Pop / Rock || Session Drummer

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

A: I recently worked on a remote recording project where my role was to record acoustic drums for the artist's song. I focused on finding the right groove and dynamics for the arrangement and delivered multiple options so the artist could choose what worked best for the final production. I was especially proud of the project because the artist was very happy with the results and the tracks gave them plenty of options during the production process.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I’m currently working on remote drum sessions for artists and producers, while continuing to develop my own recording studio in Brazil. I’m also working with local artists and bands and expanding my session work internationally.

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

A: I’ve come across a few great drummers on SoundBetter whose work I really admire. Renan Martins was actually one of the first session drummers I discovered working online, and Ben Barter is another drummer whose work and approach I really admire. I’d definitely recommend checking them out if you’re looking for great session drummers.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. I like the reliability and flexibility of digital recording, but I also love the character and feel of analog equipment. For me, the most important thing is the performance and the sound serving the song.

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

A: I promise to treat every song as a musical project, not just a recording job. I’ll give you a performance that serves the song and deliver clean, organized files that are easy to work with.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love taking a song that already has an idea and finding the drum performance that makes it come alive. Every song presents a different musical challenge.

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

A: They usually ask about turnaround time, what files they'll receive and whether I can work with references. My answer is yes — I can adapt the session to the project's needs and deliver organized, production-ready multitracks.

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

A: That a session drummer is just there to play what's written. A good session drummer also listens, understands the arrangement and makes musical decisions that help the song.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I usually ask about the song, references, BPM, arrangement and what they want from the drums. I also like to know if they have any specific sounds, performances or artists in mind.

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

A: Choose someone whose playing and sound fit the song. Listen to their samples and don't be afraid to explain what you're looking for. The more I understand about the song and your vision, the better I can serve it.

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

A: A great acoustic drum kit, maybe Slingerland or any Ludwig, Supraphonic snare and my Zildjian cymbals set.

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

A: I started playing drums at a young age and gradually moved from playing live to recording and session work. Over the years I’ve worked with different artists and bands and built my own recording studio specifically for acoustic drum sessions.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I’d describe my style as musical, dynamic and groove-focused. I like drums that feel human and powerful while serving the song rather than getting in the way of it.

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

A: Actually, I’d love to work with Men I Trust. I really admire how they combine dreamy textures, hypnotic melodies and understated grooves with a strong sense of atmosphere. Their music feels simple on the surface, but there’s a lot of subtle detail and musicality underneath it.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Don’t try to make every part of a song sound huge. Contrast is important. Sometimes playing less and leaving space makes the important moments hit much harder.

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

A: I mainly work with rock, alternative rock, indie, pop, pop rock and singer-songwriter projects. I’m also comfortable adapting to different styles depending on what the song needs.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is playing for the song. I’m very focused on groove, dynamics and knowing when to play more or less.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring feel, dynamics and musicality. My goal isn't just to play the drums correctly, but to make the song feel better and support the emotion of the music.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I first listen carefully to the song and understand what the artist is looking for. I then record a few takes focused on feel, dynamics and arrangement, choose the strongest performance and make sure the tracks are clean, organized and ready for production.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I work from my own acoustic drum recording studio in Brazil. I have multiple drum kits and a selection of classic and modern snare drums, Zildjian cymbals and professional microphones. My recording setup is based around UAD Apollo preamps and a multi-channel interface, allowing me to deliver fully separated multitrack drum tracks.

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

A: I’m inspired by drummers like Steve Jordan, Aaron Sterling, Joey Waronker, Josh Freese and Benny Greb. I also really admire producers and engineers who know how to make drums sound natural, powerful and musical.

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

A: mainly work as a remote session drummer, recording acoustic drums for artists, bands, producers and songwriters. I record the parts to fit the song, provide clean multitrack files and can also handle editing and mixing when needed.