Chris O'Brien on SoundBetter

Hi-Energy Drummer with a powerful funk-rock style, yet sensitive to songs needs. Played on albums by Zappacosta, Tina Arena and Harem Scarem. Performed on 'The Singing Office' TV show with Mel B and Joey Fatone. Programmed backing tracks, synth/e-drum rigs for Michael Jacskon, Lionel Richie and Amy Grant. Creator of STARK RAVING BEATS drum library.

Based in Los Angeles for over 30 years where I've worked as a programmer and tech for Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie and Amy Grant and drummed on recordings by Tina Arena, Billie Myers, Alfie Zappacosta, Blue Bayou movie soundtrack, The Lift, Niclas Lundin, Al Slavik and Harem Scarem. My programming work can be heard on over one hundred KidzBop songs along with my twenty plus years composing instrumental music that has aired on major network TV, Film and Streaming services.

I've worked with producers Dave Tyson, Paul DeVilliers, Eric Persing, Matthew Gerrard, Gerry Mosby, Cliff Downes, Michael Egizi and Gary Phillips along with songwriters Eddie Schwartz, Christopher Ward, Maggie Szabo, Annie Bosko, Gerald O'Brien, TJ Jackson, Patty Smyth, Tom DeLuca, Jonathan Clark and Jay Lazaroff.

In 2022 I created a drums only album 'Cue The Drums' for KPM (formerly EMI Production Music UK), distributed in the USA and Canada by APM. In 2009, I was the drummer in the house band on The Learning Channel TV series 'The Singing Office' with hosts Mel B (Spice Girls, America’s Got Talent) and Joe Fatone (NSync). In 2002, I produced and performed on the award winning drum loop library from ILIO, ‘Stark Raving Beats’.

My musicality, professionalism and care for details will ensure well crafted, sonically superb drum parts for your song or album.

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

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Interview with Chris O'Brien

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Stark Raving Beats is a drum loop disc I created and produced with ILIO for the popular Stylus RMX plug-in. That was a fun, creative and experimental project that was admired and used by some great company : David Newman (Film Composer), Michael Bearden (Keyboard Player/Musical Director) and Lance Morrison (Bassist/Composer).
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Q. What's your rate? A. What's your budget?
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That it's not "real work".
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: Do you hear live drums or programmed beats? Either one or hybrid of both is cool with me.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Have your track completed and have an idea of what you want and please give a reference if possible for vibe and feel. (artist and song / sound reference)
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Music for television
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital for the ease, endless options and time saved exploring those options.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Playing for the song with great feel and sounds and delivering on time as promised.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Getting to be involved in making music for a living
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Kick, Snare, Hihat, Tom, Cymbal.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Drumming at early age led to music composition for TV/Film, but I still love to perform on a great song. Been doing this for thirty five years.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Funky, bombastic, yet subtle and delicate as needed.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Louis Cole because he's fearless and funky as hell.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Listen carefully and patiently, let the song dictate what it needs.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Rock and Pop
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Taking songs to another level via drumming,programming and mixing.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Musicality, power and space.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Listen down to the song, listen again and make notes, try a few different approaches for sound and feel then commit to a great performance that elevates the song
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: 16 channel inputs for live recording via Universal Audio Apollo and Focusrite Octo-Pre, Gauge 1076 style mic pres Mackie HR824 speakers, Mics: Beta 52A Kick Drum mic, Dr. Allen Smith Alien 8 Kick Drum mic, SM57s for snare top and bottom, Sennhesier E604 toms mics, Austria Audio OC818, Rode NT5, Sony ECM-999PR mics for overheads. Gretsch USA Custom Drums, Tama Starclassic Drums, Ludwig, Pearl and Gretsch snares, Zildjian cymbals.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: DRUMMERS - Mitch Mitchell, Phil Collins, Stewart Copeland, Neil Peart, Gary McCracken, Martin Deller, Bill Bruford, Omar Hakim, Phil Gould, Tony Thompson, Dave Grohl, Simon Phillips, Prairie Prince, Jerry Marotta, Manu Katche, Chester Thompson, Buddy Rich, Louis Cole. ARTISTS - The Police, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Them Crooked Vultures, The Time, The Who, Sting, XTC, 70's era Genesis, Garbage, Tears For Fears, Massive Attack, The Secret Machines, King Crimson, Yes, Nine Inch Nails, Oingo Boingo, The Tubes, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Foo Fighters, Queens Of The Stone Age, Simple Minds, James Brown, Prince, Thomas Dolby, Bjork, Talking Heads, Killing Joke, Slaves, Royal Blood, Snarky Puppy, Louis Cole, Mono Neon, Robert Palmer, Power Station, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, U.K., Bruford, Level 42, Rush, Max Webster, FM, Mr. Mister, Nik Kershaw, Porcupine Tree, St. Vincent, Talk Talk.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Drum tracks, either live or programmed as well as full instrumental tracks programming and mixing.