Kamil Rustam
Guitarist, Composer, Arranger
About
I was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and moved at an early age to Paris, France. Growing up, I’ve always been listening to the sounds of the guitar; my father, a student of Alexandre Lagoya and Ida Presti, would always play at home. But it was only when I heard bands like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Pink Floyd and most of all, Jimi Hendrix that I decided I wanted to become a guitar player. At seven years old, I enrolled in the “Conservatoire municipal du 14ème arrondissement” in Paris and studied classical guitar for 10 years while playing modern rock music with local bands. Soon I started working extensively for most of the top pop French artists, earning the 1985 “Les Victoires de la Musique” for Producer of the Year with my fellow producing partners Manu Katché and Gabriel Yared. I was also nominated as Best Studio Musician at the 1986 and 1987 “Les Victoires de la Musique“. I then moved to Los Angeles in 1996, where I have been busy working in the American entertainment industry.
Since 2020 I have been spending my time between the US and France composing, producing, arranging and recording sessions for pop artists as well as for film music.
Work
Albums I have worked on:
Music for Films I have worked on:
Music for Video Games I’ve worked on
Call Of Duty Mobile
Videos
As a Sideman
A few videos, playing around the world with different artists
Services
As a Session Guitarist:
I play and record a multitude of stringed instruments (Guitars, Basses, Mandoline, Ukulele, Banjo etc..) at my personal recording facility or at a recording studio of your choice .
As a Composer :
I write music for films, documentary, TV series, Library music, etc… . I enjoy the challenge of expressing different emotions through music and work hand in hand with directors and producers in many different styles of music.
As an Arranger :
I arrange music in many different genres whether it be for my own compositions or for other people’s compositions. I can arrange for a full band / Orchestra or for single instruments. I got voted best arranger in 1985 at the french equivalent of the Grammys, “Les Victoires de la Musique”…
As a Live Performer :
I have performed live as a solo artist and as a sideman with many world renowned artists like Alejandro Sanz, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, David Foster, James Ingram, Celine Dion, Johnny Halliday , Josh Groban, Charles Aznavour etc..
All these services are available whatever the musical style. I have many years of experience in writing, arranging and recording in many different musical genres : Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Gospel, World Music etc…(Click here for a list of work)
Frequently Asked Questions
Listen Up! (to be released February 2024)
In February 2024, Can U Feel It Records, in association with Oregon Productions, will release my new album entitled “Listen Up!” .
For this album, I wanted to go back to the music that started it all for me: 70’s & 80’s soul and RN’B music.
I’ve been lucky enough to be able to bring together some very special guests for the recordings.
Here is a list:
Lead Vocal: Billy Valentine, Arnold McCuller, Amy Keys
Backing Vocal: Theresa Jones, Lamont Van Hook
Bass: Pino Palladino, Antoine Katz
Keyboards: Nick Semrad, Patrice Rushen, Arnaud Dunoyer, Randy Kerber
Drums: Lemar Carter
Percussion: Roland Gajate-Garcia
Horns arrangements Michael B Nelson for the HornHeads
Michael B. Nelson – Trombone
Kenni Holmen – Tenor & Baritone sax
Steve Strand – Trumpet
Mixing Engineer : Helik Hadar
Session Photos
Pictures of the recording of “Listen Up!”
Cosmopolitain
On October 20, 2017, the label “Can U Feel It Records” released my debut album, Cosmopolitain. The album contains instrumental compositions written in collaboration with keyboardist Arnaud Dunoyer, as well as an updated arrangement of Squeeze’s 1981 hit song ‘Tempted’. The album mostly maintains its sound, style and structures within a jazz fusion vein, but exhibits a vast knowledge of various musical genres throughout. Contributors to the album include notable session musicians such as keyboardist Randy Kerber, acoustic bassists Mike Valerio, Laurent Vernerey and Tim Lefebvre, electric bassists Hadrien Feraud and Richard Bona, plus world renowned drummers Manu Katche, Vinnie Colaiuta and Peter Erskine. The album also includes guest appearances by soloists such as Bob Reynolds on sax, Mike Cottone on trumpet, Marc Berthoumieux on accordion and Philippe Saisse on vibraphone.
On the track “New Amsterdam”, Legendary saxophonist Michael Brecker gave me the pleasure of playing the saxophone part back in 1997 and since the track had never been released, I decided to rerecord and update the music around Brecker’s inspired and melodic soloing, ten years after his untimely passing.
The lead track ‘Sand Dunes‘ had been made available in video form prior to the official release and has accumulated over one hundred thousand views since April 2017.
Cosmopolitain Videos
Live Recordings of Kamil’s Solo Album “Cosmopolitain”
Cosmopolitain Teaser
Tempted
Sand Dunes
The Calm
Twilight Drifters
Canopy
Ocean Breeze
The Making Of Cosmopolitain
Musicians Talk About “Cosmopolitain”
Contact
Contact Me
I’ll be happy to respond to any musical inquiries.