
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
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Jul 23
1 hr 51 min

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
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Jul 16
1 hr 15 min

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
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Jul 9
1 hr 42 min

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
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Jul 2
1 hr 16 min

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
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Jun 26
1 hr 35 min

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
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Jun 18
1 hr 17 min

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])
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Jun 11
1 hr 12 min

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
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Jun 4
1 hr 27 min

Steve Misamore has been drumming since he was 11 years old. He has been the drummer in Dierks Bentley’s band since 2002.
Steve moved to Nashville in 1993 from Houston TX. Before he met Dierks, he did all sorts of gigs in town from bars to studio work, to private gigs and everything in between. Steve met Dierks playing the bars in Nashville in 1999 and helped him open some doors at Sony/ATV. Steve has been working with Dierks ever since. Steve played on some of the early stuff like "Free and Easy" "Feel That Fire" as well as a few others.
In this episode, Steve talks about:
Creative ways to stay engaged with drumming when not touring
The evolution of the Dierks Bentley gig
Working with Dierks from the very beginning
Recreating the drum parts from Dierks' records
Translating the studio performance into a live performance
Getting his pilots license
The parody group Hot Country Knights
The early influence of Herman Matthews
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May 28
1 hr 18 min

Matt Musty has been the drummer for Train since 2019. He has lived in Boston, New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles and in addition to Train, his touring and recording credits include Grace Potter, Gwen Stefani, Shoshana Bean, Keith Urban, and many others.
In this episode, Matt talks about:
Learning the recording principle that the only rule is what sounds good to you
The Broadway musical in development that Train is writing music for, and learning the “many cooks in the kitchen” approach
Being a part of Train’s writing process with Pat and Jerry
How to fight jadedness
“Doing everything wrong and backwards” in New York
Moving to Nashville and finding himself in the drum chair with Grace Potter
How the space is what makes recordings sound cool
Caring enough to strive for 110%, and not caring enough to not beat the shit out of yourself when you never get there
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May 21
1 hr 5 min
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