Versatile Session Drummer

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: First and foremost how fast the client needs the files and I'll say right away if I can deliver it in the requested time or not (usually I can send a take within the day). What are the references for the song as far as style and drum sounds, if there are programmed drums and if I should play the exact parts, what are the files specs (sample rate, bit depth and tempo), and if they need the tracks to be edited.

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

A: My Ludwig Acrolite Snare, Audient ASP880 pres, 14" K Light hihats, Oldbox M4 ribbon mic, Pinguim 60's 22'' kick drum

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

A: The first artist that pops in my head is Djavan, a brazilian artist with a beautiful voice and jaw dropping songs that go from "simple" pop songs to complex native brazilian rhythms and melodies that are just as beautiful as they are complex. And I also love american a british artists such as John Mayer, Billie Eilish, James Morrison, Thom York, Dave Grohl...

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Knowing when to stop. It's easy to get lost in the process of creating, recording and mixing, try to self analyze if you know where you want to go with the song and, once you arrive at the point where your song is expressing what you first imagined, that's a wrap. And than publish or post it. So many good projects end up sitting in the back of a hard drive and never see the light of day because people tend to overthink and overdo things, a recording should reflect the exact period of an artists creativity bearing everything that goes along with it.

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

A: An independent band that I was a member of in which all of us were able to give inputs in the whole process of making music, from composing to producing. It made the producer in me flourish in a way that I have never had the chance before.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: The never ending research for tones and sounds.

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

A: Unfortunately not.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital, because it's what I can afford at the moment. But I'd love to experiment with analog as well.

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

A: That you'll get what you want. I'd rather redo a drum take 5 times and have a product that leaves both of us happy than going to sleep at night knowing that I could've done better.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: The never ending research about music, production, sounds, genres. And getting the opportunity of starting out with the sketch of a song and being part of a final product that will be out there for the world to listen to.

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

A: If I can emulate certain sounds or vibes from a particular record or drummer, and 99% of the time I can.

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

A: People tend to put you in a music style box when they see you are from another country. People usually get surprised when they hear the sounds I get from my home studio even though I record in a small room from the other side of the hemisphere.

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

A: Let's chat, either by phone or video call. Best way to get the energy of the person you're about to work with is by talking for a few minutes and feel if one fills the requirements you usually look for.

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

A: I've been playing drums for 26 years now, 20 as a professional drummer. I first started playing in a band towards the end of middle school, then I went to music school in Brazil and made some connections and that was where I started working professionaly. After that I was awarded a schollarship to for a masters degree in the US at the University of Iowa in Jazz Studies, After I came back to Brazil I kept working as a gigging musician and teaching drum lessons privately. I started recording more often after 2015 and since than this has been my main focus, in 2019 I set up my first home studio and now it has been the focus of my work. Even though I still do a little bit of touring, I spend about 70% of my time working from my studio either recording or teaching online. My credits recording and touring include some latin grammy award winning and nominated artists such as Lenine and Leo Chaves. I also have performed with other highly regarded brazilian jazz musicians such as Sandro Haick, Felipe Silveira, Djalma Lima, Marcelo Martins and many others

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I'm a "play for the song" musician. No ego whatsoever when performing or recording. If it's minimalistic song that requires textures I have the ears and skill for it, if its a pocket based song I'll do my best to deliver a rock solid groove, if it's improvised music I'll expand a little more yet still balancing groove, textures and phrasing

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

A: Usually pop/singer/songwriter songs are the ones that come to me often. But the umbrella that covers this type of music is pretty wide, sometimes it's going to be something that has an 80's vibe, or the 70's dead drums, modern pop with that gushy snare sound, or even something leaning more towards 90's rock. So it's a wide range of music styles. And because of my upbringing in Brazil, I often do some work related to our native culture such as samba, forró, bossa nova and ocasionally some improvised brazilian music.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill are my ears. Before playing anything I listen carefully to the song and make sure I'm playing a drum part that will only help the song as well as picking the right tones for each song.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: The drums are usually the foundation of a song, and I can deliver a solid foundation in scenarios that need an energetic performance or either a subdued light approach on the drums. You can be sure that I can bring the drum part and drum sounds that will fit your songs. It's all about pocket and feel.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Usually I ask for all the details about each of the songs I'm working on, if there are any references I should listen to and what are the expectations of the producer or artist on how the drums should sound on each track. Then I ask for files and what is the recording resolution and click tempo. If I can gather enough information with the producer and/or artist about the track I'm able to nail it right away and 90% of the time no revisions are needed. In case there is need for a second take and redo the whole take or a part of it I'll gladly do it. Once we've achieved the right take I'll send the stems for each recorded track without any effects, mix or panning. I usually track drums with a little bit of EQ and very light compression in a few channels, nothing too drastic, just some cleaning up before you send it to your mixing engineer. If perhaps you will mix the song yourself and you're not familiarized with mixing live drums, we can arrange and discuss a separate fee and I'll mix the drums for you and send it as a "drums bus" stereo mix.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My home studio is equiped with 3 sets of drums: an "all around" versatile Gretsch Renown kit, a small Gretsch "bebop" kit and a vintage 60's Pinguim (brazilian brand) kit. Multiple snare drums by different manufacturers (Gretsch, Ludwig, Pearl, George Way, etc.) and many cymbals from various brands (Zildjian, Istanbul Agop, Bosphorus, Domene, Agean, etc.) The mic locker contains everything needed to record hi-fi live drum tracks: Shure SM-57s, Audio Technica ATM230's, Lewitt lct 040 and 140 condenser mics, SE electronics SE8 matched pair, Avantone Bass drum mic, SE electronics SEv7 instrument mic and a pair of Oldbox ribbon mics. Everything going through an 8 channel Focusrite interface with 8 additional Audient ASP880 preamps via ADAT, being able to deliver up to 16 simultaneous tracks. 99% of my tracks are recorded on Pro Tools, but I also record on Logic every once in a while (if requested by client).

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

A: Steve Jordan, Eric Valentine, Djavan, John JR Robinson, Aaron Sterling, Jeff Porcaro, Vinnie Colaiutta, Gary Novak, Ash Soan, Carlos Vega, Leland Sklar, Pino Paladino, Andrew Scheps, Steve Albini, Dave Grohl, James Gadson, Zigaboo Modeliste

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

A: For the most part I do recordings for pop/ indie bands and singer/songwriters. Every now and then I get calls to cut some rock tracks and because of my background playing brazilian improvised music I get asked a lot to "bossa nova style" beats with brushes.