Luke O'Kelley on SoundBetter

I've been recording drums for artists and producers all over the world from my home studio since 2016. I've tracked drums on hundreds of songs to date, and the songs I've played on have earned hundreds of thousands of streams. I specialize in: folk/singer-songwriter, pop, rock, and worship/CCM.

Want to give it a shot?

A full list of my equipment is available on request.

I typically record in 24 bit at 44.1 khz, but can change this if needed.

I do not charge you until you are completely satisfied with my performance. I will give you up to 2 revisions with no charge.

Send me your track in an mp3 file along with any specific directions you have for me: style of playing, intensity, dynamics, drum tones, breaks, specific fills or anything else. The more direction you can provide the better!

Once you send me all this info, I will send you a draft within 3 days and we can discuss what you like and what you would like me to change.

Have questions or concerns? Let me know and I'd be happy to answer them!

Thanks for your interest!

- Luke

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

Credits

2 Reviews

Endorse Luke O'Kelley

by Walker Tuten
Luke is the man! My band has used Luke on multiple occasions for live shows, studio work, and on AirGigs. He's a fantastic drummer who's very versatile. He's also very open to new ideas and always wants to do what's best for the song and artist. He always gets the job done and does it well. Not only is he a great drummer, but he's a great person as well. I couldn't recommend him more.
by Brian Dane Hansen
Worth every penny! Luke's drum tones sound amazing. He perfectly matched his drum tones to the song and brought my programmed drums to life with his performance! The artist I was producing was so happy with Luke's drum tones and performance for his song. I'm looking forward to having Luke record on more tracks that I produce!

Interview with Luke O'Kelley

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Too many to count. Off the top of my head: Coldplay, Haitus Kayote, Kendrick Lamar, Kings of Leon, Josh Garrels, Mutemath, Led Zeppelin, John Mayer, Darren King, Nate Smith, Mark Guliana, Ash Soan, Daru Jones, and Aaron Sterling.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are artists/musicians that inspire you? What ideas and desires do you have for the drums on your song? What's the bpm of your song?
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: A diverse set of experiences, a deep skill set, and an open mind. I've played with a lot of different artists and projects across a lot of different styles of music. I've learned something from every one of my experiences, and have developed a deep skill set over the years. If I've learned one thing, it's to never quit learning and to approach each new experience with humility, and curiosity. I never assume I know exactly what to play, until I've internalized the song.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Supportive, creative, and groovy. My goal is to make your song come to life. In everything I do, I try and balance unique voicings, with appropriate playing.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop, rock, folk, singer-songwriter, country, indie, alternative
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Commitment. I'm absolutely committed to offering my best possible performance on every single track that I play on.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: To put their needs and preferences first. While I have my own voice and tastes, those are secondary to the needs and preferences of my clients. In everything, I'm not happy with my performance unless I have exceeded the expectations of my clients.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The ability to create something lasting. Recording drums is more than just a performance, it's creating art. This is both challenging and rewarding. Studio drumming requires a high level of skill and focus to be able to create art that is lasting and meaningful, but when I'm able to make a drum part that I'm proud of, it's incredibly rewarding.