Session Drummer & Engineer

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

A: I released a solo album in 2016 that I wrote, recorded and mixed all of the parts starting in 2012. The only thing I didn't do was mastering - and it was my first top to bottom record (again, except mastering) and it was an extremely good way to learn how to do it all. I wrote and demoed 50 songs and then picked my favorite 10 and did the real recording of them.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Mixing two(about to be three) records. Recording drums on several different projects. Recording vocals for one project. Learning and rehearsing for tour in May.

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

A: I need to browse on here more to be honest.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Combination! I'm in the box for my production, but I still use real drums, real microphones and real outboard gear. The real stuff sounds great - digital is really nice for the technical aspects though...So best of both worlds!

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

A: I cater exactly to your needs - as no two clients I've ever had have been the same. It's a very individual personal work relationship.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I set my own hours.

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

A: I'm not looking to hire a drummer, I'm looking for a family member. Are you down to jam? Sorry - I'm unavailable to join any projects as a full time member right now, but best of luck. If you need any drums recorded or a producer, feel free to contact me here further.

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

A: I think people have a misconception that a lot of session players are very sterile...and while that can be true - especially of music school graduates - it is not always the case. I got into session work because I'm a real drummer and I got tired of going to studios where they all use sample drums as the go to - which to me sounded way too sterile.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: How many songs are you looking to do?

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

A: It's all about maximum quality for lowest price right? The perfect ratio of the two. There are a fair amount of people that are in the session work industry - but definitely hire people that actually do it regularly. Being a good drummer and being a good session drummer are two very different things. I just happen to be both hahaha.

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

A: Do I have electricity? My guitar, computer, interface, AKG C414, 10tb external hard drive. I would have to sample drums from all my drums I have recorded on my computer I guess hahaha.

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

A: Global domination is always the goal - but I've been producing and recording drums for almost a decade professionally.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Laid back but hard working. Is that what this means? Hahaha

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

A: I would love to work with Protest The Hero. Killer musicians.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Keep it organic.

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

A: I get hired often time to record drums for metal and rock projects, but I get a lot of indie rock stuff for Mixing.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill is drumming.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Individuality. It's very important for me that artists with multiple songs in similar styles do not drone together as a single song.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When recording drums, I will learn the song and get one solid take and then punch in the parts that need tightening up. Most scenarios I can execute a song all the way through from learning to final recording in 2 to 3 hours.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: I have a large mic collection of various Shure, AKG, Blue, and EV microphones. I typically record 12 channels for my drums, but can record up to 16. I record through two Focusrite Saffire Pro 40s and have an API Lunchbox equipped with two Avedis MA5s as well as a Presonus Tube Channel Strip.

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

A: Ken Andrews and Chris Lord Alge are two of my bigger production inspirations. Coincidentally they both worked on Paramore records - two very different sounding records that both sound phenomenal to me production wise. The drummers that influence me the most are probably Portnoy, The Rev and Bonham.

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

A: The bulk of the work I do is recording drums for artists. A lot of the time, I also act as the mixing engineer for those projects. Artists send me a track - sometimes with programmed drums, sometimes without - and I will record real drums and send them a mixed version of my drums, a stereo bus of my drums, as well as the raw tracks. When I also act as the mixing engineer - we will record a scratch vocal and primary instrument take, then add real drums and start to add all of the layers.