Hi! I am Nikola. I work for Darkside Records and I run Ezoterik Studio, where I work as a mixing & mastering engineer and professional session drummer with over 20 years of experience.
With over 20 years of drumming experience across Pop, Punk, Rock, and Metal, I’ve developed a unique, versatile style that stands out in the market. I enjoy recording drum tracks that are both dynamic and musical, tailored to each song while maintaining a natural, organic feel.
When producing and mixing, I combine raw energy with a touch of modern production techniques. My goal is to enhance the song without losing its soul, delivering mixes that are punchy and emotionally engaging. I have extensive experience mastering for vinyl, cassette, CD, and digital releases. My mastering philosophy focuses on establishing the emotional content of the music and creating depth, atmosphere and tone.
I have a lot of experience in working with individual artists and one-man projects, especially within the realm of Black Metal, offering a full-service approach: session drums, production, mixing, and mastering. I provide clear communication and flexibility, to ensure the final product matches your vision perfectly, all while adhering to strict turnaround deadlines.
Let’s collaborate and take your music to the next level. I’m ready to help your project, whether that means recording real, authentic, acoustic drum tracks or mixing and mastering your music to sound exactly as it’s meant to!
Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.
Credits
8 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client
Endorse Nikola Dušmanić
check_circleVerifiedVery professional approach, easy to work with, delivered the recordings in due time. 100% recommended session drummer.
check_circleVerifiedsession drums + mix. Incorporated good ideas that improved the song. All great!!!
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Nikola is am awesome drummer, has all the necessary gear and a lot of experience in extreme metal (black/death/doom). His drum sound is great too, acoustic, yet powerful. No need to explain anything, he just dived right into the songs. Mixing the tracks was great too, he made all the necessary adjustments and corrections and the tracks turned out great. 100% recommended.
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great session drums and great mix! all went smoothly!
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Great drummer and producer.
It's a pleasure to work with such talent. - check_circleVerified
Great job on the mix and master of this track. Was looking to do something slightly different to what I'm used to and Nikola was super cool about it, we worked together on getting the proper sound. Recommended!!
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Nikola is great!! fast delivery, good communication and solid drummer!
check_circleVerifiedNikola worked quickly and efficiently, first sending over some demos before editing and quantizing his parts. Tons to work with with 11 separate stems - work with him on your next project!
Interview with Nikola Dušmanić
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: When conversing with potential clients, I inquire about the inspiration behind their music/project to align my drumming with their vision. Additionally, I discuss their future plans for the project and its release timeline, as well as the artists who inspire them, to understand their preferred style and tailor my drumming accordingly.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest skill lies in playing various styles of blast beats and utilizing the double bass pedal to create powerful and hard-hitting rhythms.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I bring an energetic and hard-hitting drum performance to a song infusing it with a unique style. All my song recordings are as perfect as possible, ensuring that edits are made only where necessary.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: As a session studio drummer, my most common work involves recording drums for clients' music projects, including songs, band albums, and collaborations with labels. I also take on additional roles like producing, mixing, and mastering for the bands I record drums for, ensuring a high-quality musical outcome.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: I usually work on various subgenres of metal, including Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, as well as Modern Metalcore sounds. Additionally, I also work on various genres of Rock!
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My studio setup consists of equipment that I take great pride in. For drums, I proudly play on a Serbian brand called W.Odd Custom Drums, which provides me with exceptional sound. I use a diverse range of cymbals from renowned brands such as Meinl and Istanbul. In terms of drumheads, I rely on the reliability and quality of Evans Drumheads, which consistently deliver the sound I desire for different recording projects. I utilize a collection of professional-grade microphones from Shure, Audix, AKG, and Rode with Focusrite Preamps.
- Live drum trackAverage price - $100 per song
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $150 per song
- EditingContact for pricing
As many revisions as you desire, as long as I can produce the content you envision. The turnaround time will depend on the complexity of the project, ranging from 3 to 7 days per song.
- W.odd Custom Drums; Pearl Drums; Istanbul Mehmet & Meinl Cymbals; Audient interface & preamps; Golden-Age Audio
- Rode
- Shure & AKG microphones
