Damjan Stefanovic

SessionDrums,Mixing,Audiobooks

Damjan Stefanovic on SoundBetter

I give tracks the energy they need! Whether its laying down drums to make the whole song huge, or mixing to give it the life it needs to jump out of the speakers. In terms of audiobooks/voiceover work I offer a clear, well spoken, perfect british-accent voice with clean production.

With 20 years drumming experience, work released on a dozen labels, and tours and festivals across 20-something countries, I know how to hold it down! I've had the pleasure to work with grammy nominated producers and over the years moving into production. From my personal studio, where I have worked on over 50 projects, I can record and mix the parts you need in order to make your music come alive.

When it comes to audiobooks i have recorded 15 books in the last yea, to acx specifications. From non fiction to narrative works, shorter books to 10 hour+ projects.

Send me a note through the contact button above.

Languages

  • English
  • Serbian

Interview with Damjan Stefanovic

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

  2. A: The Sarah Jezebel Deva EP. I played the drums, brought in my own ideas, layed it down tight and the band was happy. Bearing in mind at the time i was 20 and everyone was 10+years older than me. I held my own professionally.

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

  4. A: 2 albums for one musical project, both in different styles. Hiphop Beats, 2 different EPs. A Short film.

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

  6. A: Edward Amos

  7. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  8. A: At this point, if we're being honest, either or.

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

  10. A: I will play my heart out on this, and i will bring all my experience from various bands into it! I will make it sound how you imagine or hopefully better.

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

  12. A: The fact that its my job!

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

  14. A: Can you play this? 95% of teh time the answer is yes, unless they send me some programmed parts that are unplayable hahahaha

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

  16. A: that i treat it like a job, or conversly that i dont treat it like a job. After 20 years its both a job and what my life is.

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

  18. A: Is it to a click. Is teh arrangement final. what kind of dynamics they are looking for, who the song reminds them of, what theyre going for.

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

  20. A: make sure you have the arrangement down, to a click. have an idea of what sound youre going for, at least give me the ball park to start in!

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

  22. A: kick snare hats ride sticks

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

  24. A: 20 years, started drums at school in London, passed grade 8 with 92%. Joined a band with former Cradle Of Filth Members, toured europe playing alongside Anthrax, Meshuggah, Lacuna Coil, Arch Enemy. After that i had some of my own projects in punk and hardcore and moved more to session work. I;ve recorded with members of Death, and various international bands and projects. Every band i've ever played in has been a different genre or subgenre. That was always my aim. That way i have a wide scope of associations of sounds and textures.

  25. Q: How would you describe your style?

  26. A: Tight! but after years of playing in extreme metal bands i've dedicated myself to being able to walk around the click, play with the time and make it breathe!

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

  28. A: aaaa! so many... Omar Rodriguez Lopez because he has a unique sound a vision. Flea for the groove...

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

  30. A: Less is more! Took me a long time to figure that one out.

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

  32. A: Rock, Metal, Hardcore. Sometimes slightly lighter rock blues bands, which i always look forward to as its where i started.

  33. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  34. A: Attention to detail.

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

  36. A: Energy, orchestration to bring out the power of the other players

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

  38. A: Listen through it a lot... jam along, start laying down ideas, listen to the ideas, reflect, cut paste, see what works, record the final versions, then mix and master if applicable.

  39. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  40. A: A modest studio, 16 ins, In a remote house in the forests of rural Serbia. The studio window looks out onto my vegetable garden and behind that a mountain with a 100hectare forest, wild animals, streams...

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

  42. A: Sooo many... Mars Volta, Rick Rubin, the avant garde Mayhem in the 2000s, the energy of punk and hardcore....

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

  44. A: Drum tracks, metal and rock. Also audiobooks, nonfiction and fiction.

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Terms Of Service

1 Revision, Turnaround time depends on the project, i try and keep it within one working week or less, eerything can be arranged though!

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