Josquin des Pres / Track Star Studios

BY BART MENDOZA © MUSICSCENESD //

Born in France, producer / musician Josquin Des Pres arrived in San Diego during the mid-1970’s, subsequently performing and recording in Los Angeles and Europe, before founding respected recording studio, Track Star, in San Diego. “Whether working in Los Angeles or France, I always considered San Diego as my home base,” he said. Des Pres has been on stage or in the studio alongside a long list of notable artists, from Steve Lukather to Jason Mraz, while a songwriting partnership with legendary lyricist Bernie Taupin, which has yielded over a dozen recordings, is amongst the highlights of a stellar career.

How did he get started in music?

“I started my music career in my late teens in France’s Prog Rock scene,” des Pres recalled. “Joining the band, Edition Spéciale, and signing with United Artists marked a significant milestone as a professional musician.” That was only the start of an impressive discography. “Following that, I had a short period with the renowned French prog rock group Magma. Subsequently, I spent about a year as the bass player for French Jazz violinist Didier Lockwood, touring throughout France and Asia.” In his mid-20s, des Pres made the decision to relocate to Los Angeles and fully immerse himself in the music industry. “Initially,

I started as a session bass player and later transitioned into the role of a producer,” he said. “Being part of the L.A. studio scene opened doors for me to play with outstanding musicians like Jeff Porcaro, Billy Sheehan, John Jorgenson, and many more. Their remarkable skills greatly contributed to my growth as a producer and musician. This also helped me develop relationships that later would help me when I started participating with various great artists and songwriters, such as Bernie Taupin, Gipsy Kings and Jason Mraz, as well as several top 10 American Idol contestants.”

His focus on the bass as a main instrument came about through happenstance. “I found myself unexpectedly becoming a bass player when I lived in a small town in the south of France,” des Pres recalled. “It all began when my friends needed someone to fill the bass role, and I decided to give it a try. With a Spanish guitar in hand, I started playing its four lowest strings. As my passion for bass grew, I initially relied on borrowing or renting basses until I could finally afford to purchase my own. During that time, I was inspired by bassists like Jack Bruce and John Paul Jones. As my musical preferences shifted towards Prog-

Rock, Jazz Fusion, I began listening to Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius.” The move from being only a bassist to other parts of the music scene was done for pragmatic reasons. “By the time I was in my mid-30s, I realized that solely being a bass player wouldn’t be enough to make a living in the music industry,” des Pres said. “So, I decided to leverage my skills in reading and writing music, as well as my knowledge of recording consoles, to create a new business model. I started producing artists and working on various projects. My journey as a bass player turned producer, songwriter allowed me to make a living doing what I love.” www.trackstarstudios.com

How did he come to work with Bernie Taupin? “In the late ‘80s, a mutual friend and producer, Mark Paladino, brought us together for a project” des Pres said. “Little did I know that this collaboration would become a pivotal moment in my career as a composer. Working with Bernie Taupin was an honor reserved for only a select few. His unique style and discerning taste in collaborators made the experience even more special. Our creative partnership opened doors for me and helped me secure a songwriting contract with Warner.” So far the songs have been recorded by the likes of Lisa Sanders, Mary Dolan and The Young Dubliners.

After more than four decades of making music, on all sides of the business, des Pres is succinct on what drives his love of being a musician. “One of the things I love about being a musician is that it aligns with the old saying, “do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” It’s a perfect description of the joy and fulfillment I find as a musician,” he said.