Vanessa Freebairn-Smith profile picture

Vanessa Freebairn-Smith

About Me

Ah, the always daunting task of writing a bio...I am an L.A. based cellist, a founding member of the Sonus Quartet (www.myspace.com/sonusquartet), and also a free-lancer on my own, doing both studio work and live concerts in a wide spectrum of venues with a varried list of artists across musical genres. I am a multi-instrumentalist with Justin Clayton (www.myspace.com/justinclaytonmusic) and principal cellist in Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra. Along with the other members in Sonus, I spent much of 2006 and 2007 on tour playing with Gnarls Barkley. I soloed with Josh Groban on his "Awake" tour, and was featured on the track "Un Giorno Per Noi" on his last album. I have worked closely with Trent Reznor, Sarah McLachlan, and Jeff Beck, to name a few. I've played on numerous scores for film and t.v., appeared in several music videos, one feature film, and many award shows and late-night/day-time talk shows. I have been doing quite a bit of arranging lately as well, mostly quartet arrangements for various projects Sonus is invloved in. I have written for Gnarls Barkley, Van Hunt, Justin Clayton, Martina Topley-Bird, and John Frusciante.As I'm not so comfortable with the inherant nature of gratuitous self-promotion that happens so often on pages like this (all hypocrisy acknowledged!!) this page is not intended to be just a name-droppy list of artists that I've worked with, but rather a forum for me to post upcoming shows and projects I'm involved with. I have been lucky enough to work with amazing musicians on some great music that I want to be able to share with anyone who's interested in listening.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/07/2007
Band Website: www.myspace.com/sonusquartet
Band Members: Credits/Projects:Sonus Quartet, Justin Clayton, Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra, Gnarls Barkley, Sia, Trent Reznor, Josh Groban, Butch Vig, Jeff Lynne, Clint Mansell, Jeff Beck, Diana Ross, Henri Mancini, Willie Nelson, Martina Topley-Bird, Sarah McLachlan, Ben Folds, Van Dyke Parks, Stevie Wonder, Jerry Goldsmith, Billy Preston, Dawn Thomas, John Williams, Joshua Radin, Herbie Hancock, Jill Sobule, Natasha Beddingfield, Hall & Oates, Destiny's Child, Fall Out Boy, Tony Bennett, Jay-Z, Linkin Park, Paul McCartney, Prince, Justin Timberlake, Ray LaMontagne, Hans Zimmer, Alicia Keyes, Lifehouse, James Horner, Mos Def, Snow and Voices, John Mayer, Rod Stewart, Dave Stewart, Common, John Frusciante, Julian Lennon, Katy Perry, Skye Edwards, Matchbox 20, Paul Oakenfold, Lenny Kravitz, Jem, 30 Seconds to Mars, Jewel, Van Hunt, Keely Smith, Barbra Streisand, Grace Woodroofe, Beth Hart, Kerli, David Campbell, Annie Stela, Dead Can Dance, Joker's Daughter, Rhianna, Pricilla Ahn, Beth Orton, The Subways, Gemma Hayes, Jon Brion, Sparklehorse, The Last Shadow Puppets
Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

new song up...

So, I've just posted one of the songs that Justin Clayton and I did in our recent recording sessions in Los Angeles and Sweden. The tracks all came out great, but are waiting to be properly mixed. In ...
Posted by on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:22:00 GMT

Upcoming JUSTIN CLAYTON/GEMMA HAYES tour!

Happy for the excuse to get out of L.A. for a bit, I will be spending some time touring and recording in Europe in April/May '08. I'm heading first to Sweden to do some strings for Justin Clayton's up...
Posted by on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:41:00 GMT

song clarification...

I have received several complimentary messages about my singing on the track "Song 10" that I have posted, and while I very much appreciate the kind words and wish I could take credit for the vocal tr...
Posted by on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:27:00 GMT

umm....Im a model?

One thing I can say for sure that I never thought I would be is a chick in a car ad. Well, I guess I was wrong. Thankfully there will be no shots of me in a bikini laying on the hood, but I did just f...
Posted by on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:30:00 GMT

Sia on KCRW

I’ve just returned from a short tour with Sia, filling in on the first few shows of her U.S. tour, starting off with a live performance on KCRW’s "Morning Becomes Eclectic." If anyone is i...
Posted by on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:41:00 GMT

Ok, so I’m really not one to get star struck, but...

...I must admit that working for the guy who produced Nirvana's 'Nevermind' was kind of exciting. I did a solo cello session for the upcoming album by the UK band The Subways, and the one and only But...
Posted by on Sat, 20 Oct 2007 17:14:00 GMT

in the studio...

The past few weeks have been an amazing experience. I've had the pleasure of taking part in the making of what I think is going to be a great new album from Justin Clayton. I've put some solo cello on...
Posted by on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 13:53:00 GMT