Matt Johnson

Session Drummer

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273 Reviews (255 Verified)
Matt Johnson on SoundBetter

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!

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

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

273 Reviews - 60 Repeat Clients

Endorse Matt Johnson
  1. Review by Bade S.
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    Recommended to us via a producer friend, we reached out to drummer Matt Johnson through SoundBetter to have him write and record drums for our song. Matt perfectly captured what we had envisioned on the very first take and delivered an incredible performance that truly elevated our track. His kind and refined communication and highly professional approach make him a musician we would love to work with again on future projects. Highly recommended!

  2. Review by bugwit101-us
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    Matt is a great musician and a consumate professional. He delivered more than I expected or could have reasonably asked for, and did it before the promised date. Matt also communicated well throughout the process. He produced tasteful, well played, and well-recorded parts that truly fit the song. We were considering canning the track, but Matt's drums pulled it all together for us. I couldn't recommend him more.

  3. Review by Brew
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    by Brew
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    Another great project with Matt, fantastic drummer and high quality recordings!

  4. Review by Joss W.
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    Matt is absolutely amazing to work with! Excellent communication, excellent compositional skills and an incredible sound!

    He got exactly what I wanted very quickly and gave me plenty of alternative options to work with. A total pro throughout the experience.

    Highly recommend!

  5. Review by Dan H.
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    by Dan H.
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    Matt is intensely skilled and has an ear like no other - he was able to dial into our sound just off of the demo and pick up on and mirror our "off" rhythm which blends completely on time with our electronic elements - clock like a machine, breathing fresh human air into the track.
    Super professional and active communication. If you're on this review don't even look further, just book it.

  6. Review by Zack O.
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    Matt Johnson is a total pro and is one of the best "songwriting" drummers around. He understands song form. He recorded on four of my songs. On each tune it's clear his main goal is making the song succeed. His handle on dynamics and part righting is second to none.

  7. Review by Michael J.
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    Matt is legitimately the best in the business. He has great instincts and killer feel. He's takes everything I send him to the next level and couldn't be more pleased with his work!

  8. Review by David L.
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    Matt went above and beyond to get these complex drum tracks sounding great. Awesome communication throughout as well, highly recommend.

  9. Review by Jasper W.
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    Played fast and well. Always great to work with.

  10. Review by Leon M.
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    What can i say about Matt? Hes is the drummer on my favourite album of all time! He's a hero of mine and I get to have him play on my records.

    He delivers amazing takes played beautifully. Recorded brilliantly. He's a legend and I will never use another drummer on my songs whilst Matt is willing to drum for me.

  11. Review by Michael C.
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    Matt is professional, enthusiastic, and most importantly sounds amazing. If you want to add something special to your song, work with Matt.

  12. Review by Martin B.
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    We are all privileged to be able to hire Matt, this legendary, professional musician. He was positive and inspiring though the whole process and didn't hesitate to do this semi-complicated song.
    Recording quality was top notch, and the delivery of all the different drum mic tracks gives you so much to work with, + the included percussion tracks I got. The playing and the feel was phenomenal, and even though my expectations were high, they were greatly exceeded.
    Unbelievably priceworthy! 11/10

  13. Review by Connor F.
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    Excellent work from Matt, would highly recommend having him drum on your project!

  14. Review by Jasper W.
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    Worked fast, understood my vision, and performed well. Would recommend to anyone.

  15. Review by Zack O.
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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.

  16. Review by Umut
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    by Umut
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    It 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!!

  17. Review by Ben L.
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    by Ben L.
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    Matt is a greatdrummer, delivers great sounfing tracks in a timely manner

  18. Review by Bruno P.
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    Matt 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.

  19. Review by Jeff May
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    Matt always adds something special to my songs, Cant recommend enough.

  20. Review by Chris White
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    Great working with Matt again. Quick turn around and he had some great ideas for my track. I highly recommend!

Interview with Matt Johnson

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

  2. A: Jade Bird touring before Covid. Lots of recording on lockdown

  3. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  4. A: all. why not?

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

  6. A: professionalism

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

  8. A: music

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

  10. A: It's easy

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

  12. A: Do you have reference music that could point to relevant sounds and approach?

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

  14. A: Have your tracks ready. know what you want.

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

  16. A: Kick snare hat floor cymbal

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

  18. A: Drumming, recording, touring, songwriting, production. 40 years

  19. Q: How would you describe your style?

  20. A: Dynamic and hypnotic

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

  22. A: Listen and commit

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

  24. A: Beautiful

  25. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  26. A: Intuition

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

  28. A: Inspired insight

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

  30. 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.

  31. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  32. 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

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

  34. A: Debussy Metallica Tame Impala L Subramaniam PJ Harvey

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

  36. 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.

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Jade Bird - Side Effects

I was the Drummer in this production


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    Cones - Later
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    Dope Lemon - Uptown Folks
Terms Of Service

The session fee includes one revision.

GenresSounds Like
  • St. Vincent
  • Rufus Wainwright
  • Miike Snow
Gear Highlights
  • Rupert Neve Designs
  • API
  • Great River
  • Soyuz Tube Condensers
  • Universal Audio Apollo
  • Shure
  • Electro Voice
  • Istanbul
More Photos