Evan Hutchings was Born and raised in Arkansas, Evan grew up playing drums at his dad’s church in Fort Smith. He was the kid that would sit behind the drummer during church and soak in every detail and nuance. Once church let out, he’d jump up on the kit and play, until the next church service started a few hours later.Evan got his first drum set at the age of 8 and began serenading his whole family and neighborhood with punk rock beats and the sounds of the radio. After touring the country with his band The Exception, Evan decided it was time to move to Nashville, TN and attend Middle Tennessee State under the direction of Lalo Davila and Tom Giampietro. It was in college where Evan honed his craft and wanted to become a studio musician.Years later and having played on multiple #1 songs on the radio, Evan is now an in demand studio drummer. You can hear his drumming with , Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Luke Bryan, Jimmie Allen, Sam Hunt, Ronnie Dunn,Keith Urban, Steven Tyler, Toby Keith, Matt Stell, Maddie and Tae, Tim McGraw, Lauren Alaina, Erin McCarley, Rascal Flatts, Elle Langley and many others. In this episode, Evan talks about: Performing in high pressure live scenarios like live TV The welcoming nature of people in the music industry His consistent hunger for knowledge Learning from other musicians Mindfulness practicing and how that effects your drumming Going for it in the studio and not playing it safe Less takes about skills that are needed for session work Performing at 50% - 70% of your total skill level and leaving some in the tank How to dial in a mix for a session Check out Evan's interview with us from before - #142 Here's our Patreon⁠ ⁠Here's our Youtube⁠ ⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sterling Laws is a well-established drummer in LA, having toured and/or recorded with Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, producer Dan Nigro, Natasha Bedingfield, and many others. He is a graduate of Musicians Institute in LA where he studied with Stewart Jean and Kevin Stevens. In this episode, Sterling talks about: Playing with Natasha Bedingfield and serving as her MD Growing up in rural Washington north of Seattle, and picking up drumming from his mom Discovering a viable musical path other than being in a band and trying to “make it” Studying at Musicians Institute with Stewart Jean and Kevin Stevens Matriculating from school onto into he LA scene and getting his first opportunities from Barry Squire Financial literacy lessons learned early  The support and positivity of today’s LA drumming community Recording for Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo, and how the drum tracking for a huge hit is often relatively DIY Getting comfortable with your drumming being manipulated or even discarded altogether in the record-making process How “getting the safe take” will earn you the right to do a more adventurous one Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Brown started his musical journey in Southern California, eventually moving to Nashville, TN when he was 19 years old. He cut his teeth touring and recording with rock bands throughout his 20s, working as a hired gun for both studio sessions and touring artists across many different genres. His resumé includes Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie/The Cure), Paramore, Steve Cropper, Phil Vassar, Thomas Rhett, Casey James (American Idol), Steel Magnolia (Can You Duet), Bucky Covington (American Idol) and many more. His home studio, Shrug Sound Studio is where he records drum tracks remotely and mixes songs for clients all over the world. He also engineers tracks for fellow drummers that don’t have a space to record. Repeat clients Ed Toth (The Doobie Brothers) and Kevin Murphy (Tonic/Jon Pardi), among others, rely on his accessibility, professionalism, and quick turnaround times. His studio is a comfortable and enjoyable place to record music. In this episode, Jeff talks about:     What has changed for him since our first interview in 2015    Taking control of your career     Jeff’s time as a drum tech     Tuning for a variety of scenarios     Finding the magic and energy when tracking by yourself at home     Work flow hacks in the home studio     AI vs a real person tracking     Keeping up with the tech     Taking a break from performing live ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gustavo Cortiñas was born and raised in Mexico City. His interest in drumming and jazz took him to Loyola University in New Orleans where he studied with Johnny Vidacovich, and on to Northwestern University in Chicago, where he has lived and worked since. His sixth album as a leader is entitled "The Drum Also Sings." In this episode, Gustavo talks about: Growing up in Mexico City, the son of two educators, and being surrounded by all kinds of music Being inspired by the individuality of jazz heroes who came through Mexico City, from Dave Weckl to Dave King to Brian Blade How circumstances intervened to steer hims path toward both New Orleans and Chicago The immediacy and accessibility of seeing and hearing jazz drummers in an intimate setting “The immigrant blessing” His new record being “conceived during a period of personal and collective difficulty” The ancestral connection between drums and voice Gustavo’s new record Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chase Adam's musical journey started when he was just three years old, collaborating with his father Thurman in the field of music. He spent many years performing in church and later pursued music education at school, specializing in various genres like concert, symphonic, jazz, and marching percussion. Throughout his early years, he played a significant role in establishing the Indianapolis Colts Drumline and the Indiana Pacers "High Octane" Drumline, while also sharing his expertise with local high school drumlines and offering private lessons. As a skilled freelance drummer living in Nashville with his wife and son, he divides his time between touring with The Frontmen, entertaining audiences at local clubs, and making valuable contributions to recording sessions. In this episode, Chase talks about:     What and how to practice as a professional     Recording on his first “master session”     Using drum corp experience in a musical way on the kit     Staying sane on the road         Drumming with The Frontmen     Grooving and making music without the click     Confidence and authority behind the kit     Playing Lower Broadway in Nashville     Dealing with a family tragedy     Home studio work ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Draper is a drummer, author, and performance coach based in London. After coming up on the city's Jazz and Fusion scene as the drummer in the house band at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Chris began getting opportunities in musical theatre, culminating in landing the drum chair on the West End production of Hamilton. His new book, "The Inner Athlete: A Musician's Guide to Performance Conditioning," is the result of what Chris learned through rehabilitation after sustaining two traumatic brain injuries and subsequently getting certified as a personal trainer. In this episode, Chris talks about: No longer having a home studio, and not missing it How a chance meeting at a pub led to his musical theatre career Playing in the house band at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London How some college programs are becoming more open to commercial music, especially when it comes to drums The traumatic brain injuries and subsequent recovery that inspired him to write “The Inner Athlete” What regulation is, physiologically, and different ways to do it The power of breath work  Why conventional weight training and athletic conditioning doesn’t work best for musicians Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reuben Spyker is a master technician who has built his career as an educator, artist, and innovative drummer.  Reuben has developed teaching programs that emphasize efficient playing, critical observation, and creativity.  Most recently, Reuben has combined his obsession with detail and interest in art to create an original signature snare drum with the help of master snare builder Ronn Dunnett.   In this episode, Reuben talks about:     The many facets of Reubens career     Using curiosity as inspiration     Finding joy in things like drawing, building things and Davinci     Working closely with Ronn Dunnett to build a custom snare drum     The importance of critiquing yourself     The power of focus     Reuben’s different teaching courses ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ross McReynolds has toured and recorded with artists such as Katie Pruitt, Maia Sharp, Juan Solorzano, The Muddy Magnolias, Dynamo, Cory Wong, Kelsey Waldon, Caleb Groh, Jess Nolan and many more. He attended Belmont University in Nashville and lived and worked there for many years after, but recently made the move to LA. In this episode, Ross talks about: Moving from Nashville to LA because of a general need for change Going crazy if he spends too long in the studio without connecting with an audience His experience at Belmont University in Nashville  Realizing the typical Nashville music career and some of Nashville’s musical values didn’t agree with him How patience can turn seemingly difficult decisions into no-brainers “The passivity of a streaming service” How synthesizers and other electronic instruments he like using still feel physical and tangible and analogue  Here's our Patreon Here's our Youtube Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Craig Krolicki is a versatile and musical drummer playing a wide variety of styles. He is a graduate of Youngstown State University (The Dana School of Music), with a BA in Music Education. In 1997 Craig moved to Nashville TN, and has toured as a drummer with artist such as Curb Recording Artist Jeff Carson, Hank III, Sony Recording Artist Tammy Cochran, Singer/Songwriter/Producer Gail Davies, Singer/Songwriter Billy Yates, BNA Recording Artist Kellie Coffey. From 2006-2020, Craig drum teched for the country band Rascal Flatts. In recent years, Craig has been teching for Kent Slucher of Luke Bryan. Craig continues to freelance as a drummer in and around Nashville and has even started a new fitness coaching program. In this episode, Craig talks about: Unique tech challenges during CMA week in Nashville Essential gear for playing on Lower Broadway in nashville What a drum tech actually does Being the glue between the drummer and the engineer From Pennsylvania to Nashville Staying in shape on the drums in between performances His new fitness program Coach Craig Fitness ([email protected]) ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Pruitt has toured and/or recorded with Eddie Gomez, Mike Stern, Snarky Puppy, Oz Noy, and many others. He was a finalist in the 2000 Guitar Center Drum-Off and went on to study with Ed Soph at North Texas. In this episode, Steve talks about: Facing a lot of adversity quickly at North Texas The differences and similarities in his approach to straight ahead jazz vs. fusion How he things about the word "integrity" "Finding the dance" that makes the music work with certain musicians or groups Taking responsibility, "even when it isn't fair to" The chapter of his life and career spent in South Korea ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Patreon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Youtube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Here's our Homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices