Session Drummer

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

A: Andy McCutcheon out in LA, who is a singer-songwriter I have worked with on a number of projects. He's doing some really interesting music and he's also easy to work with in relation to recording drums for.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: That I get to add my own flavour to other people's music. I like to think that I can offer something unique to each track.

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

A: Most of the time it's "are you interested in recording drums for this song?", of which my answer is usually yes. Unless it's a style like Death Metal where my skillset doesn't really apply, I enjoy recording for anybody's style of music.

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

A: That I'm not interested in the potential clients' music. I think having a jazz background is possibly intimidating to some people (for intellectual reasons often), but personally I play all styles and, importantly, enjoy playing all styles.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a relatively simple studio setup in my basement which consists of a large room that you can get full sounds in as well as being able to treat the room to get drier sounds.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Pretty much as above: "What type of groove are you thinking?", "What type of sound are you thinking?" And, "what's your desired turn around time?"

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

A: My Australian jazz piano trio's recent released fourth album, called 'The Outsider'. The trio is called Refraction and we recorded this new release in a church back in Melbourne. I was aiming for an ECM (German jazz label) type of sound and I think we got reasonably close. I also feel that being our fourth album our playing has evolved together and the recording has a much surer sense of unity and purpose. If you feel like checking it out, it's on BandCamp (as well as iTunes/Apple Music and the rest) here - https://triorefraction.bandcamp.com

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: An EP/album with another Australian friend who lives over here. He's a country guitarist and we're putting together something that encompasses all the different musical styles that we both like.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, because I don't have tens of thousands of dollars to do otherwise.

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

A: That I'll do the best job that I can with what I have!

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

A: I can always come up with something for their track from scratch however it often helps all concerned if they have some idea of the type of groove they might be after and the type of sound as well.

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

A: Umm. Not sure. Certainly my iPad...

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

A: I've been recording music, including drums, since I was a kid so I've been on the journey for some time.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Straight up time and groove with a slightly jazzy swagger.

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

A: There's probably many but someone like John Mayer would be great because he writes great songs which usually have enjoyable drum grooves that go along with them.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Old cut-out drum heads on top of snares and toms make the perfect instant change to the sound of the kit!

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

A: Jazz, country, pop-rock, rock, funk, and worship styles (worship stuff is pretty much pop-rock most of the time!).

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Touch and sound. Coming from a jazz background I've been able to develop a sensitive touch so that I can play intricate grooves but also be able to play louder if necessary too.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: The ability to add a great sounding feel with my own flavour to any given track.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Usually I'll listen to and learn the track in question, and then find out what type of groove and/or sound the client might want, if there's no example on the track already. Then for recording I'll do a few takes potentially with a few variations of the groove too.

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

A: Drummers getting grooves and sounds in studios is something I find quite inspiring. I like hearing the end product of what they do, especially when you get to see how they putting it all together behind the scenes. I also like working with recording engineers and picking up tips from them along the way.

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

A: Generally, adding drum parts for their song/s and/or production.