Love playing for the song and coming in with different drum grooves and sounds. When I recorded the song Alive Again from Trey Anastasio by just adding the cowbell with the groove it put the extra funk and swing in it. Or coming in with the beats for the Trey songs songs First Tube, Sand, Gotta Jibbo,Drifting. Love the funky rock grooves.
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- English
Interview with Russ Lawton
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Recording the drums on all the Trey Anastasio records is has always been fun but the first record was special since it was the first time recording with Trey and producer Bryce Goggin.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Preparing for a fall tour with Trey Anastasio Band.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Yes, Ben Collette and the Tank Studio, great engineer and studio.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Analog is great, if I can record drums on 2” tape I’m very happy to get that warm sound but digital work's great too.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will come in prepared and work the hardest I can on your songs.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love being a drummer and working on drum parts for songs.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Price for the session, I say I have a day rate or per song rate if it’s just a few songs.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That I just work on the jam band scene.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Do you like working with a click. What are the songs about. How many songs. Length of the songs.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Keep chipping away everyday, it all about the creative process, emotion and the need to do it.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: My 70’s Gretsch kit 20,12,14 with a Ludwig Black Beauty snare and 13” Zildjian high hats.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: My path was to be in a creative band and work together on songs. I’ve been doing this for 40 years.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Funk rock
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: There’s so many, Femi and Seun Kuti for there amazing Afrobeat and on the other hand Chris Stapleton for his soulful country sound.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Funky rock grooves with an Afrobeat flair.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Working well with people and finding what works for the song.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I like to find what feels right for the song, time and feel is key.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: When I get the songs sent to me I will work beforehand trying different feels and groove so when it comes time to record I’m super prepared.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I work at the Tank Studio in Burlington Vermont. tankstudio.com
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Song oriented drummers, Bernard Purdue, Steve Gadd, Steve Jordan, Tony Allen.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I record mostly with songwriters and with the bands I work with I come in with drum grooves that we collaborate on to create songs.
I was the Drummer in this production
2 revisions, depending on my schedule usually 1 week turnaround. Additional cost if I go to a bigger studio.
- Trey Anastasio
- Soule Monde
- Vintage Gretsch drums
- Ludwig snares
- Zildjian cymbals
