Rock Session Drummer

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

A: That's the one I'm doing now. I am co-producing the album by using Logic Pro to restore tracks and demos and turning them into full fledged singles material. This includes all drum and percussion programming, some bass parts and guitar sounds, mixing and mastering over 24 tracks that are now ready for manufacturing and release. Not to mention album cover and full LP packaging, launch package and distribution - focusing on digital channels so necessary for today. I do all of that because I believe in the melodies, harmonies, song arrangements and instrumentation.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: An unknown power pop trio and my co-producer. LP on an independent label is imminent - but we've been saying that for the last year !

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

A: There are many famous names on SoundBetter who I admire but I do not know any of them personally - unfortunately !

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: As stated on another question about misconceptions: drum programming cannot match live acoustic drums. That's true in many senses, but not in all. I think sound technology has advanced so much that in many ways there are more options with drum programming than live sessions. I love playing live - there is no feeling like it, and it is a different skill than manipulating 0's and 1's on a computer or keyboard.

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

A: Feeling, loyalty, determination, groove and submitting one's own wishes for the good of the art and song.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Music is a different language than what we speak and it communicates things that words or gestures cannot. So it's an emotional adventure that I am privledged to participate in and make the most of.

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

A: Yeah, drum programming cannot match live acoustic drums. That's true in many senses, but not in all. I think sound technology has advanced so much that in many ways there are more options with drum programming than live sessions. I love playing live - there is no feeling like it, and it is a different skill than manipulating 0's and 1's on a computer or keyboard.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What type of drummer are you looking for ? I am a sparse and groove-heavy drummer - I am not a technical Billy Cobham or Buddy Rich. I don't seek the limelight, just a solid understated role serving the music, the ensemble and the project overall.

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

A: Be judicious and pick the drummer who feels right - of course ! There are so many different drumming styles - I have mine and it may or may not be right for what you are doing. My long experience allows me to sense and sync with many different styles. Music is an emotional art and it should evoke emotions with every take.

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

A: Long. I started in parade drumming on the snare and bass drum in 6th grade. Until one day I saw one of my snare drummers take the stage on his drum set in the jazz combo and he blew me away with his confident and strong playing. At the same time I performed in a percussion ensemble and learned how to play every percussion instrument, e.g. marimba, chimes, timpani, thumb piano (calimba). I bought my own drumset at 14 years old and took it from there. My parents had to sign a letter of release for the first band I played with in a bar. I've played at the 9:30 Club in DC and CBGB's in NYC. I bought a Teac Tascam 244 Portastudio multitrack cassette studio at 19 and taught myself a few things about analogue recording, but have now spent more than two years creating drum tracks and co-producing an upcoming LP by a power-pop trio for an independent UK record label. So it's in me !

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Solid, sparse and confident, speaking up only when the moment presents itself.

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

A: Geeze, too many to mention. I love to work with musicians and styles that cannot be easily pidgeon-holed into one sub genre or another. Craftsmen like Sting, Paul Weller, Chris Martin - and back in their day - The Beatles, all kept pushing forward and never repeating the same style / album production twice. That's art.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Improve a live drum track by creating a midi track and then enhancing it with samples, blending the original live track with solid, more robust sounding samples.

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

A: I love rock and find it easy to relate to all of its different forms and expressions. And yet there is nothing better than a well-crafted pop song that does its job in under four minutes.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Creating solid drum grooves and back beats on which the other components of the composition can thrive. Creating climactic and dramatic moments in the song using dynamic playing and creating space.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I always believe in finding the heart of the song and then constructing the drums around that to support the overall "feel and groove" of the song. I have a sparse drum style, but when the drums speak, they are very tasty. Otherwise they form one voice with the song. Great drumming is there but not heard - you have to pick your moments. To some extent, less is more. Drumming is its own language and when it is done right, it's extremely powerful.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Import the demo/song tracks into Logic Pro, align timing, lay down basic snare and bass drum, add hi hat or ride (time keeping), add cymbals, percussion, construct drum fills before creating stereo drum mix. EQ each drum set and percussion component. Create mix. Master.

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

A: Stewart Copeland, Bill Berry, Max Weinberg, Talk Talk, Kings of Leon, Ringo Star, The Beatles, The Jam, The Style Council, Paul Weller, Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits

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

A: Drum track programming on Logic Pro.