Touring / session drummer who has worked with Lana Del Rey, T Bone Burnett, Blake Mills, Perfume Genius, Florence and The Machine, Sky Ferreira and Albert Hammond Jr
I offer both remote and in person drum sessions. I specialize in rock, pop, singer songwriter, punk and groove based music. Happy to take on tracks one at a time, or sign up for a complete albums worth of material up front. Please include your timeframe, budget as well as musical or sonic references you'd like me to have in mind before getting started. I am easy to work with, and can help artists / producers execute a variety of ideas quickly
Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.
5 Reviews
Endorse Darren Weiss
check_circleVerifiedCan't recommend Darren enough. Brought such a creativity and performance to his drumming on my track that elevated the entire song immensely.
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Darren will take whatever idea you have and make it way better. He's the best, and insanely fast.
Ive hired Darren multiple times over the past years for film/tv/record projects both in person and remote. He's always a pleasure to deal with and delivers the best of the best. It can be hard to trust everyones remote setup these days but he's dialed in and gets a great sound. If I have a specific part in mind he's able to nail it and more likely than not add some extra sauce that I didn't know I needed. He's also helped me to think out of the box and come up with creative drum setups whether it be pots/pans/junky clangy tools/you name it.
Darren has played on several records I love and we have played on several projects together live and in the studio. He is one of the most versatile, talented and reliable drummers in town. From T Bone productions to Lana Del Ray, and then countless film/tv projects, it is always a pleasure working with him.
Darren may be the best drummer in LA. I'm not joking. He will give you everything you want, and them some extra magic you didn't know you wanted. He'll quickly provide multiple options, takes direction extremely well, and when left to his own devices has a creative sensibility that will heighten your song. Book him for your experimental tracks, your meat and potatoes tracks, and everything in between. He has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Hiring Darren gives you an insurance policy...you know the drums are not going to be a problem. Like a good neighbor, Darren's drum parts are THERE.
Interview with Darren Weiss
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Ive been able to find great results with both. I think it depends on the sensibility of the artist and the style of tracking being done
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: quick turn around, quality recordings, and I'm very easy going and understanding when it comes to taking directions or notes
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: creating drum tracks that make people excited and help them fulfill their vision as an artist
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: would you be down to try it this way? my answer is always yes
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: I also work as a composer and songwriter. I don't always talk about that when I'm being hired purely as a drummer, but I do think these other experiences and skill sets help my sensibility as a drummer as well as my understanding of what songs need to shine
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: who are you inspired by? are there any reference tracks ? when do you need this back?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: don't be afraid to ask questions. In this setting, my absolute goal is to create drum tracks that you'll be inspired by and excited have on your recordings. I'll won't stop working until we get to that point
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: my 1940's slinger land radio king snare drum my Ludwig supra phonic snare that I've played on almost everything since I was 15 a zildjian Constantinople ride that was gifted to me by Peter Erskine my 1957 gretsch "name brand" kit my Istanbul 14' 30th anniversary hi hats
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I have fluctuated between being members of touring bands, and spending time in Los Angeles as a session drummer, television composure, and music directer. I have been doing this professional for over a decade, and started touring in my own bands from the time I was 17
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: creative, thoughtful, open
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I've been lucky to work with a lot of artists that I never thought I would, but in the end an artists drive, passion and dedication to their vision is what inspires me more than any kind of previous success
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: ask yourself why it sounds the way it does in your head before you try and recreate it in a room. sometimes the why is more effective and powerful thing to chase than the reference sound itself
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: pop, rock, singer songwriter, hip hop, groove oriented rhythm and blues
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: coming up with drum parts catered to the song
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: and open mind, a desire for greatness, focused work ethic and a willingness to try things
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: In the studio, its always different, but if I am working remote from my home studio, I will generally get a version of a demo with no drums, and then discuss what the artist is looking for before going ahead and tracking a first draft of ideas before I send those back to make sure we're thinking the same kind of thing, and then focus in on notes and revisions once the general idea and feel is locked in
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: home drum studio. I work on protools, and though the mic list is always in rotation, I generally us m160s as over head, wunderaudio 47 fet clone for mono overhead, 421s for toms, 441 for snare and a re20 for kick
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Joey Waronker, Jay Bellerose, Jim Keltner, Carla Azar, Brian Blade
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Most commonly, I will be brought on by a producer to bring the songs of a solo artist to life
I was the drummer in this production
- Live drum trackAverage price - $400 per song
- PercussionAverage price - $250 per song
- Programmed drumAverage price - $400 per song
I typically will allow 3 revisions and will complete an assignment within a day of receiving it. Beyond the initial three revisions, I charge an additional $50 per round.
- I have endorsement deals with Istanbul Agop cymbals and C and C drums but also have a deep collection of snares
- cymbals and vintage kits to cover any musical and tonal ground
