drumming secrets

Finally I get to play drums on the new stuff we've been composing for Jenna Attison! The whole process of writing tracks, recording guide vocals, bass and guitar tracks now finally have to be completed with real drums!

Because I am producing her 2nd album, I had to do a lot of "producers' administration".....

For example yesterday I had to make pre-production mixes for me to play drums against; choosing the right kind of clicktrack, well balanced mixes with saperate bass tracks (so I have the possibility to push up the bass whenever I need it for my comfort.) We are going to lay the drums down to tracks in a studio in Delft (NL) using ProTools. It's the first time we are going to record there and I am looking forward to it a lot!!

Can you imagine the feeling of having played a guide track on an electronic drumkit, just to work against....in the meantime I am hearing how the vocals, bass, keys and guitars are starting to develop in sounding great....and then I have to be patient to the last minute before I can put my REAL drums on the tracks.... I am so excited!! Also because this is not just a project to me; we all have put a lot of time and energy in these songs and performances, and now it really feels like a band thing! The feeling of a so called "band thing" is what made me starting playing the drums in the first place; becoming a part of the group and enjoy playing together.... 

Anyway, I also have checked my whole drum gear, spare drumheads and spare sticks. Everything is ready to go! Even my DVD discs and USB stick with the pre-production mixes of 6 songs I have packed savely in my trolley....also ready to go! 

The only thing I have to do is take spare T-shirts (I will sweat you know!), towels, tooth brush and personal stuff (I am staying over for 3 days). On all the recording sessions that I have done in my career, I found out that for me it works best to stay at the place for a couple of days, rather than driving home and get back into your daily business. To stay over actually means that it's much easier to maintain the flow you'll get into once you start playing music. This is your moment with music and nothing should interrupt that! I even switch off my mobile phone and shut down my internet to disconnect with the outside world.... It helps me to stay focussed during this precious time where you have your chance to create something for life!

I just love the whole process of recording music......