Professional session drummer

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

A: My greatest pride is my band KOBA, where we made our first album "Crónicas Humanas" in a self-managed way and with collective financing from our fans. On that record I obviously played drums, but I also wrote, composed and produced some of its songs. I also composed and produced an orchestral piece called "El desierto crece" on that album. I invite you to listen to it on Spotify if you're curious.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Today I am working in my studio, we are still with my band, KOBA, and I am composing and producing the music for a documentary film. I'm still giving private classes and I'm starting my YouTube channel where I'm going to share my musical opinions, interviews, tutorials, product reviews and reinterpretations of songs.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Today it is a discussion that is already becoming obsolete. We live in an almost completely digitized world and in the beginnings of the AI's world. When it comes to recording music at a professional level, you work with computers and digital instruments. There are even many cases where digital already sounds better than analog and is much more practical. However, in the case of the drums, they are still mostly analogue, acoustic. Firstly, because really good electronic drums are inaccessible to the vast majority of people, and secondly, because they did not find a way to simulate the response of the cymbals very well, there is still a difference in the dynamics of their sound and a trained ear can easily recognize it.

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

A: Simply put, I promise you that we will get to the result you are looking for and that I will deliver the work within the deadline we set.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: It has always been my goal to work with music. When I make music it makes it seem like I'm not working at all because I'm passionate about it. I also love working from home and being able to manage my time. Lastly, these jobs allow me to meet people from different places, different cultures and different influences. I learn a lot and they open my mind. I like to think that I have friends all over the world with whom I can maintain a bond over time.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: In the case of a recording of a drum kit already composed, I need to listen to it. To record it, I only need the track without drums and the speed of the song (bpm). If you need me to compose the drums, I want to know what is the reference you want to reach, what is the expectation. For this, it is very useful if I get songs with a similar sound, styles, reference artists, anything that helps me to interpret what the producer has in mind. It is also very important to know how much time I have to do the job so we can agree on delivery times.

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

A: Hire me! I assure you that you will not regret it ;)

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

A: A PC powered by solar panels, with all my plugins and VSTs, a sound card and a microphone. With that I could make all the music I need and once I see it's the end, I'd bury the hard drive so they can listen to it tomorrow when it's discovered by some alien in the year 3500.

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

A: I started studying percussion at the conservatory in my hometown when I was 10 years old, on the recommendation of my elementary school music teacher. I was there for two years and then I started studying drums with a private teacher until I was 18, when I entered the Escuela de Música de Buenos Aires (EMBA). By that time I had already been part of several projects, with recordings and live performances. After graduating from music school, with some friends we went on a tour around many countries in Europe, playing Latin American music. There I met many musicians from all over the world who opened my head a lot. When I came back, I continued to be part of many projects and formed my Alternative Rock band, KOBA, where besides playing drums and backing vocals, I started to write, compose and produce my own ideas. I have played in private events, festivals, own productions, live musical comedies, studio recordings, as a street artist, in radios and TV. I have also been stage manager of renowned artists in big theaters, which led me to learn how professionals work live. I gave private music, drums, piano and guitar lessons (I still do it now) since I was in music school. I have also given music lessons in elementary and high schools. I loved the idea of positively influencing the next generations. Today, I was able to finish building my home studio and, besides continuing with KOBA, from here I record for people all over the world, produce bands and compose for films.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I have a rock, grunge style, with technical complements of many other styles that I studied over the years. Powerful, detailed, dynamic.

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

A: I would love to work with Rick Rubin. He's worked with many of the artists I admire the most and I'm very curious what his workflow is like. I think I could learn a lot.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always try to think outside the box. Sometimes, when I'm stuck in a production, I start listening to just a few tracks, muting most of them. That makes more room to create new things from what was already there.

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

A: I mainly play Rock, but have played in funk, jazz, folk, indie, electronic, rockabilly and live musical comedy projects.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I think it's my versatility. As I have studied at a music school and have toured many places, playing with many musicians of different genres, I can adapt easily. I also consider myself a very responsible person with my jobs, I never had a bad experience with anyone and I want to keep it that way. I take the necessary time to achieve a result that satisfies everyone.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Over the years I have played with many projects of different styles in different parts of the world. That has broadened my palette considerably. So when I contribute to a song I do it with many influences within myself. With some minimal indications of what the artist intends I can create really original pieces of music. I've also had a lot of jobs where it was necessary to stick to a concert sound and performance, like in tribute bands or cover shows, so it's not hard for me to imitate the drums of a song. Also, according to the people I've worked with, I give a lot of strength and power to my drums. I guess that's because my essence will always be to sound like a rocker.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First I have to know what the spirit of what is being sought is. For that, it helps me to listen to references and/or read the specifications that the client gives me. Then I make the first notes, such as the general structure of the song, fills, dynamics and anything that is useful. With everything written down I sit down at the instrument and with the reference in my ear I start trying different tuning options, microphone placement and performances, polishing more and more the sound and the interpretation. Once I get to something I like and I'm happy with, I pass it on to the client to see what he/she thinks. With his response we see if we give the work as concluded or I take note of his corrections to make it better again, as many times as necessary.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I record in my home studio fully acousticized professionally. Solidrums 5-body drum kit REMO drumheads Zildjian Avedis Quick Beat 14'' Hi Hat Zildjian K Custom Dark Crash 19'' Paiste 2002 Big Ride 24''' Zildjian A Custom EFX 20''' Samson DK707 Drum Microphones Kit AKG 420 perception Microphone Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 and Saffire Pro 40 soundboards Studio One 5 as DAW (also I can use Ableton Live if needed)

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

A: As a kid I listened to a lot of progressive and symphonic rock. Legendary rock bands like Genesis, Pink Floyd, Rush, Yes, Led Zeppelin, The Police or Queen were my first influences. Then I went on to listen to virtuoso drummers of modern jazz, such as Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dennis Chambers, Steve Gadd. As time went by, I started to enjoy the more electronic sounds and simplier rithms. Bands like Radiohead, Muse, Coldplay and Gorillaz, for exaple, were great inspirations for me. As one matures, one begins to understand the complexity of simplicity. Music has its reason in its power to transmit. Most of the time, the simpler it is, the better it conveys. That's why, for example, I started to like The Beatles more when I grew up.

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

A: I am often called upon to take care of the rhythmic part of the song, either with acoustic drums, electronic drums, percussion or sequences. When I listen to a song, my ear naturally goes first to the rhythm, what does it suggest, what is the spirit. However, many other times I am approached with a demo, which we work on every aspect of the song until it is at its best.