Lia Braswell

Session Vocalist and Drummer

Lia Braswell on SoundBetter

After playing drums for 20+ years and starting as a touring artist over a decade ago, I have been recruited to play with artists and projects such as TR/ST, Le Butcherettes, A Place To Bury Strangers, White Sea, and alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt for HitRecord. I write lyrics and sing as well. As a woman, I test the stereotypes with grace.

Back to the roots. I was living in New York for six years until recently moving back to my hometown, Los Angeles. While I am planning to go on tours in a few months, there is no saying what might happen regarding this pandemic. I would like to offer my drum, vocal, production, songwriting, and teaching skills to those who are interested. I have written with a handful of artists as well as my own projects, recorded on multiple albums, sang on commercialized tunes, and travelled the world with prestigious projects that attracted thousands of fans worldwide. While my primary instrument is the drums, I can expand and get creative with songwriting or atmospheric harmonies.

Equipment I use

DRUMS:
C&C 4-piece kit,13x9"/16x15" Toms, 24x12" Kick with a vintage 13x9" Ludwig Rack Tom converted into a snare

CYMBALS:
20" Energy Series Dream Crash Cymbal
22" Energy Series Dream Ride Cymbal
14" Bliss Series Dream Hi Hats OR
14" Vintage K Zildjian Hi Hats

MICROPHONES:
Shure Beta 57A, Sterling Audio ST51 Class A Fet

Feel free to email me!

Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.

Credits

AllMusic verified credits for Lia Braswell
  • TR/ST
  • TR/ST
  • Le Butcherettes

Languages

  • English

Interview with Lia Braswell

  1. Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

  2. A: I really have loved working with TR/ST. When we recorded the Destroyer albums, I was guided to explore the approach of the songs with sensitivity to the intent. "Play as if you are a ninja walking on a roof top in the middle of the night," was one of the notes that I can remember Damien, the engineer, telling me. The live shows have been some of the most fun I have ever played. I played to enhance the electronic drums and bring liveliness to the shows.

  3. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  4. A: I am working on my own music that will turn into an album, but I am also preparing for a few tours with artists TBA.

  5. Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

  6. A: Not that I know of but I am sure I do!

  7. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  8. A: Both, when they work together they have so many options to facilitate the sounds and atmosphere that exist in our heads.

  9. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  10. A: I promise that I will give the best and most professional services that I can. I will show up prepared and open to suggestions.

  11. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  12. A: Meeting people, playing with people, creating with people, brainstorming with people- collaboration in general is my favorite part.

  13. Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

  14. A: What are your influences? What kind of gear do you have?

  15. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  16. A: That I am all rock and all loud, or that I am unavailable for sessions.

  17. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  18. A: What are your influences? How many days is the session? Do you have a set-up? Have you worked with a session drummer/vocalist before?

  19. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  20. A: The more details about the project/songs, the better! I am open to collaborating on material, but we just have to be transparent regarding the relationship you are seeking to develop with my services.

  21. Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

  22. A: Does this desert island have monitors and 1/4" or XLR cables? If so, an SPD sx, my left-handed acoustic guitar, a melodica, a Shure sm57a microphone, and a Tascam 388.

  23. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  24. A: I started touring when I was 19. One of the first few major shows I played was opening up for Iggy and the Stooges with Le Butcherettes back in 2011. Since then, I have joined multiple projects that played everywhere from South Africa to Asia, Europe to the Americas.

  25. Q: How would you describe your style?

  26. A: My style stems from a background in funk and jazz, but I was also learning how to play music with people who idolized jam/rock bands so it's a mixture of all of that. Technical, dynamic, can be loud and intense but can also be chill.

  27. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  28. A: That's tough because there are so many! I mean, Liz Frasier and Kate Bush are at the top, but I would also love to accompany Kadja Bonet, Bjork, and maybe even... dare I say it... Paul McCartney?

  29. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  30. A: Don't focus too hard on specifics in the beginning. Try to get the skeleton of an arrangement/sound and then let the song guide itself into what it wants to be.

  31. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  32. A: Indie pop.

  33. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  34. A: Drumming and singing.

  35. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  36. A: I bring dynamics, consistency, some jazziness, lots of groove. Can be both straight-forward and in-the-pocket, or elaborate and improvisational depending on what the song calls for.

  37. Q: What's your typical work process?

  38. A: For touring or recording, I listen to the songs/influences endlessly. When I know them enough, I will go into a space to practice them until it feels solid enough. For writing, I like to come up with the music before the lyrics. Lyrics and melodies come quite naturally to me so it doesn't take very long to get a scratch instrumental. Once I know where the song is going, I will start to arrange accordingly. With my music, I try to get as close to the final sound as possible with any synths, drum samples, or other instruments.

  39. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  40. A: While I do not have my own studio (YET!) I have a C&C 4-piece that I can bring to any studio, along with stands, cymbals, kick pedal, etc.

  41. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  42. A: Huge fan of: Brian Eno, Cocteau Twins, Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Broadcast, Minnie Riperton, Morgan Kibby, and Nina Simone.

  43. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  44. A: In general, I have been a touring drummer for artists, but I have also done vocal and drum session work throughout the years for various different projects. I also love to teach drums.

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TR/ST "The Destroyer"

I was the Drummer in this production

Terms Of Service

Services timeline and price based on project. $300 minimum per full (8-hour) day. Will acquire an extra $60/hr per overtime.

GenresSounds Like
  • Elizabeth Fraser
  • Kate Bush
  • Mitch Mitchell
Gear Highlights
  • C&C
  • Dream Cymbals
  • Vater Drumsticks
  • Ludwig (1970s 13" rack tom converted into snare)
  • SPDsx
More Photos