Today we’d like to introduce you to Masaaki Saito.
Masaaki, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born on February 4, 1998 in Tokyo Japan, I grew up with family of musicians, having professional classic guitarist as parents and being related to Kosaku Yamada, one of the most famous composers in Japan. Obviously,I started to play Classical guitar and piano since three years old. Since then my parents are also my mentors,Still they give me some advices.
I switched my main instrument to Bass since I was 14 years old and I was falling love with this instrument and decided to go music high school named Koyo School of Music & Dance learned bunch of music stuff like how to read, play , improvise, groove . and how to be a professional studio recording/Touring musician with my mentor Asuka Tada.
I won a “Berklee Award” as an outstanding student at “Groove Camp 2015″ in Hokkaido and then proceeded to the Berklee College of Music on a full-tuition scholarship. I was fortunate to learn with world famous musicians such as John Patitucci, James Genus, Tiger Okoshi, Billy Kilson and Chris Loftlin, They opened up my mind and developed my tastes and music to all kinds of music genres,
I’ve started my career as touring musician on my senior year, I’ve joined the Grammy winning singer Noel Schajris’s world tour and still in the his tour band. Recently, I graduated Berklee College Of music, Moved to LA and starting my career as Bassist/Composer/Producer/Talent/Model mainly touring Noel Schajris and Jesus Molina and appearing the Chinese TV program. Endorsement by Xotic USA/ Max Pro Ears / EVO Straps
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Well I think every single internationals struggling with this but, One of the big challenges for me was adapt to the standard of musician in United States , I had an experience in Japan as a studio musician, every time I go to the rehearsal there is a chart and just read through and play but here, most of the times there is no chart and I gotta learn tunes by myself that was huge challenge and completely different skills I have to have.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I have huge influence from my parents which is Classic music. and I grew up listening , playing a lot of jazz and pop music and now I specialize in Jazz/fusion music and Hiphop/pop music. Being more known for my bass playing through the performance with two huge artist who I’m touring with.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
This is a deep topic but for me, I would say the success for me is playing music everyday and living with that. Growing up with all of my good friends and play/create music together with them forever.
Pricing:
- Bass lesson online 30 dollars per 30 min
- Bass tracking 100 dollars per song
- Bar/Club gig – 100/200$
Contact Info:
- Website: https://masaakisaito.weebly.com
- Phone: 857-204-3700
- Email: masaakisaito3@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masaaki.saito/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masaaki.saito.585
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/masa_saito0
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYIBDj-ceP71R8jc-TbcAQ/featured?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
Jamie Xu
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