Working Drummer

Ash Soan is one of the most in-demand drummers in the world, with a long list of live and studio credits that includes many of the biggest names in pop music over the last few decades. In addition to his studio and touring work, he is also well-known for his seven-year stint as the house drummer on The Voice UK. He is the creator of a series of video lessons available on his website and commands a wide social media influence from the confines of his small home studio, a converted 18th century windmill base that resides on his property outside London and has become synonymous with his drumming. In this episode, Ash talks about: His approach to mixing drums after he's tracked raw sounds Finding sounds through science and manuals vs. intuition, experimentation, and trial and error Knowing your sound and yourself well enough to be not just capable, but confident in any situation Following iconic drummers on a gig without trying to be them How he's avoided any major physical issues through a relaxed approach

Kenny has entertained millions of people with his drumming all across the world, played on thousands of records, provided the beat of America’s culture for four decades, and has been the “go to” drummer for the biggest stars in music, ranging from John Mellencamp to Lady Gaga, Bob Dylan to The Smashing Pumpkins, and everyone in between! In this episode, Kenny talks about: Learning to focus on 1 or 2 things and making them perfect Questions from a few of our Patreon members       James Osborne, Jimi Allison & Isaac Sanchez Preparing every detail for TV performances Work / Life balance Eight Steps to a Healthy Life His book “Sex, Drums, Rock n’ Roll” Early days with John Mellencamp Charlie Watts

As a studio musician, Brandon has performed on over 100 recordings including Grammy nominated and winning releases by John Mayer, Sugarland and Shawn Mullins. As a member of the multi-platinum-selling rock band Train, Brandon toured the world, indulging in his life-long rock and roll fantasy of performing a keyboard solo on a smoke-emitting Moog synthesizer. These days, in addition to touring with country music mega stars Sugarland, Brandon is a member of the music collective Songs of the Architect where he works as a songwriter, composer and producer on a wide variety of projects including film, TV, gaming and media formats. In recent years, he and his brother Kristian have been collaborators in the original project Dark Water, as well as numerous musical theatre productions with Kristian as composer and Brandon as musical director. In this episode, Brandon talks about: The many responsibilities of being MD for a musical, from the micro (drum notation) to the macro (room tuning) Being self-critical without

Nick Buda was the featured artist on just the second ever Working Drummer podcast back in January 2015 and we are happy to have him back to talk about what he’s been up to and see what more we can learn from this super pro player. Early in his career, Nick toured with such diverse artists as Edwin McCain, Hank Williams Jr., Jedd Hughes, Maia Sharp, Emily West, Col. Bruce Hampton and the Codetalkers and many others. Playing with these various artists has led to performing at so many great iconic venues such as the Grand Ole Opry along with TV appearances on many of the late night and daytime talk shows. It also led to a whole new side of Nick's career as a session drummer. Nick's unique drumming style combines his delicate touch with a soulful r&b backbeat and an explosive energy, which adds depth and excitement to his tracks. His unmistakeable style infiltrates both live and studio settings putting him in high demand amongst the Music Row elite. His playing is featured on country/pop sensation Taylor Swift's

Dave Elitch first gained notoriety touring with the American progressive rock band The Mars Volta in 2009-2010. Since then he has lent his talents to Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, M83, The 1975, Juliette Lewis, Big Black Delta, and many others. An established LA session player, Dave has performed on various records, syncs, and film scores for major motion pictures, including “Trolls" and “Logan." He also conducts masterclass lectures worldwide and keeps a busy private teaching practice in Los Angeles. Dave has developed a reputation as the technique/body mechanic specialist and has helped many of the industry's top players and educators expand their vocabulary, overcome physical/mental barriers and get out of their own way. In this episode, Dave talks about: What's new in the latest additions to his online course What The Alexander Technique is and how he has incorporated it into his approach How the physical and the psychological can work with each other or against each other How to be mindful without

Joe Gilder is a musician, songwriter, and producer living in the Nashville area with his wife Pam and 3 kids.  Joe started Home Studio Corner back in 2009. Over the years, he's created thousands of pieces of content — videos, podcasts, articles, training courses, and more — all with the goal of helping home studio folks make better music. In addition to Home Studio Corner, Joe's worked for Sweetwater and Presonus, as well as leading worship for a few churches in the Nashville area. Looking for free help? Check out his YouTube channel as well as these free resources. Looking to dive deeper? Check out my courses here. In this episode, Joe talks about:    How “Home Studio Corner” got started and what it is    Advice for content creators    Get It Right At The Source - G.I.R.A.T.S.    What Joe loves about working with drummer Tim Horsley (WDP ep 025)    Advice when recording drums    Ideas for growing your home studio clientele

Frank Zummo is currently the drummer of the rock band SUM 41, EDM Artist Kayzo, and has recently begun releasing music and doing live performances under his own name. His schooling started with Dom Famularo and continued at the Drummer's Collective in Manhattan. In 2004, Zummo co-founded the award-winning drum ensemble Street Drum Corps, which became his biggest project to date, resulting in countless world tours, Vegas residencies and performances onstage with Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars, Chris Cornell (Soundgarden); and has now expanded into a nationwide franchise with several theme park residencies. Other projects Zummo has in his pocket include: Motley Crue (filled in for Tommy Lee during a hand injury), Krewella, Gary Numan, Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots' late singer), Julien-K, Dead By Sunrise, Orianthi, the Start, Dhani Harrison, and many more. In this episode, Frank talks about: What he learned from DJs about how to put on a live EDM show How drummers like Tommy Lee and Chad Smith inspired

Tommy Harden has been in Nashville since the early 90's. The first gig he landed was 4 months after moving to town with the Grammy award winning Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. He then went on to tour with Ricky Skaggs, playing drums in the coveted Kentucky Thunder band as well as touring with Reba McEntire for 14 years. Tommy has played on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, David Letterman, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Oprah, The View, Regis and Kelly, and many others. He has performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center, and the Capitol for the 4th of July, and has played in every state in the nation, in arenas and amphitheaters all over the country. Since getting off the road full time in the mid 90’s, Tommy pursued studio work, where he became a top call, ‘A' list studio drummer. He played on hundreds of recordings for artists such as Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Big and Rich, Waylon Jennings, Jessica Simpson, and has been on number one hits for Justin M

Mike Jackson is a multi-talented musician, composer and overall creative with over 30 years of experience in the fields of music, commercial composition as well as video and audio production. He has composed music for a diverse range of clients and formats like CD-ROM game titles such as Spy Kids® and Totally Spies®, WGN's Footnote and CMT.    While serving as staff composer at one of the nations largest production facilities, Mills James Productions, Mike composed music for Victoria's Secret, Toyota, the critically acclaimed "Light Tunnel" at the Detroit International Airport, The Ohio Lottery, for which he received an Emmy® award, and many other fortune 500 companies.    Mike also composed the music for the International Academy of Web Television nominated show Aidan 5, A sci-fi, film-noir, detective drama. Mike is currently the visual and digital experience designer for the company Sedgwick. In this episode, Mike talks about:    Deciding on plug-ins for your DAW based on experience    G.A.S. - Gear Acqui

Megan Coleman was born in the heart of Detroit. She grew up in church, learning from the rich culture that is Detroit Gospel, Jazz and RnB music. She always had a passion for music and had the chance to start exploring that both in church and in school when she started playing drums in Jr. High. She continued to grow in love and passion for music, but wanted instead, to pursue Medicine. In the midst of these studies, she moved to Nashville to try her hand at pursuing music full-time. Megan has since had the opportunity to grow and flourish both in Nashville and in the industry as a whole. As a drummer and percussionist, she has shared the stage with a wide variety of artists such as Jackie Greene, Foy Vance, and Ron Pope-to name a few. Most recently, she can be found touring with Yola. When she is not on the road, Megan spends her time in sessions around town, teaching lessons, or volunteering in mentorship programs. In this episode, Megan talks about:    Her journey from Detroit, TX, the middle east and Nas

Chad Melchert is one of Canada’s most pre-eminent live and session drummers who is also an acclaimed drum teacher. This native Canadian calls Edmonton (Morinville), Alberta, home but despite his Canadian residence Melchert has toured all over the world and played with artists from all types genres including Gord Bamford, Brett Kissel, Adam Gregory, Aaron Goodvin, Duane Steele, Hemingway Corner, Gil Grand, Jake Mathews, Dallas Smith, Beverley Mahood, Michelle Wright, Bobby Wills, Mikaila Cooper, Corb Lund, Charlie Major, Tyler Connoly (Theory Of A Deadman), Rose Maddox (Grand Ole Opry legend), Jean Shepard (Grand Ole Opry legend), Ian Tyson, FOXX Worthee, Drew Gregory, Deric Ruttan, Jason Blaine, Chad Brownlee, Aaron Pritchett, Lindsay Ell, Patricia Conroy, Tenille Alee, Lindi Ortega, Charlie James, Shawn Oates, The Lovelocks, Eric Ethridge, Jeremy Dallas, Chris Henderson, Trinity Bradshaw, Michela Sheedy, Katie Love Hess, Amber Bauer, Amber Stoby, Hastie and The Alibi, Freedom’s Note, Thin Line Sid, Jordan Le

Jake Sommers attended The University of the Arts in Philadelphia (UArts) as a music performance major. He was fortunate to study under Marc Dicciani, Jimmy Paxson (Ben Harper, Stevie Nicks, and Natalie Maine), Gerry Brown (Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross), Marcus Baylor (Yellowjackets), as well as Erik Johnson. He graduated from University of the Arts in May 2013 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Music Performance. He was awarded the prestigious Paul D. Patterson Drum Set Award. Jake also studied under Dom Famularo and John Favicchia. Jake relocated from his hometown in New York to Nashville, TN to pursue playing drums. Jake started drumming at the honky tonk scene on Broadway in downtown Nashville. Shortly after, he met singer-songwriter /artist by the name of Luke Combs. Jake became Luke Combs touring drummer in 2015. Over the course of Jake’s time touring with Luke Combs, Jake has made appearances on Saturday Night Live, The Today Show and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. In addition to touring Jake teaches

Shawn Zorn is a drummer from Memphis, TN who now splits his time beween Nashville and Memphis. He has performed or recorded with artists such as Twin Forks, Allen Mack Myers Moors (featuring Zach Myers of Shinedown) Amy LaVere, Will Sexton, Cory Branan, Mike Doughty (Soul Coughing), Anthony Raneri (Bayside), Dashboard Confessional, Susan Marshall, Luther Dickinson, John Paul Keith, and more. He is a creative studio performer who does sessions in the Nashville or Memphis areas and also records remotely from his studio in Memphis. In this episode, Shawn talks about: What got him a foothold in Nashville, but why he ultimately prioritizes Memphis Tracking drums vs. mixing drums The unique process/experience of recording with Mike Doughty Creating a sample pack and finding a marketable angle for it A few of the Memphis drummers that have influenced him

In 2021, drummer Dave Moraata become the newest member of the band Saving Abel. Originally from a small Mississippi town (Philadelphia), Dave eventually made his way to Nashville, Tennessee in 2017. In between raising a young family and holding down a full time job, Dave took every opportunity to introduce himself to the rock scene in Nashville through jam nights, tribute shows and subbing gigs for other drummers. His dedication and attitude paid off when a chance encounter with the original singer for Saving Abel turned into a touring and recording gig of a lifetime. In this episode, Dave talks about: Humble beginnings in Mississippi and making the move to TN Finding his voice at jam nights, tribute shows in Nashville Getting the gig with Saving Abel Dave’s personal experience in Nashville Learning from podcasts like Drummer’s Resource, Big Fat Five and WDP

Sam Merrick has been in the drum chair for the touring production of Hamilton since January 2018. Prior to that, he was a busy freelancer in New York, working a bartending job for some of that time, and playing a wide range of gigs from weddings to Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings. When the pandemic shut down Hamilton, he relocated to the Washington, DC area and set up a home studio where he has done remote tracking and a sample pack which he has just released through The Drum Broker. In this episode, Sam talks about The random wedding gig that led to the Hamilton gig The various learning curves the show presented, from reading to energy How the show forced him to reckon with some physical issues Creating "normal" life away from home "De-Hamilton-izing" his playing over the break, and seeking out inspiration and motivation from others rather than waiting it for to come from within The sample pack partnership between drummer, producer (Jeremy Page) and platform (Drum Broker)

As a drummer/percussionist, producer, engineer, arranger, songwriter, conductor and composer Chuck Palmer has performed and recorded with a myriad of artists including Foreigner, AG, Gil Goldstein, RJD2, Frank Ocean (Channel Orange), Dave Eggar, Esperanza Spalding, Norah Jones, Cellogram, Dr. Ralph Stanley, The City And Horses, John Patitucci, Earwig, Five For Fighting, Amber Rubarth, O.A.R., Waway Saway with the Talaandig Tribe, and Amy Lee of Evanescence. In this episode, Chuck talks about: Using your skills and expertise as a drummer to produce, engineer, mix, write and create  His experiences and growth as a musician in New York City  Collaborating with cellist, pianist and composer Dave Eggar Conducting and creating string arrangements for the band Foreigner 

Cameron Tyler has been based in Las Vegas since 2017, where he is involved with numerous shows including Cirque du Soleil's Ka. He spent the first chapter of his career in Los Angeles learning the ropes of touring and recording, but relocated to Vegas in search of more affordable housing and studio space, and more creative autonomy as a drummer and producer. In this episode, Cameron talks about: Why he chose to relocate to Vegas, and how he got involved with Ka How reading and Ableton are table stakes for most Vegas gigs The importance of treating your space for optimal sound The piece of gear that has upped his mixing game

Bobby Jarzombek is currently the drummer for progressive metal band Fates Warning, vocalist Sebastian Bach, and country music legend George Strait. He has also recorded and toured extensively with the Halford band, featuring legendary Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford as well as the long-running New York City metal institution Riot. Bobby made his recording debut with Juggernaut on "Baptism Under Fire" in 1986. Other touring and recording credits include his work with Spastic Ink, CED Earth, Demons & Wizards, Rob Rock and John West among others. In this episode, Bobby talks about:    Early interests that shaped his drumming    Tracking from home for different projects    Getting the gig with George Strait    Adapting to changes in live performances

George Sluppick is an American drummer born in Memphis, Tennessee, specializing in blues, funk, soul and R&B music. In 1986, he graduated from Overton, a prestigious creative & performing arts high school. Growing up in Memphis, he shared the stage with many legends, including BB King and Rufus Thomas and just one year after his high school graduation at age 19, he went on the road with blues guitarist Albert King. He has since played with Charlie Hunter, JJ Grey & MoFro, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, and many others, and has just released a Memphis-infused sample pack through Yurt Rock. In this episode, George talks about: The process of creating and marketing his new sample pack Why he moved from his hometown of Memphis to the smaller town of Greensboro, NC The influence of Idris Muhammed and the idea of genre-free drumming

Joe McCarthy has led a diverse career as drummer/percussionist, bandleader, producer and educator in a myriad of settings from symphony orchestra to bebop, big band, afro cuban, theater and beyond. Joe is the founder, leader, producer and drummer of The New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band, winner of the 2008 Latin Grammy for Latin Jazz Album of the Year, and nominated in the same category for the 51st Grammy Awards for the Heads-Up release “Afro Bop Alliance”, featuring Dave Samuels. Active in education, Joe has held adjunct appointments at the collegiate level since 1992 upon graduating from the University of North Texas with a Masters in Percussion Performance. Previous adjunct positions include Texas Wesleyan University, Delaware State University, Georgetown University, George Mason University and Washington College. As a clinician, Joe has been a featured performer and clinician at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), Jazz Educators Network International Convention (JEN), numerous