SESSION DRUMMER/PERCUSSIONIST

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

A: Yes. Jordan Perlson. Marcus Finnie. Luis Espaillat. Dylan Wissing, DJ Phillips, Lester Estelle, Keio Stroud, Greg Bryant, Jerry Roe and countless others.

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

A: I am especially proud of the IT CITY project. First, we did the entire album remotely, so I got explore tons of sounds. I used my DERREK PHILLIPS BEAT BOX loops on several songs as well as used multiple drum kits on individual tracks and did some beatboxing and spoken word.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: EP for a Nashville based band that I am a part of, IT CITY. Also, tracks for a songwriter in Nashville and another in California.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. I may lean analog since I play drums and I love the sound of tape recordings.

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

A: I promise to bring my best to the project.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Everything. I literally living my childhood dream. Creating art with fellow artist. Nothing like it.

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

A: Are you interested/available? Yes. Every time.

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

A: The biggest misconception is that I just bang on stuff; that I'm just a drummer. I want the parts I contribute to a song to be meaningful and enhance the song.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What is the goal for this piece? What vibe are you looking for?

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

A: Give me as much information as possible. You can never tell me too much. I love it.

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

A: My Gretsch Round badge snare, Pearl Sensitone Mahogany 15x4" snare and 60's Slingerland 3 piece.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My sensibilities have been characterized as old school. My favorite drummers have a strong sense of feel, deep pocket and are proponents of communicating

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

A: There are so many, but I would love to work with Jack White. I appreciate his taste and take on music. He has a deep appreciation for sonic space. I feel we have similar influences and I would learn so much about music in the process.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: I love experimenting with mic placement and mic usage. Each project requires its own treatment and character.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I believe my strongest skill is my ability to find the appropriate tones for the project.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Once I receive a track to work on, I listen down several times to get a vibe for the tune. That gives me an opportunity to make appropriate snare, kick, and cymbal selections. Not to mention, I gives me time to tune and treat the toms accordingly. After that, I usually make a number chart of the piece to use as a guide. Once I have the files uploaded to Logic, I'll perform my takes. After my 3 favorite takes, I'll track percussion or add loops as needed. After all the editing, "mixing" and overdubbing is complete, I'll give final listens through my speakers for a second opinion. Once I'm satisfied, I'll package up an mp3 and stems of each take to be returned to the client. If any revisions are needed, I address the in a timely manner. I am all about meeting the needs of the client.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I use LOGIC PRO X for my DAW. My tracking room is a detached room in my backyard. MICS: 1 Shure D112 - kick 1 Solomon LoFReQ - kick 1 Audix D2 - toms 2 Audix D4 - toms 1 Audix D1 - top snare 1 SHURE SM57 - bottom snare 1 AKG C430 - hi hat 1 AKG C214 - room/crotch 2 RM BIV 1 (Royer 121 Knock offs)- overheads Cascade Fatheads - room mics Copperphone - junk mic EXTRAS: 1 Audix D6 - kick 1 SHURE SM57 DAW: LOGIC PRO X I/O: FocusRite Scarlett 18i20 PRES: Mackie Onyx 800R Warm Audio WA-273 Monitors: KRK ROKIT monitors and subwoofer Soundproofing: 50 sound proofing pads 24 Bass trap sound proofing 4 8x4 acoustic panels Sound Treatment curtains Cloud treatment above drum set Couch

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

A: Jack White, Tommy Simms, Aaron Sterling, James Gadson, Steve Jordan, Timbaland, Greg Morrow, and countless others.

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

A: I provide at least 3 takes of a song, including percussion and loops when necessary. Once complete, I send an mp3 and stems of each take for the client use how they wish.

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

A: Bill Withers. The Police. Rick James. Earth, Wind, and Fire. Led Zeppelin. Prince. These were some of the first words I learned after the usual “Mama” and “Dada”. Music was just as common than food in my childhood home. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I was heavily indoctrinated by the sounds of Tower of Power, Journey, Sly and the Family Stone, Metallica, Tony! Toni! Tone! and Digital Underground. Thanks to my parents and older brothers, I developed an early obsession for music. This obsession led to years in local bands, youth and community orchestras and the Concord Blue Devils drum and bugle corps. Lessons with Marc Van Wageningen and the late, great Tony Williams would soon follow. This same obsession took me to the East Coast to pursue a bachelor’s degree at William Paterson University in New Jersey. After years spent getting my career started in the New York jazz scene, I decided to head south and focus on the well-rounded Nashville scene. My love for a diverse range of music has only blossomed since moving to Nashville. Since 2006, I have worked with BONNIE TYLER, DR. JOHN, ALISON KRAUS, JOHN CARTER CASH, JAMES OTTO , JIMMY HALL, TOMMY SIMS, DELBERT McCLINTON, GARY NICHOLSON, RACHEL LAMPA, IRMA THOMAS, KURT ELLING, EVEN STEVENS, CHARLIE HUNTER, THE McCRARY SISTERS, CHARLIE PEACOCK,  JACK PEARSON, SHELLY FAIRCHILD, ERIN BODE, and LEE FIELDS. My drumming can be heard on the “NASHVILLE” TV SHOW SOUNDTRACK “Season 5, Volume 3”, VANESSA WILLIAMS’ “The Real Thing”, MICHAEL MCDONALD’S “This Christmas”, and ROBBEN FORD’S “Purple House” among many others. In 2009, I released own solo project entitled Derrek Phillips’ Manufactory. The music is a unique blend of hip-hop, r, electronica, drum-n-bass, jazz, and spoken word. The recording, “Offering”, is out on Rope-a-dope Records. In 2014, I became HANK WILLIAMS JR’S drummer.  That same year, I received my first Grammy for MIKE FARRIS’ “Shine For All The People” on drums and percussion. I currently chair the drum seat for chart-topping Country artist BRETT ELDREDGE and received my SECOND Grammy for his performances on GLORIA GAYNOR’S “Testimony” in 2020.

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

A: Since moving to Nashville in 2006, the bulk of my work has been Country and Amerciana. I do, however, spend a substantial amount of time playing soul, R&B, singer/songwriter and rock on records and around town.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I love to get inside of a song and reflect the meaning and emotion through the drums. I enjoy making the drum track not just a groove for the rest of the song to sit on, but making it an integral part of the song.