I am a drummer, electronic musician/engineer, a composer for film, & a multi-instrumentalist producer. My studio, 5950.exp has become a staple in the Brooklyn experimental music scene for music production and recording. I have toured the world with major acts and am an in-demand drummer for pop, experimental, electronic, and improvised music.
Matt Bent grew up in Red Bank, New Jersey and started playing drums at age 6. At the delicate age of 11 he discovered Drum ‘N’ Bass music—artists like Squarepusher and Aphex Twin quickly became a part of daily listening. Throughout high school he attended NJPAC’s prestigious Jazz for Teens Program, following in the footsteps of contemporary NJ-based drummer-composer legends like Tyshawn Sorey, Mark Guiliana, and Dan Weiss. He went on to study at The Eastman School of Music. While in college, He began composing and co-started a 10-piece band, “The Saplings”, who have since recorded two albums, the latest of which, (”Go Digital!) featured Grammy-nominated pianist, Gary Versace.
In 2021, he was commissioned to compose multiple pieces of music & sound design for film at the Museum of Tolerance in both Los Angeles & Jerusalem. He is a co-founder and producer at 5950.exp, a music studio and party series showcasing forward-thinking electronic music & live visual performances. Nowadays, he is often performing in New York City, producing, composing, and playing drums with the following artists and more:
Beshken
Kopps
The Saplings
The Narcotix
Jack West
CGI Jesus
Harpsichord Kush
BRAHIM!
Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.
6 Reviews
Endorse Matt Bent
I have worked with Matthew on numerous occasions as both a producer and on my own projects. What sets Matthew apart is the level of care he puts into tracking drums. I have consistently received clean recordings, multiple take options and unique tones that serve the song at hand. Matthew is my go to drummer for any recording project.
Matt and I have worked in a variety of musical settings for a long time now. He is the most recorded drummer on my catalogue of songs and one of the few I hire for shows. We produce together and have multiple joint creative projects so you could say I am quite acquainted with his musical personality. While he is very well rounded and checks all the boxes of a fantastic musician, the strengths that set him apart from his peers most are his attention to detail, care for everything he works on, and expeditiousness. I highly recommend working with Matt on your next project.
Matt is a performer of the highest quality. He worked on 6+ songs for my LP, leaving myself and producers utterly astounded at his consistency, creativity, and personal touches. All of this he executed with little to no familiarity with the songs. He gave us more than we could’ve asked for, requesting take after take. He also scores high on hang chops, with a calm and present demeanor, never stumped by challenging parts. Rare to have someone of his talent so willing to come in egoless, ready to serve any song, and enjoy himself along the way. He will not disappoint.
Matt and I have worked together for some time in a live performance setting as well as in studio. He is an extremely talented player but beyond that he is creative and is always challenging himself while remaining open minded and ready to help you bring your project to life. His precision, organization, dependability and professionalism never disappoint!
Matt has consistently exceeded expectations, and delivered the highest quality time and time again for every project. Whether it's drum tracking, production, or composition, he performs at the highest level. Highly recommend hiring Matt, looking forward to our next project together.
Matt has tracked drums on multiple projects for me and has absolutely crushed it every time. Really professional and understanding - I highly recommend working with him.
Interview with Matt Bent
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm currently working on my debut solo album, which features my work as an improvising drummer, but also as songwriter and producer / sound artist : )
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I like to apply extremity to everything I do: if a song calls for complexity, I want it to be very complex; if the song calls for simplicity, I will make it as simple as possible. As a drummer, this mentality must be applied to dynamics, part-writing, recording techniques, etc. While i love to go full-on "bentmode" (as some of my friends like to say, ha) my real joy is in knowing that i've laid down exactly what the song needs.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I believe that every musician is an artist when it comes to creating their own unique part on a recording. As a drummer, I have a well-rounded set of influences ranging from experimental electronic music, to pop music and free jazz. Creating and recording a unique drum part that entirely serves the unique character of any song, is my greatest joy.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I am a co-founder and engineer / mixing engineer at 5950.exp Studios in Queens, NYC. 5950.exp is a multidisciplinary sound studio for recording, sound design, film scoring, sound installation and post production mixing located in Ridgewood, Queens NY. This is where I record all my drums. We have gained the trust and respect of many experimental musicians in the NYC scene- some past artists include: Death Insurance, Deli Girls, Now Vs. Now, Hisham Bharoocha, Photay, Spencer., Jason Lindner, Kill Alters, Kopps, Lustick Puppy, Godcaster, Brutus VIII, Significant Other, Time Wharp, Relaxer, Murder Pact, CGI Jesus, Alto Palo, Haldeman, Brian Oakes, Palto Flats, Gus Dapperton, Ex Wiish, Swordes, Poncili Creación, Bonnie Baxter & more.
I was the Drummer in this production
- Live drum trackAverage price - $100 per song
- Programmed drumAverage price - $70 per song
- ProducerAverage price - $300 per song
- Mixing EngineerContact for pricing
- Sound DesignContact for pricing
- Film ComposerContact for pricing
- Post MixingContact for pricing
-turnaround time of 48 hours unless specified otherwise
- Tame Impala
- Stevie Wonder
- Frank Ocean
- Slingerland 1960’s Set (22
- 16
- 12)
- Yamaha Maple Custom Set (18
- 14
- 12)
- Ludwig Snare (14 x 6.5)
- Zildjian Renaissance Ride (22‘)
- Zildjian Fat Hats Hi Hats (15‘)
- Electro-Voice RE20
- AKG214 Stereo Pair
- SM-57s
- SM58s
- Neumann TLM 102
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