Have you ever wondered what the blood, sweat and tears of hundreds of hours in the studio and thousands of miles on the road sounds like but without the ego? Read on to find out how I can help your music stand out from the crowd…
I'm Luke - a professional drummer with a mighty appetite for music.
What makes a good drum track? Decades of learning and great gear in a great room are important but true character and real feel come from experience.
I’ve toured internationally in venues such as the O2 Arena in London and the Bus Palladium in Paris; shared the stage with Diamond Head, Orange Goblin and Royal Thunder; played open air festivals such as Bloodstock and Lakefest in the UK and Summer Breeze in Germany; and worked with artists like Fire Red Empress, who have been featured in Classic Rock, Kerrang and Metal Hammer magazines and played on BBC Radio 1, Planet Rock, Kerrang and Scuzz TV in the UK.
But none of that really matters when it comes to actually listening to your music and doing what's right for your song, which is my ultimate goal above all else. As such I pride myself on being attentive and easy to work with and will always go the extra mile for my clients, which you’ll read in my reviews.
If you’re looking for an experienced drummer who’s truly dedicated to his craft and won’t rest until you’ve got the amazing results you need, I'm your guy!
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
49 Reviews - 7 Repeat Clients
Endorse Luke Middleton
check_circleVerifiedWhat to say?! Another amazing collaboration with this gold drummer! I mean, if it wasn't for the distance, we would clearly hire him as part of our band. Not only is he efficient behind the kit, but he also has a great creative mind and bring so much to our songs. Trust me, you need him!
check_circleVerifiedLuke is very professional - it's a pleasure to work with him - he is very easy, efficient, quick and reliable - we can only recommend working with him RP
check_circleVerifiedLuke is the best! Be sure to hire him for your next project. He won’t let you down and he is great to work with!
- check_circleVerified
Luke was an absolute pleasure to work with. Quick, professional, great attention to detail and easy to communicate with. Highly recommend!
- check_circleVerified
This is the fourth time we've worked with Luke, and he once again delivers an amazing drum track. He has a talent for reading and adapting to what the artist hears in the song. Communication is easy and efficient, and he delivers quick results. I recommend 100%
check_circleVerifiedLuke is not only a phenomenal drummer, he's also super-easy to work with. A really nice guy with great communication and awesome service. Will definitely work with him again!
- check_circleVerified
Great stuff from superman Luke couldn’t have done it without you cheers
- check_circleVerified
Luke is the best discovery I have made on Soundbetter (including other platforms). He is not only an incredible talent on drums but an outstanding communicator who will lead your project as you hear it in your head. He gives my songs a whole new dynamic. Look no more further, he's the guy you need.
- check_circleVerified
Luke is a wonderful drummer with great skills and good vision, songs come alive with no revisions needed. Will definitely choose him to do more in the future
- check_circleVerified
Second song worked with Luke, and he simply delivers an amazing drum track again! Highly skilled drummer, professional but still smooth and friendly communication, incredibly fast turnover! We asked for 3 takes and the guy got them in less than 24 hours!
Simply, he is the guy you need on your next project! We plan on working with him for the whole album!
check_circleVerifiedAlways comes thru with some awesome drumming skills. Give the song what it needs. Very confident always that I’ll receive a professional sounding vision of what I’m looking for. 10 stars 😎
- check_circleVerified
Again a very quick turnover and excellent service! I can't wait for the next track we will work together!
- check_circleVerified
So glad I put my faith in Luke. He delivers perfect drums every time.
- check_circleVerified
Luke is an amazing drummer. He quickly understands what you want for your song. His turnaround time is quick and efficient and he is very professional. It was the first we worked together and we got on the same page easily. I will definitely hire again for our next tracks.
- check_circleVerified
Luke is an expert drummer and a lovely human being. Always delivers the best
- check_circleVerified
Luke has been a pleasure to work with on the first two songs of my project. I will hopefully be finishing the whole album with him. Lovely guy and super talented
- check_circleVerified
Luke was very prompt, courteous, and professional. His drumming on my track was spot on in terms of feel, and even without mixing, I can tell his drumming is taking this song up another level. My first project didn't require technical drumming, but the feel, the groove was perfect for the song. Luke added just the right touch. I do recommend highly!
- check_circleVerified
As ever, luke was friendly, fast and produced great quality results. Always a pleasure to work with and with great communication and results.
check_circleVerifiedAs usual, awesome neat drums tracks, straight to the point, didn't need any revisions!
check_circleVerifiedDoes the job perfect ! Will use him again that's for sure! I've recorded with a LOT of drummers..but giving a song away and getting it back with recorded drums AND without a need to comment/ criticize ..that's very uncommon ... :)
check_circleVerifiedLuke is amazing and has a very effective and fast workflow, easy to work with and excelent results!
I'm looking forward to work with him again very soon.
- check_circleVerified
10 Stars!! Luke is always awesome to work with. Professional sounding drums all the time, knows what he is doing to make your project stand out. Always happy with all the projects we’ve done. Will definitely work with again 😎 \m/ \m/
- check_circleVerified
Fast and friendly with great results as ever.
- check_circleVerified
Luke outdid himself on this recent track! Good stuff!!
check_circleVerifiedAnother great session/collaboration with Luke. Being a huge fan of rock and metal drummers, Luke’s playing really hits home with me. Give him a try!
check_circleVerifiedAwesome drummer! Couldn't ask for a better job:) Certainly going to contact Luke in the future!
- check_circleVerified
Great work and fast turnaround as ever. Greta to work with.
- check_circleVerified
Excellent to work with! Excellent player! Can’t wait to do the next one with him!
- check_circleVerified
Luke was professional in every sense. Good communication, good playing and good recording quality. All in all a great experience!
- check_circleVerified
Luke is an awesome drummer and musician. Very professional and nice guy., Asked me my expectations and delivers a pro drum session. This is my third project with him, and there will be a forth 😎 Makes my music shine \m/ \m/ 10 Stars Recommended
- check_circleVerified
Great work, he knows what he has to do to get the drums sound right. Didn't have any comment or revisions, Just send him detailed requirements and leave the rest to his talent.
He processes the signals very well (EQ, Recording techniques, etc). The project was having dynamic tempo and he managed to do it pretty right.Well definitely work with him again.
Well done Luke 👌 - check_circleVerified
Nothing but a pro! Glad to have found him!
- check_circleVerified
Great results and pleasure to work with.
- check_circleVerified
Luke is a dope drummer! Great to work with too! Easy and professional.
- check_circleVerified
Came thru again! Awesome drum skills always prompt and professional great communication. Knows what the song needs and delivers the goods. Will contact again for more projects. 10 Stars **********
- check_circleVerified
Very professional, knew what I wanted and played what the song called for. Will definitely work with Luke again. Pain free, awesome drums! Recommended!!!!!!
- check_circleVerified
This is the second time we have used Luke, and again he was profession, friendly and produced amazing results.
- check_circleVerified
Luke really helped me out when I really needed it! I can be very picky as I have worked on these songs with 2 other drummers and Luke came in and was a perfect fit!
- check_circleVerified
I really enjoyed working with Luke! He is an excellent drummer and easy to work with! I haven't run into anything he can't do yet! Very versatile and that was what I needed! I have done a few songs with him and have 5 more songs that I will be hoping to work with him on for this album!
- check_circleVerified
I have done four songs with Luke and he did an amazing job! Definitely consider him for your project!
- check_circleVerified
A truly amazing and talented drummer, as well as a nice guy.
Great communication with a friendly manner.Kept us up to day as work progressed and final results were exactly what we wanted.
Would definately recommend and will be using Luke again.
- check_circleVerified
Luke was great to work with and did everything he promised he would and more! This was a really excellent experience! I am getting more songs together as we speak for him to work on!
- check_circleVerified
Luke is a great drummer capable of producing great drum tracks across a wide range of genres.
Rock & Roll ! 
Luke is one of the most driven, dedicated and professional drummers I have ever had the privilege to work with. He recorded, arranged and performed the drums on much of my early solo work - which still stands up as some of the best stuff I’ve committed to tape. He is all about the music, and is a perfectionist through and through. I can’t recommend Luke highly enough as a musician and as a person!
I have worked with Luke for the past three years, and I honestly believe he's one of the most well-rounded drummers I have had the pleasure to have played with. Luke's time and stability make for a great point of reference for a record, and his studio/production knowledge move projects along quickly. If you want great drums: you must book Luke for your recording project!
Luke is a fantstic drummer combining great technique with real feel and he always knows what is right for the song. Top guy too with a great attitude!
Luke is a very committed and talented drummer able to play many kinds of music styles. He really has an eye (ear) for detail and great ideas. He definitely knows how to mix professionalism and fun! It's a pleasure to work with him and if you need, not a good, but a HIGH LEVEL result, you're on the good page!
Luke is an outstanding drummer capable of producing great drum tracks across a wide range of genres. He will work with you to create exactly what you are looking for – he has a real ear for quality and detail. Friendly and efficient!
Brilliant drummer and a top bloke too!
I was looking to add a real drum sound to my tracks as I both dislike programming and coming up with decent drum grooves, not being a drummer by trade. I sent over the tracks with minimal notes and before I knew it they were returned. Needless to say It was worth every penny. If it's rock/metal drumming your after Luke is your guy. Highly recommended.
Interview with Luke Middleton
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both because you can’t beat the vintage sound of awesome hardware but you also can’t live without plugins.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a Pearl Session Elite 20" kick, 12" rack tom and 16" floor tom, a Pearl 14" SensiTone Elite brass snare, Paiste 2002 Wild/Dimensions cymbals and all Remo drumheads. My drum kit is my pride and joy and I've spent hours honing a big tone with a punch that cuts through the mix. My recording setup includes an Audient ID44 and ASP800 with Cubase Pro 10.5 and the following microphones: AKG D-112 (kick in), Aston Origin (kick out), Shure Beta 57A (snare top), Aston Stealth (snare bottom), Shure SM57 (rack tom), Sennheiser MD421 (floor tom), a JZ V67 pair (overheads), Beyerdynamic M160 and M130 in mid side (room) and a Rode NT5 pair (hi-hats and ride). My live room has also been professionally soundproofed and acoustically treated to deliver a balanced frequency response and clean overall sound. I typically record at 44.1khz 24bit, but can change the sample rate if required, and I can provide a maximum of 13 individual multi-track stems as wav files using SoundBetter's built-in file share system, which is quick and reliable.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Progressing my current projects but also looking for new ways to contribute my skills and experience, specifically in studio recording, drum technician services and live performance.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: I would recommend my own clients as they've all been brilliant to work with, but otherwise I would suggest having a good browse because there are some amazing people here on SoundBetter!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Whatever your needs I’ll deliver a professional service and amazing results.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I get to play drums all day every day! My instrument is my release and to be able to make music for a living is a privilege I don’t take for granted.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: I’ve found that communicating as much as possible early on usually answers any questions that might come up later but occasionally I get asked to try out new ideas after I’ve done a take, to which I always say yes as sometimes you need to hear something to get the creative juices flowing and collaboration creates even more awesome results.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That it’s always quick and easy. Sometimes it is but nothing is more important than quality so if a project needs a little more time and effort that's fine by me.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: For tracking I ask for a simple backing track and any ideas you might have for the drums but that’s all I really need. For editing just send me the multi-track drums and I'll do the rest.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Ask as many questions as you like and give as much information as you can, communication is key.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Kick drum, snare drum, hi-hats, sticks and a stool, but drummers have way more gear than everyone else so that’s not fair!
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started playing drums aged 14 and was self-taught until I took lessons towards a QCF Level 3 Certificate in Music Performance for Grade 8 Drum Kit, which I passed with Distinction in 2012. Having played in lots of different bands over the years, I joined Voodoo Johnson in 2013 and then Fire Red Empress in 2014. I went professional in 2015 and have since formed my own company called Drummage, which offers complete music solutions including session work; tutoring; technical servicing; studio recording, mixing and mastering; video capture and editing; and graphic design.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: My style is definitely rooted in rock and metal but my experience playing other genres continues to influence my ideas for heavier music. Above all I try to focus on groove and creating a solid pocket beat for the rest of the music, adding more complex rhythms and fills where appropriate.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Mark Tremonti because his playing is immense and his songwriting is always very interesting but also Josh Schroeder because his drum sound with King 810 is absolutely incredible!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Rock and metal, but I also have a lot of experience playing blues, country, funk, pop, reggae, Latin and jazz.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I won't stop until I've done everything I can to deliver the best result possible, which is also probably my biggest weakness when it comes to eating and sleeping!
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: If I'm tracking drums for you I'll write out the part in musical notation, practise until it feels right, double-check the drum tuning and microphone placement, and then hit record. When I've got a take I'm happy with I apply some basic levels, panning and EQ then send over an mp3 so you can listen. If changes are necessary I'll re-record until you're happy and then send the individual stem files in high-quality wav format. When editing drums I'm aiming for a natural and tight feel, and use my ear for percussive sounds to ensure a phase and grid alignment that gives you the best possible foundation for your song.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I've been inspired by countless different musicians and even genres you wouldn't expect, but the rock and metal bands I was listening to as a kid learning to play drums made me want to grab my sticks most of all. A few names that come to mind are Matt Cameron of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, Scott Phillips of Alter Bridge, and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. of The Killers. From a production perspective I was lucky enough to work with Jacob Hansen on the debut album 'Black Morphine' by Fire Red Empress, and that drum sound inspired me to really get involved in the process of recording drums, from tuning and microphone placement to processing and mixing and everything in between.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I strive to always play what's right for the song. My sole purpose is to serve the music in the most foundational way I can and compliment your sound with my playing, not overpower it.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: The debut album ‘Black Morphine’ by Fire Red Empress, for which I was the drummer and co-writer. It was a long time in the making but totally worth the wait and has been featured in Classic Rock, Kerrang and Metal Hammer magazines and played on BBC Radio 1, Planet Rock, Kerrang and Scuzz TV in the UK.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I offer high-quality multi-track drums and editing right out of my home studio, so if you've got an idea for a song I can bring the thunder!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: It's a classic but always make sure your instrument sounds good at the source before you start recording it.
I was the drummer in this production
- Live drum trackContact for pricing
- Time alignment - QuantizingContact for pricing
- EditingContact for pricing
I aim to understand what you're looking for and get it right first time but for peace of mind I offer 3 revisions free of charge. My typical turn-around time is 2-3 working days.
- Pearl drums
- Paiste cymbals
- Audient ID44 & ASP800
- AKG D-112
- Aston Origin & Stealth
- Beyerdynamic M160 & M130
- JZ V67 pair
- Rode NT5 pair
- Sennheiser MD421
- Shure Beta 57A & SM57
- Cubase Pro 10.5
- balanced frequency response live room
Hire me for three or more songs and get a 10% discount.
