Session Drummer

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

A: I've recently recorded with Michael Carreira, a highly renowned pop artist in Portugal. He's one of the best-selling artists in the country, having 9 certified platinum and making music with international celebrities like Henrique Iglesias. I was fortunate to record drums for his recent hit "Apaga a Luz".

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Apart from touring with both Mickael Carreira and Soraia Tavares, I also work at Lisbon Sound Society Studios, doing multiple sessions per week.

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

A: I promise to deliver professional recordings and to take working on your music very seriously. It will be of the utmost importance to me to elevate your track to the best of my abilities.

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

A: Q: What files do you need to get started? A: Usually just a WAV file of the track with or without any programmed drums and the BPM of the track.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Simplify your arrangement as much as possible- the best-sounding mixes are songs where everything has it's own space and the parts complement each other. Stacking a "wall of sound" of overdubs can lead to a cluttered mix where nothing can really shine in it's own space. Make each layer a vital component of the overall sound.

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

A: I work with various styles and genres since being a session drummer is important to displaying versatility. Being knowledgeable of multiple genres helps me create distinctive and unique drum parts by implementing more than one style in my playing. But here are a few of the genres I like playing the most: - Pop - RnB - Afrobeat - Rap / Trap - DnB - House - EDM - Fusion - Prog - Metal - Rock - Funk

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I would say that feel and taste are my strongest skills as a drummer. No matter what you play, it has to feel good and fit the song like a glove. Crowds love the fills but groove pays the bills! But I can always do both if needs be ;)

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: As both a drummer and songwriter, I can approach the track from a songwriter's perspective along with the proficiency and knowhow of a professional drummer. Drum part construction is key for me but I also like to leave room for improvising and reacting to what I'm hearing in real time.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My first step is to get on the same page with the songwriter/producer and get a good feel for what their vision of the composition is. I prioritise making sure that the songwriter/producer's vision is achieved and that they are satisfied with my performance. I often start hearing drum part ideas in my head whilst listening to the composition but landing on the perfect drum part comes from a solid understanding of the songwriter/producer's vision. My ultimate goal is to write creative and unique parts that enhance and maximize the composition and that go on part with the customer's wants and needs. Reference tracks are always helpful for me as they give me a good idea sonically and stylistically of what the songwriter/producer is after. After selecting the right drums, dialling in the perfect drum sound, and coming up with the general framework for the drum part, I start by recording 3 full "keeper" takes to give the client a few different vibes and options to choose from.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Studio Setup: - MacBook Pro - Logic Pro X - Tube-Tech Pre Amplifier - Apollo X8p - Apollo Twin - Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 - Neumann KH120 II - Yamaha MSP10 Microphones: - Roads NT5 MP - the t.bone RB 100 - Sontronics Orpheus - Sennheiser MD 421 II - Shure SM57 - Shure SM58 - Shure SM7B - Audix D6 - Slate ML-2 - Slate ML-1 - AKG D112 - AKG C418 Drums Setup: - Premier Artist Maple - 10' rack tom - 12' rack tom - 14' snare - 16' floor tom - 22' bass drum - Dw Drums Design Series - 10' rack tom - 12' rack tom - 16' floor tom - 22' bass drum - Dw Drums Performance Series - 14' snare - Traps Drums - 10' tom - 12' tom - 12' snare - 14' tom - Cymbals - Zultan 12' stack - Zultan Dune 14' hi-hat - Zultan Dune 20' ride - Zildjian K 18' crash - Zildjian 18' china - Meinl 18' crash - Dw Drums Hardware - Remo Drumheads - Vic Firth Drumsticks

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

A: I work in my studio Monday through Friday primarily recording drums, with the occasional fly date for a gig or session. I record drum tracks remotely as well as live online sessions via Google Meet and Audiomovers. I also do a lot of writing and composing for my own projects and for TV and film.