Brandon Combs on SoundBetter

If you serve the song, you can't go wrong !! :)

I'm a drummer based in Los Angeles, CA. I've been blessed to work with a great variety of artists, spanning over multiple genres, such as Leon Bridges, John Legend, Tori Kelly, Moses Sumney, Mark de Clive Lowe, Chris Bullock (of Snarky Puppy), etc...

I have a remote recording setup and a wide variety of drum gear, all in order to serve your projects to the best of my ability :).

All clients will receive separated multi-tracked stems, multiple takes of each song, along with MIDI if requested.

With all of the experience I've gained from touring and recording over the years, I look forward to using that knowledge to bring your projects to life!

Would love to hear from you. Click the contact button above to get in touch.

Credits

27 Reviews - 3 Repeat Clients

Endorse Brandon Combs

by Michael McKnight
Verified
Brandon knows what to do. Mad talented, on point and an amazing experience all around. Thanks to Serg for pointing me to this pro. Looking forward to many more to come.
by Francis L.
Verified
Mr. Combs is a smacker. I mean he smacked them drums on my song. But most impressive was his patience with my idiosyncrasies. That's the lesson I walk away with from this session. A true professional. He gave the song just what I wanted and more.
by Jeff L.
Verified
Brandon is a brilliant musician, great grooves, clean sounds all with creative artistry. Highly recommended *****
by DeAndre F.
Verified
I loved working with Brandon! Very punctual, and professional. I was surprised at how fast he responded! He was able to pump out a high quality track hours after we spoke. Looking forward to working with him again in the future.
by Alexxsjohnson
Verified
Great performance! and prompt service!
by Paul K.
Verified
Now having worked with Brandon with nearly 20 songs.....not much more I can say, just USE HIM ! Nothing phases him, crazy broad range of styles he seems to be able to work in, multiple varied takes, super quick ! he delivers AND a real gentleman.
by nicholas m.
Verified
Quick turnaround. Professional. Talented. Would rebook
by Frank I.
Verified
Five Stars ain't enough. Brandon is a beast!
by Steven B.
Verified
Brandon did fantastic work on our track, and I'm excited to take full advantage of his expertise on future projects. Not only did he listen to exactly what we wanted, but (more importantly) he fit it perfectly to the context of the track. Precise, articulate, organic playing. And I get the sense he can really blow the lid off the thing, if you really want your track to go to space. Plus, he gives you multiple takes and all the mics you need to make a really slick record. Work with Brandon!
by Frank I.
Verified
I've been using Brandon pretty much exclusively for my drumming needs. He nails it every time!
by Michael G.
Verified
Brandon was the perfect drummer for my original song and sent numerous tracks to choose from. Just a pleasure to work with..great communication which always makes projects easier. His playing just superb.. and made my song sound great...Highly recommend..it was a great choice for me..
by Viktor W.
Verified
Brandon rode the sonic waves of my song like the pro drummer he is. He fully adapted to the small shifts in tempo and moulded a happy grooving bulldozer out of my own shy reference drum track. Don't settle for shyness when you can have the vast rhythmic expressiveness of Brandon's drumming!

Now push that "Contact Brandon Combs" button...
by Frank I.
Verified
Dependability, you know Brandon will deliver...Every Time!
by Frank I.
Verified
To put it simply, Brandon takes your ideas and makes them better. That's what he does.
by Frank I.
Verified
Brandon has helped me streamline my workflow thanks to his proactive approach to anticipating my needs and providing me with stellar performances and technical insights to ensure I don't paint myself in a corner after his job is done. He has been a vital asset to my endeavors on multiple levels.
by Frank I.
Verified
Brandon is my go-to drummer for my projects. He nails it every time!
by Frank I.
Verified
Brandon Combs is the most reliable and professional session drummer I've ever had the privladge of working with. I dont want to live in a world where Brandon isn't playing drums on my tracks.
by Paul K.
Verified
Again such a treat to work with Brandon. I had a variety of track styles in this latest session.... from brush work to slammin’ rock and in between.
I ain’t going anywhere else ! He’s got it all covered ! Again super quick, nailed the tracks and putting his flavour over it all. Thanks Brandon absolute pleasure.
by Paul K.
Verified
And yet again Brandon delivers such 'musical' drumming, I just love working with this guy, elevating my songs. I keep hearing subtle details in repeated listens to his tracks, which are 'just so right' ! Looking forward to working more with Brandon. So much fun to hear where he takes a song.
by Oliver J.
Verified
Turned it around very quickly and did an awesome job with a slightly challenging brief!

Interview with Brandon Combs

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I'm especially proud of my work on the Mark deClive Lowe "Heritage" album. This project changed the way I perceive jazz and electronic music. It also allowed me to perform with a great amount of my musical heroes, enhance my listening skills, and be extremely creative. It's an experience I'll always cherish.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Currently working on the second album of my own project Tropico Gothico and finishing up a drum track for this amazing folk artist in LA named Jennah Bell.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Riley Knapp, he's an amazing producer!!!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both. Analog gear will always have a timeless and magical vibe.....tape machines, vintage drums, etc...But digital gear is extremely convenient, innovative, and allows countless creatives to make incredible sounds virtually almost anywhere.....plugins, DAWs, etc..
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: I promise to always be professional and punctual!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I love helping artists achieve the sound they're hearing in their head.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: The biggest misconception would be for someone to assume that I'm "just a drummer". I have experience playing multiple instruments and putting my own music, so I like to think that I listen like a producer and try my best to always serve the song and leave my ego at the door.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What are you hearing drum-wise for this project?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Please do your best to clearly articulate what you want. This is the reason I always ask for sonic references, so I can work more effectively and prevent less "back and forth" between both parties.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: my Akai drum pad, my laptop, a pair of headphones, a midi keyboard, and my iPhone (so I could make beats out of samples from the ocean LOL)
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've always wanted to play drums full-time for a living. Over the years, I've been blessed to see that dream manifest itself into me performing/creating with multiple top-tier artists across many different genres.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: I'd describe it as sensitve, tasteful, and groovy!
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I'd love to work with The Midnight. They're this awesome 80s/retro pop group with great synth sounds and phat drum samples!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Always check your drums for PHASE!!!
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: These days I'm usually working on a hybrid of pop, soul, and jazz projects.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest skill is communication. I'm very patient, and willing to communicate back and forth with my client for as long as it takes in order properly to understand their vision.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I like to think I bring a great amount of thought, love, feel, and personality to each song I work on.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I typically ask a client to send me a bounce of their song, the tempo, and some sonic references that they'd like me to aim for.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a professional home studio setup with a wide array of drumsets, both vintage and modern, including a solid collection of Shure, Rode, and Behringer microphones.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Aaron Sterling, Steve Jordan, Pino Palladino, Brian Blade, Chris Dave
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I perform/record live drums (and sometimes electronic drums) for professional music artists.