Matt Hardy on SoundBetter

Hi, I'm Matt. I'm a session drummer based in Edinburgh, Scotland and I specialise in multi-track remote recording, working from my own studio space. I absolutely love recording and I strive to provide quality by finding the right drum sound, part and feel to fit the song.

After recording and touring in bands for several years I have focused over the last few years on working closely with a number of UK singer-songwriters. Previous tracks I've worked on have been featured on television by Ford and on BBC radio.

Full credits can be found at matthardydrums.com

Testimonials:

"Matt is without doubt one of the finest session drummers I have worked with. He has solid ideas for drum parts and is flexible with these when suggestions are made. He is adaptable too, managing to quickly change style and sound to suit the needs of the song. Having recently received some of his own drum recordings for a long-term project, I can see that he is also a solid engineer in that he really understands not just the playing aspect of drumming but how the drums should actually sound for a recording. Arguably most importantly, Matt is an upbeat, friendly and approachable person which makes for really pleasant and enjoyable sessions."
- Martin Francis Trollope, Sound Engineer/ Producer.

"Creative and versatile drummer with a great attitude. Always a pleasure to work with."
- Jake Houlsby, Singer-Songwriter.

Send me a note through the contact button above.

Credits

7 Reviews

Endorse Matt Hardy

by Daren G.
Verified
Matt was incredibly easy to work with. Very kind person and showed that he really wanted me to be happy with the end product. Definitely plan to work with Matt again.
by Trev G.
Verified
Matt's approach and versatility in playing is why I love working with him. He can play in any style creatively and originally and he can transform a song into something very special. So far Matt has worked on probably 15 or 16 of my songs and in each case his focus is always in supporting the song, just like the best drummers do.
by Trev G.
Matt is my go to drummer. He knows how to make a song special. He's versatile and knows all the spaces to play and not to play, he's professional always, a pleasure to work with and a whiz both behind a kit and in engineering and producing just the right sounds. There's no one better for me.
by Marek K.
Matt did the drums on my latest single and I was very happy with the results. Matt's really enthusiastic and committed to getting the right part for the track. We communicated online and he was always responsive. After sending him the demo he recorded a great initial idea. The song's a fast finger-picking acoustic track so difficult for drums but Matt did a really ambitious and technically complex drum part which suited the track perfectly. He sent me a final bounced mix of the drums and also 11 stems separate but his mix was just right so I use that in the final master. Highly recommended!
by Jake Houlsby
Matt is the most solid and creative drummer I know, hands down. Having worked with him since 2016, I'm continually impressed by his musical sensitivity and his ability to bring something out of his kit that perfectly fits the mood of the song. He's a dedicated and passionate artist with a deep pool of both musical and technical knowledge to draw from. Consistent, professional, and easy to get on with, he's gone above and beyond for me many times and I couldn't recommend him more.
by Mark Broughton
I have worked countless times with Matt and am looking forward to working countless times more. His drum parts are musical, precise and supportive of the rest of the instrumentation to suit the song as a whole. With me, he has always favoured groove over clutter and live takes over edits, which suits my taste entirely.

As if that wasn't enough, Matt is also a one-stop-shop for percussion and drum engineering/production. A top guy and fantastic musician. Looking forward to the next one mate.
by Travis Roush
Matt did all the live drums on my debut album and the record wouldn't have been what it is without him. He was prepared, open minded and overwhelmingly suited to fit on each track that I gave him. I appreciated his ability to take my thoughts for the direction of sound, but also stepped up with his originality when it served the songs.

He made the drums fit the songs and not the songs to fit the drums. It was seamless to work with him and I appreciated his ability to nail takes. Without any doubt, future drums will be with Matt.

Interview with Matt Hardy

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: A recording for an artist called Ajimal. It was recorded over two days at AIR Studios with producer, Guy Massey with a bunch of really good friends; one the most magical recording experiences to date.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm working closely with a couple of UK singer-songwriters. in recording and live settings.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Mark Broughton - sound engineer, mixer and producer.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: If I had endless money, it would be analogue for how enjoyable it is. to work with. However in the modern industry digital is cheaper and far easier.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: My time and effort.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The buzz of creating and recording.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Adding live drums will turn a bad song, good.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Do they have any reference music for me to try and replicate? If they have an electronic drum part they want to be replaced - how closely should I stick to what is there?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Ask me anything.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: One would be my 1970's Ludwig Acrolite snare due to its versatility.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started out playing in bands in the North East of England and found I always enjoyed recording more than playing live. Over the last 3/4 years I have moved into session work and remote recording for others.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Simple and dynamic.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Father John Misty - brilliant and dynamic drum parts to play.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Make sure the performance is right.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Alternative/ indie/ pop.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Balanced playing so the drums sing.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I believe I bring a dynamic playing style, always with good feel and a thoughtful drum sound.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I'm a bid advocate of spending time in the early stages of working on a new track in order to find the right part and drum sound to compliment the song. I then like to narrow takes down to two or three quality ideas that can be then sent back to the client so they have plenty of options going forward.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a range of good quality kits, snares and cymbals to allow me to achieve modern and vintage sounds, while using REM hardware and quality microphones, I can achieve up to 10 audio tracks of live drums.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I'm a big fan of the drummer Aaron Sterling, who's style and studio expertise has influenced me hugely. Nigel Godrich, well known as Radiohead's producer, has also inspired me and I am always drawn to music that pushes boundaries sonically.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I most commonly provide clients with multi-track drums and percussion to provide the optimum sound and feel for the song.