Manuel Figuerero on SoundBetter

Hi there! I'm Manu, an Argentine Drummer with a serious passion for creating beats across various musical genres, such as Pop, Rock, Indie, Folk, Funk,R&B, and our beloved Argentine Folklore.

I've been drumming since I was 9; and for the past decade, I've been rockingstages and recording albums in some of the world’s most iconic studios such as Abbey Road alongside amazing artists like Feli Colina, Salvapantallas and more. (Take a look at my Spotify Playlist, where you'll find hits I've recorded like Me Conecto -Ft. Jorge Drexler- by Salvapantallas, which has over 14 million listens!)

I've had the privilege of learning from some of Argentina's best drummers like Rober Figuett, Jorge Araujo and Pipi Piazzolla, always training to grow as a musician, technician, and artist.

Every project is a new adventure for me, where I seek an original interpretation for each song, the ideal drum sound, and the right setup to capture unique emotions.

Beyond live drum recording, I love programming beats and doing organic overdubs. I have a blast adding hi-hats, fills, and percussion that bring samplers to life (check out Santi Celli’s Reset album to listen to some of my finest work in this department).
Feel free to contact me to start our conversation... You can count on my ear and my drum sticks to create the most wonderful music together.

Creativity knows no bounds when it comes to making music!

Playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0vNjr1pLMhSzxOYeaMWlW8?si=2eb770e255d5469b

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

Credits

Languages

English
Spanish

10 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client

Endorse Manuel Figuerero

by Michal Z.
Verified
Real professional! Drums fits into required style.
by Michal Z.
Verified
It's again a pleasure to work with Manuel, his drums are so good that I have nothing to add.
by Michal Z.
Verified
Perfect job! Everything fits in the mix and have outstanding groove.
by Michal Z.
Verified
Manuel is talented, engaged and precise drummer. I had second project with him and final work is impressive.
by Michal Z.
Verified
Manuel produced awesome drum tracks based just only on song drafts. As a drummer he is precise and plays clean.
by Tomás Amante
I have worked with Manuel many times and I can affirm that he is an excellent professional. We have shared studio recording sessions and he has the experience and tools to achieve the desired sound. I will continue choosing him for my projects
by JP Del Océano
I've been working with Manu for many years now, and I have to say he's one of the most professional musicians out here in Argentina. He's a natural problem-solver, with great vision and a wide-range and particular drumming style. He's great for writing new music or recording crazy detailed parts, as well as taking part in the overall production of your project.
by Francis C.
I had the pleasure of working with Manuel and the quality of his recordings are excellent.
Is always ready to work and he has a lot of good energy, passion and is very committed.
It was not necessary to make changes to the drums.

5/5 stars
by Tomas Amante
I have worked with this incredible drummer many times and he was always very important to achieve that sound that I was looking for.
I also highlight that the communication with him has always been very fluid and he has a very professional gear.
by Fran Cirimele
Manu is a really interesting session drummer. Multi genre as well and he has great gear. Also he worked with many main artist, that's so remarkable. I'll definitely work with him again! Highly recommended!

Interview with Manuel Figuerero

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: In 2018 I went to London to record Feli Colina’s Feroza album in the legendary Abbey Road studios (Studio 2!). Having the chance to play and record there, surrounded by friends and incredibly talented musicians, in the best place in the world to do it, is something I’ll always go back to. We can say we made the most of that awesome opportunity, recording a full album out of sheer creativity and synergy produced as a group. No metronome, not a lot of forethought, just a lot of heart and passion! Go check that album out in a favorite platform to get a glimpse into my more experimental-side of drumming.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Yes, Fran Cirimele !
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I like both options! I use analog tools when recording, but I also usually process digitally afterwards, to get where I want!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I will find the right feel and sound for your production
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: As a full-time recording drummer and producer, connecting with amazing artists and helping them to reach their goals and dreams –adding my sensitivity to their work– is something that makes me say “I love my job” every day.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: So, are you looking for a pitch-perfect, sort of robotic-like, drumming sound? Or would you rather go with a powerful-All-Swag-&-Swing, heart-touching part played by a real musician?
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: haha what a difficult decision! - My Macbook (please make sure it has Ableton and my personal plug-ins library installed) - 1 Apogee-Duet - 1 AudioTechnica M50x - 1 Shure SM57 mic - 1 XLR cable (the 32-feet long one will do it for me)
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I’ve been playing and studying drums since I was 9. I can also play guitar, bass and keyboards. At the age of 20, I began my professional drummer career, playing for amazing local projects. I also have +5 years of experience as a recording assistant in Buenos Aires’ top-tier recording studio Camarón Brujo. I’m currently based in Buenos Aires, working with different artists, playing drums, producing and touring the country.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I like writing my drums parts starting from a simple but really precise concept; building up from there, I’m always trying to reach a complete sound where the song keeps the center of attention! I see myself as a drummer with a producer’s vision. I try to keep my sound clear and filled with personality, where every single beat has its purpose within the context of the song: you can call it an All-Killer-No-Filler drumming style…
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I must go with Beck. His unique style and approach for processing different sounds has always been a top-influence for me. I love experimenting in a playful way with drum machines and using distorition effects for my overdubs; these way I can come up with really cool and tasty parts!
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: The setup of my studio is very harmonious. I have in the same room a desk with my computer and the rest of the equipment, on the other side my drum cabinet with a bunch of different drums and percussion and finally the drum kit that is being used with its microphones mounted and with a cloned screen to work more efficiently
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop, Indie Pop, Electronic Pop, Folk and Latin.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Compose perfect drum parts for the song
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: A great sound with personality and organic feelin
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I receive the song and meet with the artist or producer to look for a reference of the sound and feelin they want. Then I send 1 mixed take to have a reference of sound and the multitrack. I always accept a revision to get to the client need.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Demon Albarn, Aaron Sterling, Jack Reed, John Mayer, Mac Demarco, Kevin Parker
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I record drums from my studio, after having a chat about what sound and feelin they want for their production.