Matias Menarguez

Professional Drummer

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126 Reviews (118 Verified)
Matias Menarguez on SoundBetter

Hi! My name is Matias Menarguez and I'm truly looking forward to making music with you.

Professional on-demand drummer from Buenos Aires, Argentina, now based in New Jersey.

I began pursuing music professionally more than 25 years ago. While my main focus has been jazz, I’ve worked across a wide range of styles and studied with Mark Guiliana, Greg Hutchinson, Daniel “Pipi” Piazzolla, Dorian Mori and many other great musicians.

You can hear my work on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube with Portage, Quimera (Dario Iscaro / Matias Menarguez), Olvidé San Telmo, Perceptual Trio, Indigorado, The Death Particle, Paradox Interactive, The Chalk Eaters, Julian Bradley, The Soho Rentals, Natalie Bancroft, and many others.

I’m a reliable, attentive musician who will listen closely to what your song needs and deliver on time. My goal is always to serve the music while doing everything I can to exceed your expectations.

To get started, simply send me an MP3 or WAV file of your song, BPMs if it was recorded to a metronome, along with any directions, references, or ideas you have for the drums. I’ll provide multitrack WAV files as well as a mixdown of the drums.

I’m truly looking forward to making music with you!

I also offer mixing, with a focus on acoustic music, jazz, indie, and world music. I work primarily in the box, using a wide selection of professional plugins. Whatever tools I use, the goal is always the same: to serve the song and the artist.

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

Endorse Matias Menarguez126 Reviews - 24 Repeat Clients

  1. Review by Alberto
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    Very happy with Matías' work once again. As always, excellent playing, great sound, and a very musical approach. It's always a pleasure working with him. Highly recommended!

  2. Review by Alberto P.
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    Fantastic work! The drum performance was excellent and fit the song perfectly. The delivery was incredibly fast and communication was great. It's a pleasure to work together. Highly recommended!

  3. Review by Hug
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    by Hug
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    I’m very happy with Matias’ work. He perfectly understood what I was looking for, both for the drum recording and for the mixing/mastering of the song. The drums sound natural and musical, and the final master is excellent. Great communication, very professional and attentive. I would definitely work with him again. Highly recommended!

  4. Review by Alberto P.
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    Amazing work by Matias! His drumming has a wonderful sense of flow, and I especially loved the subtle details and dynamics he brought to the track. Highly professional, creative, and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended!

  5. Review by Bav
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    by Bav
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    Mat always gives your project 110%, crafting live drum tracks that fits your brief and takes it to the next level. An excellent collaborator who always delivers exceptional work.

  6. Review by David
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    by David
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    This could not possibly have been a more positive experience. Within a couple days, Matias delivered nuanced and dynamic performances which perfectly captured the vibe of my tracks. He takes notes extremely well. He played out where I asked him to and laid back where it made sense. The communication was abundant and seamless. The recordings and stems he delivered are top quality professional-grade work. He will absolutely be my first choice for any projects going forward!

  7. Review by Bav
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    by Bav
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    Matias always exceeds expectations and delivers top quality drum tracks for your project, taking it to the next level. A true pro.

  8. Review by Bav
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    by Bav
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    Matias is a top tier drummer, who's drumming and production will elevate your work. He can run with an idea and deliver you something exceptional.

  9. Review by Bav
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    by Bav
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    A great professional and collaborator, Matias is easy to communicate with and will help build your project, delivering pro sounding live drum tracks. Highly recommend.

  10. Review by Michael M.
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    Another 5 stars!

  11. Review by Michael M.
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    Matias is a remarkably intuitive and talented drummer. Also very easy and friendly to work with as a person. Keep coming back!

  12. Review by Bav
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    by Bav
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    A wonderful collaborator and an excellent drummer, Matias is great person to bring in to your project. Highly recommended.

  13. Review by jonnykerry
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    Matias is an awesome drummer, he completely understood what the track needed and delivered quickly.

  14. Review by Michael M.
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    Matias is fantastic - great chops of course (like so many others), but I most appreciate that he is super flexible, and open to trying different ideas to get the right sound. Highly recommend

  15. Review by Ismail E.
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    Excellent performance, fast response and kind service!
    Thank you Matias

  16. Review by Eric B.
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    Matias always comes through; he's very intuitive. And he's not afraid to put some of himself into it; that's what I value the most.

  17. Review by Eric B.
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    I've worked with Matias on several songs now, and I'm always very pleased with the results. He's an excellent drummer and musician. I give him my highest recommendation!

  18. Review by Michael M.
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    Matias was very helpful in working out the right sound for the track, and of course great chops

  19. Review by Eric B.
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    Another success from Matias! I.ve been very pleased working with him, and that's why I continue to send him songs that need drum tracks. I'm a repeat customer.

  20. Review by David S.
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    Excellent drummer. Really has the chops. I gave him a very difficult jazz tune to play and he nailed it

Interview with Matias Menarguez

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

  2. A: It’s difficult to choose just one project because I want every piece of work I deliver to be something I’m proud of, otherwise, I don’t feel it’s finished yet. I tend to form the strongest connection with projects where I perform on the track, rather than only mixing it, because playing allows me to contribute my own voice directly to the music.

  3. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  4. A: I’m currently producing an album for a local artist while also recording drums and mixing tracks for a variety of musicians.

  5. Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

  6. A: Plenty of artists. I have never had a bad experience working with anyone on Soundbetter.

  7. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  8. A: Trying to get the best of the two worlds.

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

  10. A: I promise to deliver high-quality work on time and do everything I can to bring your vision to life -hopefully exceeding your expectations along the way.

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

  12. A: I usually get asked: "What would you play here?", "Do you think this can work?". My answer usually comes in the form of a recorded take -or a few different options- along with an explanation of why each approach might or might not work for the song.

  13. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  14. A: I think people sometimes underestimate how much the drum track shapes a song. The drummer’s feel, dynamics, and sound can influence the entire performance, so the right drum part can make a huge difference.

  15. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  16. A: I usually ask what you’re looking for from the drum performance and what kind of drum sound you have in mind. I also welcome any references, directions, or specific ideas that can help me understand your vision for the song.

  17. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  18. A: Be as clear as you can about what you’re looking for, and feel free to share references or examples. Stay open to suggestions, and trust that I’ll give the music my full attention and do my very best regardless of the genre.

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

  20. A: My favorite snare, a nice hi-hat, a kick drum, an acoustic guitar and comfortable boat.

  21. Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

  22. A: I’ve been working professionally as a musician and drummer for more than 20 years. I earned a Professional Musician degree from E.M.B.A. (Buenos Aires Music School), one of Argentina’s most respected music institutions, where I also received a performance scholarship. Throughout my career, I’ve studied privately with Mark Guiliana, Greg Hutchinson, Daniel “Pipi” Piazzolla, Carto Brandán, Eloy Michelini, and Dorian Mori. I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible musicians across many genres who have trusted me with their albums, tours, and live performances. Along the way, I’ve also had the opportunity to perform with renowned artists including Pedro Aznar, Javier Malosetti, Richard Bona, and Mario Parmisano.

  23. Q: How would you describe your style?

  24. A: I’d describe my style as attentive, honest, and versatile. I listen closely to what’s happening in the music and respond naturally. Depending on what the song needs, I’m equally comfortable floating around the arrangement or laying down a solid, steady groove.

  25. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  26. A: There are many artists I’d love to work with, but more than any specific name, I’m drawn to artists who have a clear vision while remaining open to different opinions and ideas. Making music is a collaborative process, and working with proactive, creative people who bring fresh perspectives is always inspiring. Most of the composers I admire understand and embrace that approach.

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

  28. A: Always be open to hearing what the other musicians working on the song have to say. Take the time to process their ideas and feedback, then move forward with the approach you believe will best serve the music.

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

  30. A: I usually work on both traditional and modern jazz, as well as indie, pop, folk, fusion, and funk.

  31. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  32. A: I believe my strongest skill is listening. I’m always aware of what’s happening in the song and understand that every choice I make as a musician should contribute to and serve the music, not the other way around.

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

  34. A: I bring my own voice and musical perspective while always serving the song. I’m open to suggestions and specific requests, and -if needed- I can also contribute ideas to the arrangement, drum production, or the overall production of the track.

  35. Q: What's your typical work process?

  36. A: I like to begin by receiving the original song or demo, with or without drums, along with any directions or references you may have. From there, I focus on understanding what the song needs and what you’re looking for from the drummer. My main goal is always to serve the music and bring your vision to life. I’ll usually record a few different takes or drafts so we can discuss the options and choose what works best. I’m highly responsive throughout the process and take deadlines and feedback very seriously.

  37. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  38. A: I record from my home studio in Mount Olive, New Jersey, where I have a wide selection of high-end vintage and modern drum kits, snares, cymbals, and drumheads. I record and produce primarily in LUNA, using an Apollo x8p and an Audient ASP880, along with four Neve 1073 preamps and two TAB V376 preamps for additional tonal options. My microphone collection includes models from Lauten Audio, Shure, AKG, Sennheiser, and PBM.

  39. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  40. A: I’m truly inspired by musicians who are honest and authentic in what they do. Some of my favorite drummers are Brian Blade, Mark Guiliana, Jeff Ballard, and Nate Smith. I’m also deeply influenced by artists such as Joni Mitchell, John Mayer, Jeff Buckley, David Bowie, Beck, and Brad Mehldau.

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

  42. A: I mainly work as a jazz drummer, but for more than 20 years I’ve also recorded and performed as a session drummer across a wide range of genres, including pop, folk, blues, funk, latin and R&B.

  43. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  44. A: Everything.

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The SoHo Rentals - Like Spinning Plates

I was the Drummer and mixing engineer in this production

Terms Of Service

After receiving the song or/and music charts, I'll deliver one take within 48hrs. After that, I'll allow 2 more revisions until the final multitrack take.

GenresSounds Like
  • Brian Blade
  • Mark Guiliana
  • Bill Stewart
Gear Highlights
  • Gretsch Drums
  • Zildjian / Istanbul / Ottaviano cymbals
  • Universal Audio Apollo x8p and Audient ASP880 Interfaces
  • Neve 1073 and TAB v376 preamps
  • Lauten Audio
  • Shure
  • AKG
  • Sennheiser
  • PBM microphones
More Photos
More SamplesDrummer
SoundBetter Deal

10% discount when hiring me to record 4 or more songs. 10% discount if you hire me to record drums and mix your song.