Malik Temple on SoundBetter

Dove Award Nominated Drummer. I Prioritize The Pocket over Fills.

Hi!

My name is Malik Temple and I am a freelance percussionist, music producer, and arranger. I am a band director by day and performer by night!

My main instruments are drum set, concert percussion, marching percussion and midi programming. I can provide minimal support with other rhythm instruments like bass, electric guitar, and piano.

With arranging, heavily in the wind and percussive applications, and I have some experience with strings.

I have 10+ years of experience in playing drumset and percussion for Pop, Ska, Jazz, Neo-Soul, CCM, Rock, some Latin percussion rhythmic vocabulary, some West African rhythmic vocabulary, Hip-Hop, Blues, Reggae, Rock, Folk, and Americana.

My most notable work is percussion composition and arrangement for "Still: The Life and Artistry of Fanny Crosby Reimagined", which was nominated for "Best Long Form Video" at the 2021 Dove Awards.

Access the LinkTree for samples of my session work: linktr.ee/maliktemple

Thanks for your consideration and I look forward to working with you!
Malik Temple

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

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Interview with Malik Temple

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 my first solo release "Don't Forget to Breathe" because I did everything from the instrumentation, the recording, the album work, and I pitched it to a large list of outlets for indie music. It was the first think that I could call my own, I fought through depression and self-worth to get it done, and it has inspired people to persevere.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: My 5 song EP that is a collection of autobiographical tone poems.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: No.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Doesn't matter; make people care by what you communicate through your music.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That I will be the least of your worries.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I get to work with other musicians instead of working by myself.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Customer: "Can you make this part more busy?" Me: "Sure."
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That I'm a Gospel drummer by just looking at me.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What do you want the listener to feel during and after your song? What do you want me to do specifically? What don't you want me to do?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Be able to communicate why you believe in your music and why anybody else should believe in your music.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: drum set guitar hang drum tuba Marimba
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: My career path is music production and I have been doing this for over 4 years.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Appropriate yet warm and comforting.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Jon Bellion because his ideas are fresh, he's humble, he works hard, and his focus is to get better as opposed to getting bigger.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Less is more.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Neo-soul and pop productions.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest skills is the ability to quickly adapt.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring a understated but supportive element to a song that makes the artist say "THAT'S WHAT I WANTED"!
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: My typical work process consists of artists sending me an idea, I compose a complimentary percussion part 9possibly background vocals, synths, and so forth), the client advises what elements should stay or leave, and I send the stems when the client is satisfied with the product.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: A small, typical setup with a few mics, a few guitars, acoustic drums, a soundboard and midi controllers. Board: PreSonus StudioLive AR12 DAW: Logic Pro X Drums: Tama Imperial Star 4 piece Meinl Byzance Series Cymbals Evans Heads (EC2s on toms, Genera HD Dry on Snare, and EMAD2 Clear on Kick) Guitars: Fender Jazz Bass MIM 2010 Yamaha Electric Guitar SE603MA Monitors: M Audio Bx5 Pair Mics: AKG C452 EB AKG 112D Audio Technica ATM 23H3 Rode NT-1a Shure SM 57 (4) Midi Controllers: M Audio Keystation 49 Key M Audio Mini Mk3
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Jon Bellion Monte Booker Tyler, The Creator AbJo Tom Misch Kanye West
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Most of my work is creating beats for singers to record over or drums on a record.