Session Drummer (Remote)

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

A: Yes, I’m always happy to recommend skilled producers, mixers and musicians on SoundBetter when a project requires additional collaborators. I value teamwork and believe the best results come from assembling the right creative team for each project.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: I believe in using both. Analog gear brings character, depth and musical saturation, while digital tools provide precision, recall and flexibility. The right balance between the two allows me to capture drums with personality while maintaining modern workflow efficiency.

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

A: My promise is to deliver musical, reliable and professional drum recordings that truly serve the song. I commit to clear communication, attention to detail, and performances that feel intentional and ready to fit naturally into the mix.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: What I enjoy most is helping songs come to life. Being part of the creative process, shaping rhythm and feel, and hearing how a drum performance elevates a track is what keeps me inspired after many years of doing this.

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

A: Clients often ask if I can adapt my playing and sound to their specific song. My answer is always yes—everything from groove, dynamics and tuning to mic choice and delivery format is tailored to the music and the producer’s vision.

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

A: Many people think session drumming is only about playing well, but it’s really about making decisions that serve the song—from sound selection and tuning to dynamics and restraint.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I usually ask about the song’s references, tempo, feel, structure and emotional direction. I also ask how the drums should function in the arrangement and what format the client expects for delivery, so everything is aligned from the start.

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

A: Look for someone who listens to your music and understands your goals, not just their own technique. Clear communication, references and musical sensitivity are just as important as sound quality when choosing a session musician.

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

A: A versatile drum kit, a great snare drum, a solid pair of cymbals, a reliable condenser microphone and a transparent audio interface. With those basics, you can make music anywhere if the performance is right.

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

A: I’ve been working as a professional drummer and producer for over 20 years. My career path includes extensive live performance, session work, music production and studio recording. Along the way, I founded Condor Drums and Gama Percussion, where I design and build drums and percussion instruments. This hands-on work with instruments has deeply expanded my understanding of sound, tuning and tone at the source. In addition, I’ve completed numerous advanced courses and workshops with internationally recognized drummers and music producers, continuously refining my approach to drum recording, production and musical decision-making. This combination of experience, craftsmanship and ongoing education strongly informs the way I record and deliver drum tracks today.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style is musical, groove-oriented and adaptable. I focus on feel, dynamics and tone rather than chops, blending influences from jazz, fusion, rock, pop and Latin music to support each song in a natural and intentional way.

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

A: I’d love to work with artists who value musical interaction and sound identity, such as John Mayer, Radiohead or Hiatus Kaiyote. I’m drawn to projects where rhythm, arrangement and tone play a key role in shaping the song’s personality.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Always serve the song first. Before adding complexity, make sure the groove, feel and dynamics support the emotion of the track. A simple, well-placed drum part will always outperform something overly busy if it helps the song breathe.

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

A: I usually work on pop, rock, indie, jazz, fusion and Latin music, as well as neo-soul and funk-influenced projects. I’m comfortable in both organic, acoustic settings and modern hybrid productions that blend live drums with contemporary production elements.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is musical adaptability. I can quickly understand different musical languages, genres and production goals, and translate them into a solid, tasteful drum performance. I also have a strong ability to choose the right drum sound, snare and tuning for each project

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring musical judgment, groove and sonic identity. My goal is to understand what the song truly needs and translate that into a drum part that supports the arrangement, enhances emotion and feels intentional. My background as a drummer, producer and drum builder helps me make sound choices that go beyond performance alone.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My workflow starts with a pre-production alignment: discussing references, tempo, feel and the role of the drums in the song. I then select the appropriate drum kit, snare, cymbals and tuning based on the musical context. During tracking, I focus on musical, organic performances with strong dynamics and consistency. I deliver clean, well-organized stems, ready for mixing, and I’m always open to reasonable feedback and refinements. The goal is to deliver drums that naturally sit in the track and enhance the song as a whole

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My studio is purpose-built for professional drum and percussion recording. I own over 20 snare drums, most of them handcrafted by me under Condor Drums, featuring different woods, sizes and constructions, each with its own character and voice. I regularly work with multiple full drum kits including Canopus, Mapex and Condor Drums, along with several cymbal sets from Murat Diril and Zildjian, allowing me to tailor the sound precisely to each project. The microphone collection is extensive and drum-focused, including Sennheiser MD421, Shure SM81, Shure Beta kits, Audix drum kits, Telefunken microphones, Warm Audio U87, AKG C414, Audio-Technica 4040/4041, Rode NT2000, among many others. On the signal path side, the studio features a high-end Antelope Audio Orion 32 AD/DA interface for multi-channel drum tracking, paired with premium preamps such as SSL PureDrive and VHD preamps, Camilo Silva CSF2 and CSF3, and Focusrite ISA units. Monitoring is handled through Antelope Audio and KRK monitors, with precise control via an Audient Nero monitor controller. The room is acoustically treated and optimized specifically for capturing drums with depth, punch and natural dynamics.

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

A: I’m inspired by musicians and producers who understand rhythm as part of the musical narrative, not just technique. Artists such as John Mayer, Radiohead, Snarky Puppy, Hiatus Kaiyote and Lemon City Trio strongly influence my approach, along with producers who prioritize arrangement, tone and emotional impact over trends

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

A: I mainly work as a session drummer, recording acoustic drums and percussion both remotely and in-studio for artists, producers and composers. Most projects involve full song recordings, singles and EPs across genres such as pop, rock, indie, jazz, fusion and Latin music. My focus is always on groove, feel and serving the song rather than overplaying