Working Drummer

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

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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

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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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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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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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