Dylan Scott Mandel

DRUMS FOR YOU.

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18 Reviews
Dylan Scott Mandel on SoundBetter

I play drums for artists such as Slow Salvation, The Lives of Famous Men, Tape Deck Mountain, Arlo Indigo, I Could Live in Hope, Julie Mazz, Paper Teeth, Doug Bleek, Ryan Manchester, The Suns, EOS, PALS, Paul Jacks, Harvey Eyeballs, and many more. You could be next.

A drummer/percussionist with 30 years of performing experience, I am passionate about cultivating a love for music with as many as possible. I've played on countless singles, EPs, and LPs and spent extensive time touring both domestically and internationally with a variety of artists. I absolutely love creating music with others.

I own and operate Berkeley Road Studio in Philadelphia where I record quality, professional drum and percussion tracks. The studio is acoustically designed specifically for recording drums to ensure my tracks sound amazing, be adaptable, and serve a wide range of sounds for artists. I've worked with numerous producers and record labels remotely out of Berkeley Road, including but not limited to: Alex Newport (Future Shock Studio, Joshua Tree), Mike Purcell (County Q Productions, Nashville), Jeff Berner (Studio G, Brooklyn), Travis Trevisan (Nineteen98 Records, Nashville), Kyle Pulley (Headroom Studio, Philadelphia), and Paul Jacks (TriTone Records, Anchorage).

If you need a creative and professional session drummer who can deliver, reach out and I'll get you on the schedule.

Send me a note through the contact button above.

Languages

  • English

18 Reviews

Endorse Dylan Scott Mandel
  1. Review by Bryce Styan
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    by Bryce Styan

    I recently collaborated with Dylan to produce drums for two of my tracks, and I was thoroughly impressed! From the start, he was well-prepared, efficient, and professional. Most importantly, he elevated my music with expertly crafted drum parts that perfectly suited the songs. Plus, he’s incredibly down-to-earth and easy to work with. I can’t wait for our next session. Thanks, Dylan!

  2. Review by James G.
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    Dylan is my secret weapon. He is the best drummer I have worked with in my nearly 20-year career as a producer. With little to no back and forth Dylan can QUICKLY deliver tight and punchy performances that go above and beyond my expectations. Not only is he a talented drummer but also an extremely well-versed engineer with a serious producer/composer's ear. With a dedicated professional percussion studio and countless drum sets and percussion gadgets Dylan has a talent for crafting truly original tones and vibes. You will not be disappointed.

  3. Review by Mark Ward
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    by Mark Ward

    I've found my recording drummer! Dylan was very personable, enthusiastic, and easy to work with. He used no less than three drum kits for tracking my project to best match the direction of the songs and the sounds I was after. He also added very tasteful auxiliary percussion tracks that really made each song shine. I will be using him again soon!

  4. Review by Brandon B.
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    I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dylan on a couple of songs and without any reservation I can say that he is the most professional drummer I’ve ever worked with. His is performances are machine like, his stems are super quality, his understanding of what you want is on point right out of the gate and if it’s not he’s quick to adjust to your vision. I look forward to working with him in many more projects.

  5. Review by Julie Mazz
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    by Julie Mazz

    Dylan has been instrumental to shaping my songs! Not only is he talented, he is also very sweet and helpful- providing insights that bring my music to the next level.

  6. Review by Jeremiah B
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    by Jeremiah B

    You won’t find anyone who’s got the feel, gear, and engineering ear that Dylan does. Stems and takes are always great and usually feel close to final mix status the second you download them. Makes your life so easy and you don’t have to worry about phase issues. Always 10/10.

  7. Review by Daniel Hall
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    by Daniel Hall

    It’s rare to find a musician who is so technically proficient, but has the insight to write for the song vs the instrument. It’s even less common for that person to have the engineering chops to bring it all to life in such rich fidelity. But that’s Dylan. I’ve been writing, recording, and performing music with him for almost 20 years across genres ranging from indie pop to metal, and I honestly couldn’t see myself working with anyone else behind the kit. Dylan, on the other hand, can collaborate with anyone :)

  8. Review by Rob Heath
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    Looking for a big, solid drum track? A reliable band mate and a deeply inspired creative mind? Hire Dylan! He and I have collaborated on many projects, most recently on an upcoming drumtastic! record called Hi-Hat Hi-Hat and he’s always a pleasure to work with. Look no further!

  9. Review by Fox Schwach
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    by Fox Schwach

    Dylan is an ideal collaborator and adds immeasurable value to every project we’ve worked together on. He brings care and discipline to his practice without sacrificing his creativity and spontaneity - he makes sure he understands the task at hand while bringing fresh ideas in a natural way.
    Our first rehearsal together was for a band of mine, and Dylan showed up knowing my own songs better than me. His contagious enthusiasm impressed me even more than his knowledge of the material.
    Dylan’s talent and dedication to his craft are an inspiration, and he is an absolute joy to work with.

  10. Review by Joe Royce
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    by Joe Royce

    Dylan is the cream of the crop! The first time I saw him drum, I knew I needed to be in a band with this guy. Dylan brings musicality to every project he works on. He listens and understands what a song needs. He is technically gifted and has a feel that is astounding! Dylan is a true professional and a wonderful person with spectacular hair! Do yourself a favor and click that contact link.

  11. Review by Alex Newport
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    I was fortunate enough to be able to work with Dylan on an album I was producing, and he provided drum tracks remotely from his studio in Philly. I was really impressed with Dylan's skills as a drummer and the sound quality he got on the drum tracks. Every song on the record required a totally unique feel, and I saw that Dylan has a sixth sense for knowing exactly what will work for any given song, and he totally nailed both performance and drum sound for every song and is flexible and easy to work with. I highly recommend working with Dylan for all your drum needs!

  12. Review by Doug B.
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    by Doug B.

    Dylan's style can be very technical and heady, but only when it's called for. More often, he will play simply what's best for the song. He's a true vet with experience in a variety of genres, as well as a skilled recording engineer with a great ear. And on top of all that, he's wonderful to work with and generally hilarious.

    If you want cool parts that sound professional (or not) and are played impeccably (or not), I highly recommend reaching out to Dylan.

  13. Review by Mark Nilson
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    by Mark Nilson

    Highly recommend. Dylan has always been one of my favorite drummers. His technique and ability to craft the perfect rhythm sets him far apart from other drummers I have worked with. He communicates great, is timely in not only signatures but completing projects as well. I am blessed to be able to work with him on projects.

  14. Review by Travis Trevisan
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    by Travis Trevisan

    Dylan is exceptional in all aspects. Dylan played drums in my project Tape Deck Mountain for a number of years in New York. We did a European tour together that Dylan was especially resourceful, helping me program bass parts and rehearsing to a click at the last minute when a bass player bailed out. The tour was a great success in part to Dylan's creativity on and off the stage. Dylan will now frequently contribute to a number of studio projects I'm working on. He always plays close attention to detail and really puts his heart into the performance and specifications of the project.

  15. Review by Jeff Berner
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    by Jeff Berner

    I’ve had the pleasure of recording Dylan, and working on tracks that he recorded himself in his studio. He’s a fantastic drummer, always plays for the song, and has great taste and time. Highly recommend!

  16. Review by Todd Morrison
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    by Todd Morrison

    I’ve collaborated with Dylan over the years and it’s never been a a disappointment. He brings precision drumming and a polished finish to tracks, plus he always gets the creative juices flowing!

  17. Review by Paul Jacks
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    by Paul Jacks

    Dylan is one of the best! He played drums for my entire album "Amphibious." He was easy to work with and delivered exactly what we asked for and he has his own killer studio with excellent quality sound. Dylan can play by feel, soul, or can be technical in any genre. He can play it all. Highly recommend!

  18. Review by Greg S.
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    by Greg S.

    Dylan was excellent to work with. Amazing tracks and delivered quickly. Definitely recommend.

Interview with Dylan Scott Mandel

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

  2. A: 1) 60's Ludwig Super Classics drumkit, 2) 60's Ludwig Acrolite, 3) Mojave MA-300 tube mic, 4) Universal Audio 8xp interface, 5) COFFEE.

  3. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  4. A: Be humble and honest about your skillsets.

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

  6. A: Everything!

  7. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  8. A: Collaboration.

  9. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  10. A: Quality. SOUNDS.

  11. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  12. A: I own and operate Berkeley Road studios in Philadelphia, PA. The live room is approximately 25x18 feet, framed and acoustically tuned specifically for drums and percussion. Two kits (rock sizes/smaller bop sizes) and one aux percussion station always patched in for quick execution of creativity.

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drum reel

I was the engineer/performer/producer in this production

Gear Highlights
  • 4 vintage drum kits - 12 snare drums - tons of cymbals/percussion - Universal Audio Apollo x8p x2 - preamps by Neve
  • API
  • SSL
  • UA
  • Manley - mics by Mojave
  • Oktava
  • Miktek
  • Shure
  • Stager
  • Beyerdynamic
  • Rode
  • EV
  • Sennheiser - Logic Pro X
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