CELLIST MAI BLOOMFIELD REACHES NEW HEIGHTS WHILE ON TOUR WITH GRAMMY AWARD-WINNER JASON MRAZ

As an accomplished singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Mai Bloomfield has spent the past five years touring with GRAMMY award-winner Jason Mraz as part of his 10-piece band. As one of the only members of the band playing a fretless instrument (cello) on stage, Bloomfield is presented with a variety of unique sound challenges. On a quest to improve her stage experience, Bloomfield found success with the d:vote™ CORE 4099 Instrument Microphone from DPA Microphones.

Bloomfield had heard of DPA from friends and colleagues and had a brief encounter with the mic during a live television performance for Sara Bareilles, but her personal introduction to DPA really began at last year’s NAMM convention. After speaking with the DPA team, Bloomfield tried the d:vote™ CORE 4099 and was so excited over the results, she decided to use it on tour. 

“Having played cello live with Jason (Mraz) for the past five years, I’ve always gone direct to pickup,” says Bloomfield. “I sing in the band and have to focus on blending with up to five other vocalists as well as all of the other instruments on stage. I need to hear a lot of subtlety and tonal distinction in my monitor mix. With the direct cello pickup, I’d always have to pull out so much low end in order to hear the cello intonation against all the other voices and instruments. The cello tone really suffered in my monitors. Going back out on the road with the d:vote™ CORE 4099, I was finally able to bring that natural sound back. It captured the richness and presence of the cello with so much clarity and balance. When I blended that with my direct pickup, it gave us so much more to work with. I was also able to turn my monitors down for a more comfortable and authentic on-stage listening experience. What a relief! It enhanced the front of house sound of the cello as well.”