:
Electric & acoustic guitar
Mandolin
Banjo
Ukelele
Bouzouki
Dobro
Resonator
And more
I’ve spent years touring the world with major artists, performed in the hit musical Come From Away and recorded at studios from NYC to Nashville.
The albums I’ve played on have received rave reviews, thousands of streams and countless industry nominations and awards.
Now, I’m offering singer/songwriters all over the world the chance to elevate their sound without ever stepping foot in a studio.
My studio has been acoustically designed to deliver high fidelity recordings of fretted instruments. Each session is recorded using top-of-the-line equipment.
Microphones by Neumann, DPA and Royer
Preamps by BAE, GRACE and RME
Converters by Burl and Dangerous Audio
“As a guitarist, Joel contributes great-sounding, technically flawless tracks—delivered with tremendous feel, impeccable rhythm and beautiful tone—to songs of all genres.”
Donna Grantis
Guitarist (Prince)
““Joel is a one-of-a-kind musician, and he takes great care in his ability to create. His warm, unique approach to music is unmatched. He’s able to fill the space and add layers effortlessly.”
Jessica Mitchell
Singer/songwriter
“I’m so glad I found Joel. He’s a world-class musician, he has uncanny creative instincts and he’s a true pro who always delivers high-quality recordings in a timely fashion.”
Chris Burke-Gaffney
Producer
“It was like getting six session players for the price of one!”
Shawna Caspi
Singer/songwriter
“To date, I have worked with Joel on two albums. He added his own individuality to each song, while maintaining a distinct soundscape throughout both projects. He is diverse, professional and incredibly easy to work with. Worth every penny!”
Desiree Dorion
Singer/Songwriter
“Not only is he technically an amazing player, he is immensely creative and what I would call a ‘craftsman.’ The incredible guitars and instruments he has in his arsenal, the way he’s recording them with top-end mics and gear, and of course the quality of his playing make him really special.”
Luke McMaster
Singer/Songwriter
Trusting anyone with your music is a big deal. That’s why I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re beyond happy with your session.
I’ve played on hundreds of tracks for countless happy clients, but in the event that you’re not 100% satisfied with my work, I’ll provide you with a full refund.
To start a project, get in touch with me by filling out the form below. You’ll be able to tell me a bit about your project to get the ball rolling, and book a call to talk one on one.
To confirm your session, all you need to do is make a payment using a credit card.
After a payment is made, you will receive an email with details on how to upload your files.
Once the session is complete, I’ll email you a stereo rough mix with the new parts added. Most projects get approved in the first round, but if you do need revisions, I’ll be happy to make them. Once everything sounds good, I’ll send you individual files that are ready to mix.
No. Everything I send you is 100% royalty-free.
If you need help exporting your files, I will provide easy instructions for your DAW.
I will provide a detailed and easy-to-use upload guide.
Session files should be .wav, but I can work in a range of samples rates (44.1khz to 96khz). The recommended format is 48khz 24bit .wav files, exported from zero.
No. My specialty is coming up with unique, supportive parts. If you happen to have a notated chart, lead sheet, or Nashville number chart, you’re welcome to send it along.
Every project is different and the pricing can vary due to a number of factors. Click here to get a quote.
No. My firm policy is to never share your music with anyone during the recording process. Unless I have your written permission to post or share, your music will be kept strictly confidential.
Once you receive your files, simply drag them into your DAW and they will be ready to be mixed. If you have any questions, you’re welcome to reach out for more detailed instructions.
Click the green message button in the bottom right corner and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Joel Schwartz is a seasoned guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. With 20 years of experience as a professional musician, he records instrumental parts for folk, Americana, roots, blues, and indie-rock musicians and composers.
Joel has toured and/or recorded with Birds of Chicago, Amelia Curran, Matthew and Jill Barber, Great Lake Swimmers, Royal Wood, Jessica Mitchell, Aviva Chernick, Andrea Koziol, Dione Taylor, Lydia Persaud, Jadea Kelly, and many others.
The recordings he’s played on have won, or been nominated for numerous awards including the Junos, Canadian Folk Music Awards, Western Canadian Folk Music Awards, and Ontario Folk Music Awards.