Arranger
For over 20 years, alongside his work as a composer, Johnny has been crafting bespoke arrangements for songwriters and artists across a wide spectrum of styles and instrumentations.
Much of Johnny’s arranging work centres on writing for singer-songwriters and bands. His approach is characterised by careful attention to harmonic detail, internal voice movement, and the natural phrasing of string players. Rather than writing decorative layers, he treats the arrangement as part of the composition itself, something that interacts with the song’s rhythm, form, and emotional trajectory. He works with a small, consistent group of players, recording each part individually to achieve a clear, ensemble sound.
Johnny’s arrangements range from dense and cinematic to minimal and textural, depending on the needs of the music. His focus is on complementing the song, whether that means adding harmonic weight, subtle movement, or a more dramatic orchestral presence.
“I bring to Johnny my darker, more complex songs because he is willing to go on that adventure and find the string arrangements that not only match the complexity but take it to a deeper level. It’s almost like he is commenting on them, fully realising the song’s potential in wonderfully unexpected ways. Opening a session with fresh recordings that Johnny and his players did is always one of the biggest rewards in a production.”
— Someday Jacob, Germany
His process typically begins with a conversation about the artist’s vision for the track. Once the direction is clear, Johnny arranges and programs the string parts in his studio before recording them with a group of trusted session players. The final recordings usually include a full set of isolated string parts—violins, violas, cellos, and double basses—recorded section by section and delivered as multi-track stems, ready for mixing.
“Working with Johnny on my songs far exceeded my expectations. I was so happy with the composition and the recordings. The whole process was effortless and exciting. The music he makes is exquisite and will elevate any project.”
— Danni Nichols, Nashville
Johnny and his Chamber Orchestra are not limited to strings—he also welcomes arrangements for brass, woodwind, choir, and percussion. Having composed for full symphony orchestras and choirs of over 250 musicians, he is well-versed in the art of orchestration across a vast range of instruments.
“I feel so fortunate to know Johnny. As an arranger, he is technically brilliant, but more importantly, he has a rare gift—the ability to attune so beautifully to the specific needs and musical landscape of any particular artist. My own music would be so much poorer without the unique world that Johnny has created around it. And the same is true for all of the other artists I have produced, together with Johnny’s arrangements. The fact that he can also engineer and record at such a high quality in his own studio is an added gift.”
— Richard Neuberg, Strawhouse Studio Owner
🎻 Listen to a selection of some of Johnny’s arrangements and productions: