From recording the seminal cult-creating album Grace with Jeff Buckley to years of touring with the beloved St. Vincent, I've worked with a wide spectrum of artists over the past two decades including Rufus Wainwright, Angus and Julia Stone, and recently Miike Snow.
I'm originally from Texas but living in New York City opened up the most opportunities for developing a drumming career. I've recorded and played with Rhodes, Jade Bird, Teddy Thompson, Jeff Taylor, John Mayer, Dan Mangan, Dean Wareham of Galaxy 500, Tal Wilkenfeld, Will Stratton, Elysian Fields, Cones, Dope Lemon, Martha Wainwright, The Walking Who, Gabriel Kahane, Chris Stills, Anna Calvi, Duncan Sheik, Vivian Bond, Harper Simon, Keren Ann, Gerry Leonard, Reeves Gabrels, Tom Freund, Beth Orton, Suzanne Vega, Rickie Lee Jones and Miirrors.
I have also have worked with great producers such as Marius Devries, Rick Rubin, Simone Felice, Andy Wallace, Eric J, Andrew Wyatt, John Agnello, John Alagia, Thomas Bartlett, Tony Buchen, Tony Visconti, Tony Berg, Ben Harper, Hod David, and Kieran Kelly.
Moving successively from NYC to Los Angeles, and then to Austin has allowed for an expanded studio setup that is ideal for remote recording. Signature drum parts, rhythmic hooks, hypnotic patterns, contrasting textures, and heavy grooves have always been my passion.
I'm looking forward to creative interfacing with great musical minds, either in person or across the world!
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Credits
AllMusic verified credits for Matt Johnson- Hey, King!
- Angus & Julia Stone
- Angus & Julia Stone
- Will Stratton
- Jade Bird
- Jade Bird
- Jeff Buckley
- 54-40
- Dan Mangan
- Dan Mangan
- Jane Lynch
- Jane Lynch
- Buenos Diaz
- Buenos Diaz
- Angus & Julia Stone
- Angus & Julia Stone
- Hamish Anderson
- Hamish Anderson
- Angus Stone
- Angus Stone
- Angus Stone
- Pat Boone
- Lia Ices
- The Damnwells
- The Damnwells
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Tony Guerrero
- Debi Nova
- Will James
- Mary Flower
- Mary Flower
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Rufus Wainwright
- Rufus Wainwright
- Rufus Wainwright
- Soname
- The Blues Gangsters
- The Blues Gangsters
- Teddy Thompson
- Leon Jean-Marie
- Apache
- Apache
- Apache
- Amazon Dart
- Martha Wainwright
- The Out_Circuit
- The Out_Circuit
- The Heavy Circles
- The Mighty Orq
- Dean & Britta
- Duncan Sheik
- Duncan Sheik
- Jon Regen
- People Noise
- David August
- David August
- Anne Loo
- Anne Loo
- Rufus Wainwright
- Rufus Wainwright
- Rufus Wainwright
- Rufus Wainwright
- Rocky Roberts
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeremy Enigk
- Jeremy Enigk
- Dana Parish
- Dana Parish
- Dana Parish
- Mandy Moore
- Mandy Moore
- Mandy Moore
- Duncan Sheik
- Duncan Sheik
- Chris Stills
- Chris Stills
- Jeremy Enigk
- Shane Gamble
- Shyne Factory
- Shyne Factory
- Shyne Factory
- Tristan Prettyman
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Kate & Anna McGarrigle
- Tristan Prettyman
- Tristan Prettyman
- Tristan Prettyman
- Suffering and the Hideous Thieves
- The Profits
- The Profits
- Rufus Wainwright
- Josh Kelley
- Dean & Britta
- Dean & Britta
- Beth Orton
- Lori Andrews
- Speedloader
- Die Symphony
- Rufus Wainwright
- Beth Orton
- Tess Wiley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Duncan Sheik
- Duncan Sheik
- Suzanne Vega
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Tim Finn
- Susan McKeown
- Robin Spielberg
- Cathie Ryan
- Duncan Sheik
- Tom Freund
- Morley
- Seedy Arkhestra
- Shyne Factory
- Shyne Factory
- Shyne Factory
- Shyne Factory
- Shyne Factory
- Tom Kubis Big Band
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Jeff Buckley
- Tom Kubis
- Tom Kubis Big Band
- Trudy Lynn
- Matt and Kim
- Max Johnston
- Negative Press Project
- 54-40
- Diana Demuth
- Sarah de Bono
- Dope Lemon
- Old Blood
259 Reviews - 58 Repeat Clients
Endorse Matt Johnson
check_circleVerifiedExcellent work from Matt, would highly recommend having him drum on your project!
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Worked fast, understood my vision, and performed well. Would recommend to anyone.
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Matt Johnson is a unicorn. He is a jazz-trained drummer who can hit like a rocker, and he instead focuses on writing the perfect parts to help further the song. Think Ringo, Steve Gadd, Jimmy Chamberlin. On top of all of that, he is a sweet guy and a consummate professional. Highly recommended.
check_circleVerifiedIt was a great pleasure working with Matt. His pro and classy touch leveled up my song. He Delivered the recording with a very clean and detailed sound. Thanks again!!
check_circleVerifiedMatt is a greatdrummer, delivers great sounfing tracks in a timely manner
check_circleVerifiedMatt is a great musician and impressive professional. Great quality tracks with an amazing performance. He wrote down all the ideas, paid attention to the instrucitions and recorded them the day he promissed and elevates the song to another level.
check_circleVerifiedMatt always adds something special to my songs, Cant recommend enough.
check_circleVerifiedGreat working with Matt again. Quick turn around and he had some great ideas for my track. I highly recommend!
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Matt gave me multiple options to choose from. Such a pleasure to work with. Thanks Matt!
check_circleVerifiedIt was a pleasure working with Matt once again. His attention to detail is unmatched. Thanks again!
check_circleVerifiedAnother excellent experience working with Matt!
check_circleVerifiedMatt has a unique sound. He raised the quality of my tracks a lot. I feel honored to work with such a legend. Highly recommended and great communication!
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Matt really nailed it. Like all the greatest drummers Matt plays for the song. His drummer instincts are second to none. Your song will undoubtedly sound better!
check_circleVerifiedMatt is a songwriter's dream to work with. Versatile, tasteful, impeccable tracks, and digs in personally. I will be grateful and inspired eternally by his contribution to my music.
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So lucky to have such a talent on my little songs, really brings it to life, Thanks
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Matt is an excellent drummer, great feel, plays the song, big ears.
I keep coming back:) - check_circleVerified
Pleasure to work with! Awesome communication, very tasteful and intuitive performance, and great recording. Highly recommended. Thank u Matt!
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Thoroughly Masterful in every detail. Beyond what I could reasonably hope for or imagine.
check_circleVerifiedMatt always takes our songs to the next level and makes them sound better than we could have hoped. Highly recommended!
check_circleVerifiedWorking with Matt was a joy. Communication and turnaround time was superb. His subtle accents and percussive prowess really took our song to another level. This was the first live drummer I've worked with in years and Matt was worth it!
Interview with Matt Johnson
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Jade Bird touring before Covid. Lots of recording on lockdown
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: all. why not?
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: professionalism
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: music
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: It's easy
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Do you have reference music that could point to relevant sounds and approach?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Have your tracks ready. know what you want.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Kick snare hat floor cymbal
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Drumming, recording, touring, songwriting, production. 40 years
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Dynamic and hypnotic
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Listen and commit
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Beautiful
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Intuition
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Inspired insight
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Concise and colorful charting of compositions on iPad using visual art app. I move over to practicing and doing preliminary recordings wherein I mock up what I intend to do, listening back for perspective. Sleep. Then I go in for the master takes, usually shedding charts and the prep mentality, using intuition and inspiration to summon the forces.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Rupert Neve Designs, Great River, API mic pres. Some tape emulators for crunch. Soyuz tube condensers, AEA big ribbon, sE, various dynamic mics like SM7, RE20, 201
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Debussy Metallica Tame Impala L Subramaniam PJ Harvey
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Commonly I work with artists and producers, providing drum tracks according to a wide spectrum of sounds and musical approaches. From atmospheric coloration and textures to driving grooves of all sorts, generally I come up with rhythmic signatures or hooks that contribute to the impact of a composition.
I was the Drummer in this production
- Jade Bird - Side Effects
- Cones - Later
- Jeff Buckley - Grace
- Dope Lemon - Uptown Folks
- Live drum trackAverage price - $250 per song
The session fee includes one revision.
- St. Vincent
- Rufus Wainwright
- Miike Snow
- Rupert Neve Designs
- API
- Great River
- Soyuz Tube Condensers
- Universal Audio Apollo
- Shure
- Electro Voice
- Istanbul
