Chris Leidhecker

Session Drummer, Percussionist

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42 Reviews (28 Verified)
Chris Leidhecker on SoundBetter

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!

Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.

Credits

AllMusic verified credits for Chris Leidhecker
  • Matt Maher
  • Michael W. Smith
  • Michael W. Smith
  • Michael W. Smith
  • Intensity
  • IUP Percussion Ensemble
  • Michael Kingan
  • IUP Steel Band
  • Intensity
  • IUP Percussion Ensemble
  • Michael Kingan
  • IUP Steel Band
  • The Willies
  • The Willies
  • Rochelle Feldkamp

42 Reviews - 3 Repeat Clients

Endorse Chris Leidhecker
  1. Review by Arthur B.
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    Always an EVERYTHING GREAT experience!!!

  2. Review by Arthur B.
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    Chris is an absolute joy to work with, not to mention his great feel and playing. An all around pro that will never disappoint!!!

  3. Review by calaway musik
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    all 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....

  4. Review by Caleb B.
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    Turnaround time was great! Chris did 3 songs for me and knew just what I was looking for. Hope to work together again soon.

  5. Review by Arthur B.
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    Five stars are not enough! Always an awesome experience!!

    Thank You Chris!

  6. Review by Phillippicreek
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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.

  7. Review by Arthur B.
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    Chris is a 10! Great feel, great sounds, great tracks!! And 'live' sessions to boot. Awesome!

  8. Review by Steinar Karlsen
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    Working 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.

  9. Review by Arthur B.
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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!

  10. Review by Stephen “KT” Hill
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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!

  11. Review by Arthur B.
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    Love his chops, and a real PRO! Thanks Chris!

  12. Review by ron k.
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    by ron k.
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    Chris 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!

  13. Review by Arthur B.
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    Great tracks, great sounds, easy to work with, and most importantly, Chris gets it correct right away!!

  14. Review by Steve M.
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    Working 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!

  15. Review by Matt B.
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    Excellent working with Chris. He turned it around super quickly, and with first class results. It's been a pleasure!

  16. Review by Arthur B.
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    Chris is a 10!

  17. Review by Arthur B.
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    Great sounds! Great feel! Great communication! Great experience!

  18. Review by Ryan F.
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    His 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!

  19. Review by Jason C.
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    Chris 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.

  20. Review by Golden Vibes
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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

Interview with Chris Leidhecker

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

  2. A: I promise quick & clear communication, a collaborative process, and a final product that you will be happy with and proud of.

  3. Q: How would you describe your style?

  4. A: Groovy and precise!

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

  6. 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.

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

  8. 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.

  9. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  10. 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.

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

  12. A: Chris Biano is a good friend and excellent vocalist. He's also a fantastic graphic designer, videographer, and editor.

  13. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  14. A: Ideally, analog. But currently mostly digital :)

  15. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  16. A: Building lasting relationships with people. Of course I love playing drums and making music, but the relationships are so fulfilling.

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

  18. 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.

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

  20. 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.

  21. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  22. A: What is your goal for this music? What bands or artists did you draw inspiration from?

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

  24. A: Do research and figure out what you are looking for stylistically! All musicians have different influences and strengths.

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

  26. A: Kick, snare, hat, laptop, Ampex 501

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

  28. A: Currently, Vulfpeck. They are playing raw, tight, unapologetic funk and I love it.

  29. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  30. 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.

  31. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  32. 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.

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

  34. A: I'm working mostly in pop, pop-rock, indie-rock, country, americana, Christian, and various forms of jazz.

  35. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  36. A: Finding the groove. The more I do this, the more I just want everything to feel good.

  37. Q: What's your typical work process?

  38. 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.

  39. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  40. 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.

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

  42. 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.

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

  44. 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.

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Terms Of Service

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.

GenresSounds Like
  • Kings of Leon
  • Vulfpeck
  • Bethel Music
Gear Highlights
  • 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
More Photos
SoundBetter Deal

Discount on five or more tracks.