Session Drummer/Percussionist

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

A: Oof, what a tough question. I would probably just take my current kit minus a few pieces. Kick, snare, one tome, ride cymbal and a hi-hat. That's all I would ever need!

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

A: I have been a musician since I was a young child, but I didn't realize you could do it for a living. Even though I spent hours a day working on music and playing in various bands and orchestras I thought I was going to be an electrical engineer (I had the scholarships and internships to back me up!). Finally, my senior year of high school I told my parents I wanted to go all in for music and get a performance degree. I did it, moved to Atlanta, and never looked back. My "day job" is teaching music lessons, and I love it. It gives me a chance to explore so much music and ways to approach my instrument that I never would have imagined.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I am definitely a rock guy at heart, but I love jazz, progressive rock, fusion, metal and more. I think this gives me the power and punch of a rock drummer, but with some tasty tricks up my sleeve!

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

A: I would love to work with Big Wreck, because they're an amazingly solid rock band that still has a lot of artistry. They write great songs and all of the tones and fantastic.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: This might sound silly but I learned the hard way that you need to get the best sounds before the microphone that you can. "Fixing it in the mix" is never a good choice, which is why I take time to get my drums sounding just right and practice my touch and feel on a daily basis.

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

A: The most common type of music I'm used for is modern rock and country/singer-songwriter. I've also done a lot of drum tracking for metal bands in my past so I can easily dust off the double pedal and put it to work!

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I am very open-minded and adaptable, so I will take whatever steps necessary to reach your goal.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I have studied, recorded, and gigged a lot of different musical styles, and I believe that that gives me the option to either recreate a sound in your head or bring my own sound to the table. In general I go for a very "real" sound, meaning your music will be able to breathe with my drums.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I start by listening to the song and usually creating some sort of chart, whether it be music notation or just basic notes. Then I like to get a first take and use my DAW presets to get a "mixed" drum sound to share with the artist. Once you approve I either do a final take, or if you like the first take I will just spend time getting the tracks polished. I repeat the sending/approval step when needed or requested from the artist.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a large finished basement where I record and teach. I have several drum sets, cymbals, extra drums, percussion, and microphones, so I can create a lot of different sounds here!

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

A: Keith Carlock, Shannon Forrest, Jerry Roe, Jeff Porcaro, Simon Phillips and Gavin Harrison are heroes of mine, both on the drumming side and their involvement in recording and production.

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

A: People hire me to track drums from my home studio, saving them time and money! I do as many revisions as we need to get your desired result. Sometimes I am also asked to create the final drum mix, but that is up to the artists discretion.