Performance/recording credits: Michael W. Smith, Rascal Flatts, Amy Grant, CeCe Winans, Charlie Daniels, Newsboys, Wynonna, Ruston Kelly, Tony Anderson, and others. Endorsed by Yamaha and Vic Firth. Composer for TV shows on MTV, ABC, CBS, Discovery, Bravo, and many others, as well as commercials for 1800 Tequila, Dunkin Donuts, and Vistaprint.
I work full-time in Nashville, TN as a drummer, composer, and producer. I have recorded on many records, singles, commercials, and soundtracks that have aired all over the world. In addition to playing drum set for my entire life, I have a classical percussion & piano background. This plays a big role in how I think creatively about parts, timbres, and arrangements while recording.
I really love relating to people. I have found that simply getting to know the people that you are working with goes a long way when finding the right parts and sounds for a song. The heart and emotion of the song should dictate how the instruments are played. When I'm recording, I tend to think of drums in terms of stacking parts & sounds. Whether you want them to dance or to stop and think, we can make it happen.
I record drums, mix, and produce music primarily out of my personal studio shown in the images on my profile. I have a wide collection of drums (Yamaha, Gretsch, Ludwig), cymbals (Istanbul Agop, Zildjian, Sabian, Bosphorus), percussion instruments, and sample libraries that I use to create song-specific parts for each artist I work with.
Please reach out and let's find a way to work together. I'm looking forward to knowing you!
Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.
40 Reviews - 2 Repeat Clients
Endorse Chris Leidhecker
check_circleVerifiedall i can say is.... i am speachless about his work Chris Leidhecker is a verry talented drummer and he his the kind of person i appreciate to work with...TWO TUMB UP....
check_circleVerifiedTurnaround time was great! Chris did 3 songs for me and knew just what I was looking for. Hope to work together again soon.
check_circleVerifiedFive stars are not enough! Always an awesome experience!!
Thank You Chris!
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Working with Chris is a great experience! We spoke about the song, and he immediately understood the direction we were going with it. The drum tracks he recorded for this one are awesome! I look forward to working with Chris again in the future.
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Chris is a 10! Great feel, great sounds, great tracks!! And 'live' sessions to boot. Awesome!
check_circleVerifiedWorking with Chris was such a great experience. He suggested to do the recording session with me live on video call. Chris was perfectly on time and the session was superb. The benefit of working this way made us discuss and try out ideas before we finally ended up with the final recording. Since my song needed live sounding feel Chris improvised around the ideas making them sound more live. I strongly recommend Chris for your next project. He will do what is right for your music.
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Chris is a real pro and takes the time to get what you hear. His chops are awesome, his tracks are quality, and I'm always happy. Thanks man!
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Top tier talent. Great communication. I knew what to expect from the very beginning. And he delivered a high quality product!
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Love his chops, and a real PRO! Thanks Chris!
check_circleVerifiedChris was wonderful to work with. Super accommodating and professional. Turnaround time was discussed and delivered ahead of schedule! Look forward to working with him again. Thank you Chris!
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Great tracks, great sounds, easy to work with, and most importantly, Chris gets it correct right away!!
check_circleVerifiedWorking with Chris has been one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had as a songwriter/musician! I hired him to track drums for my 5 song EP and he far exceeded my expectations! He doesn't just throw down recordings quickly, he actually modifies his drums/tuning/mic setup/etc to fit the style and message of each song. He also tracked a particularly "adventurous" percussion section in one of the songs and transitioned it perfectly. Can't recommend him enough!
check_circleVerifiedExcellent working with Chris. He turned it around super quickly, and with first class results. It's been a pleasure!
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Chris is a 10!
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Great sounds! Great feel! Great communication! Great experience!
check_circleVerifiedHis drums sound amazing, and his feel and playing are excellent. Very musical and intuitive musician. Really nailed the track. Great communication, delivered ahead of schedule, files were well labeled and organized, a true professional at work. Thanks for lending your talent to the project, Chris!
check_circleVerifiedChris is an absolute joy to work with. He understood exactly what was needed musically and delivered over and above. Looking forward to working with him again on future projects.
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Chris is a real good drummer and he go for good revision on his work to reach what you need, a real pleasure to work with him and great communication. Dascq
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Great communication, great tracks and great sounds!
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So happy with the work Chris did - so professional and detailed in his approach. Highly recommend!
check_circleVerifiedChris is a great drummer! Captured the exact sound I was looking for and works quickly and efficiently. Excellent at communicating and takes direction well.
check_circleVerifiedChris was amazing to work with. He’s really good on the drums and did a great job of finding the sound I was looking for. I’d definitely recommend him and use him in future projects.
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With Chris I discovered a thoroughbred musician who not only worries about the drums but also tries to understand what I had in mind as a client and then implements this meticulously. I am glad to have worked with such a talented musician and drummer and can only recommend him for new projects at any time.
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Chris was very professional , he delivered on time ,
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Chris is truly amazing, he’s an artist, creative and passionate about what he does, and really brings an A game of professionalism to what he does.
Was a privilege to have him on my track and looking forward to more 
check_circleVerifiedI was impressed! Chris is attentive to details. It is good to work with him. This is a great professional!
Chris is the best producer I’ve worked with. His ear for production is uncanny. He can take a song from bare bones to a quality fully produced track. I cannot recommend him more as a producer, mix engineer, and drummer.
I have worked with Chris multiple times in the studio - songwriting, BGV and top-lining sessions - and he has ALWAYS left me feeling inspired. He has an incredible ear for melody and because of his versatility (drummer, vocalist, songwriter, engineer, producer, etc.) he is able to help artist's remain encouraged, stay focused, and get great takes. More so, his experience has made him an expert at music and he is incredibly professional. I couldn't recommend working with him more!
Have worked with Chris on a number of projects now and I am always happy with the quality of the performance and the quality of the recordings. Chris has a great ear for what's needed in any given piece. Great to work with!
Chris' love and attention to projects is untouched! His musicality and technical ability will be exactly what you need to take your songs to the next level. Hire this man!
I've had the pleasure to work with Chris on a few mastering projects and I cannot overemphasize the high level of his work, professionalism, and workflow.
Chris Leidhecker is one of the most reliable, musical, and joyful I've ever worked with. His drumming is creative and consistent, and he excels in finding just the right element to bring new life to a song. I can't recommend him enough!
Chris has played drums with me for the past 3 years, and has also mixed/mastered one of my EP's. He is an incredible musician all around!
I had Chris track drums on a short film I scored and it was an extremely positive experience all the way through. Communication, file sharing, and most importantly musicianship! Got exactly what we needed, and the production crew liked it so much that his playing ended up being the music for the trailer! Will definitely be calling him for all future projects.
I've worked with Chris on projects for years now and he has never let me down. He is versatile and multi talented. If you want a drummer, he can play for you. If you want an engineer, he's incredible. If you want him to produce, he will take your project to the next level. He's a wonderful collaborator, and has helped my projects over the years grow into things I'm really proud of. Whatever you need, Chris is your guy, and you will love working with him!
I always like my own music more after collaborating with Chris. His arrangements are exciting and thoughtful. As a drummer, his playing is explosive yet sensitive, and ALWAYS in the pocket. He has a creative ear that allows him to craft distinct drum sounds for each project. (This guy's snare drum collection is insane. And just wait until you hear about his 1950's tube recording gear.)
Chris is one of the most creative and proficient musicians I’ve ever worked with. He was enthusiastic, easy going and could think outside the box when I wanted him to. I had so much fun working with Chris and I look forward to making more music with him in the future!
Worked with Chris on this really strange and cool art folk project. He brought it to the next level, really beautiful sounds, tight groove, and lots and lots of creative layers. I loved the way he thought about constructing his parts. Like each individual drum had its own voice and melody, that came together to create a rich groove. The best part is, when I went back to comb through the million takes we did, I hardly had to edit. Every take was musical and tight.
He was very patient and kind throughout the entire recording process. Very professional, and on time. Highly recommend.
Fantastic to work with! I’ve used Chris on countless projects for session work as well has having him produce and mix music licensed by MTV, MTV 2, Discovery Channel, CW, CBS, Big Ten, HGTV, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, NFL, NBA ect. He has great command over his technique but serves the song every time.
Working with Chris is a dream. He’s incredibly attentive, organized, and patient with getting the best performance and sounds. I appreciate his willingness to have an open mind and explore new ideas. I always feel confident behind the mic because Chris is a wonderful producer and is able to tell me quickly what’s working and what’s not working. Also, his down-to-Earth personality is super warm & inviting!
Chris is an excellent musician, player, and producer. He was not only played on my album, “No Gavel, No Sword,” but he also helped produce the entire project and mixed all 10 tracks! I’m so happy with how the album turned out and am incredibly grateful for Chris and his talent, hard work and diligence.
Interview with Chris Leidhecker
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise quick & clear communication, a collaborative process, and a final product that you will be happy with and proud of.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Groovy and precise!
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I studied music at college and graduated with a music education degree. After that, I lived in the SF Bay Area where I gigged and taught lessons for about two years before moving to Nashville. My 5 years in Nashville have been a steady increase of touring, recording, and writing music. Certain parts of my career, like writing music for TV or touring with MWS, are things I could never have imagined but am so thankful for.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: In the past year, I recorded drums on two songs for MWS' most recent studio record, A Million Lights. I respect Michael a lot and loved helping to create something so sonically adventurous and exciting for him. I also recorded drums in 2017 for an album, Signs, by an alt-rock trio called The Neverhawks. It's raw and honest; I'm very proud of it.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Currently in June 2018, I'm producing and mixing an EP with some talented artists geared toward sync licensing, recording drums on 20+ tracks for a rock opera that my brother is orchestrating, and arranging 8 pieces for a university percussion ensemble in Pennsylvania.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Chris Biano is a good friend and excellent vocalist. He's also a fantastic graphic designer, videographer, and editor.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Ideally, analog. But currently mostly digital :)
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Building lasting relationships with people. Of course I love playing drums and making music, but the relationships are so fulfilling.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Will I get multitracks? Yes, and you will get a mixed stereo sum as well. What if I want to change something? No problem- you get three revisions for free.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Probably the idea that a studio musician for hire is more interested in quantity of work than quality. I am very invested in creating the best music we can create together. If it takes longer, that's fine with me; it will live longer.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is your goal for this music? What bands or artists did you draw inspiration from?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Do research and figure out what you are looking for stylistically! All musicians have different influences and strengths.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Kick, snare, hat, laptop, Ampex 501
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Currently, Vulfpeck. They are playing raw, tight, unapologetic funk and I love it.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I have a thorough understanding of the drums and how they can be creatively used to create the perfect part. I've studied and practiced drums for years, and I've played everything from rock bands to chamber orchestras.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Take as much time as needed to make your source audio to sound great so you don't have to spend hours trying to doctor it up in post-production.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I'm working mostly in pop, pop-rock, indie-rock, country, americana, Christian, and various forms of jazz.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Finding the groove. The more I do this, the more I just want everything to feel good.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Discuss the heart of the song or track with the writer and then immediately capture my first instincts for the parts. Sometimes these end up being the final parts, sometimes they don't. I do believe there is something special in our "gut" musical reactions, so I like to document them no matter what.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I record into Logic Pro X via a UAD Apollo 8p. I have some API and Ampex tube preamps that I run through depending on the instrument and desired sound. I'm using a variety of dynamic, confessor, and ribbon mics by Shure, Audio Technica, and SE Electronics.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: As far as current drummers go- Aaron Sterling, Ash Soan, Steve Jordan, Terence Clark. Those guys are really musical drummers both in the studio and on stage.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Typically, I'm being hired to write and record all drums/percussion on a song or track. I work with songwriters, artists, bands, and composers, so the workflow changes based on the end-goal of the music. Recording for an album cut usually looks a little different than recording for a TV or film soundtrack.
- Live drum trackContact for pricing
- PercussionContact for pricing
Initial demo plus up to (2) rounds of revisions. Revision requests must be sent within 24hr of receiving initial demo. All drum projects conclude no later than 48hr after initial demo is sent.
- Kings of Leon
- Vulfpeck
- Bethel Music
- Universal Audio Apollo 8p
- API preamps
- Ampex 601 preamps
- Shure mics
- Audio Technica mics
- SE Eletronics mics
- Yamaha drums
- Ludwig drums
- Gretsch drums
- Istanbul-Agop cymbals
- Zildjian cymbals
Discount on five or more tracks.
