HITMAKERS – Détails, épisodes et analyse

OK, not really a holiday episode, but Dan's new book makes a great "holiday gift." As for the interview, it's real and it's spectacular.

DAN OZZI is a New York-raised, LA-based writer. He's got a new book called “Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994–2007)". He's written for outlets you've read and interviewed bands you know (Blink 182, anyone?). We talk about his own evolution, cultural trends, and of course, what it means to sell out.

We're (momentarily) back baby!! On this EXTRA SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE, your regular HOST is the GUEST!! From March, in his other guise as SUNNYSIDE UPPERS on "I Like Your Style", a podcast hosted by Elder Brycen of the GOLDEN PLATES, a band out of San Diego USA. We're releasing it on the eve of the new Uppers single "MARY" (streaming everywhere Fri 13th!!) Topics include the death of rock'n'roll, other people's opinions, happiness, Bob Dylan, Anne of Green Gables, altered-state adventures and much more!!!

An AXXION-PACKED EPISODE! OK, that's the only pun we'll make. Emily drums for the Toronto metal band AXXION! She's a lefty! She started playing on a beat up Westbury kit as a 13 year old (respect), took lessons for a couple years, then her teacher kicked her out, saying she knew everything she needed to! From there she started playing in bands, which has taken her across Canada, across the pond, and most recently to 10 acres in Muskoka, Ontario, where she spoke with us from her home studio. Tune in to hear all about it!

Trevor’s been making music on the East coast for years. He's been in bands, runs an independent label, works as a publicist and hosted a radio show championing local music for a decade. He's been making moves on his own recently - he's got a new solo project called “Sluice”!! In fact, he's got a new single coming out this Friday!! In fact, we’re going to play it for you right here on the show!!! Tune in to hear all about it; stay for our thoughts on the current state of independent music-making.

Eric Miko Findlay has been with SoCal alternative/post-hardcore band Seahaven since they formed in high school (he actually started on bass and switched to drums after auditioning for his own band!) They had a great run in the early-mid 2010s, then went dark for 2 years, then made a new record and got ready to hit the road juuuuuust in time for touring to get cancelled. We talk about that, recording in the Costa Rican jungle and more. Great convo. If you're a drummer, make sure you listen to the end to hear how to get the most out of your practice time.

WE'RE BACK BABY! Our first of 2021 and features none other than NATE MORTON from the HOUSE BAND on THE VOICE!!⁠

Nate grew up banging on pots and pans, idolizing Animal from the Muppets. Through studies at Berklee and a move to LA, he's played with loads of people whose names you know. And while his current gig brings him to your living room every week, he says he's still 4 years old banging on pots and pans up there.⁠

Of course, that belies his incredible ability and musicianship as a player (we get into that too - for a couple of guys who claim to know nothing about technique, it does get a little nerdy). We talk about lessons learned from the great Ian Froman at Berklee, why he decided not to be a concert pianist, "what's his secret" for landing gigs and much more. Great dude and incredibly patient with our technical difficulties.⁠

We know you'll enjoy this one. Listen now or download it for later!!!!!!!⁠

Looks like we made it! Our final episode of 2020 is an interview with none other than BRENDAN BUCKLEY!

He’s a touring/recording freelance drummer based in Los Angeles, California. You may know him from his work with Perry Farrell, Shakira, Tegan and Sara, many others. Originally from New Jersey, he started drumming the way many of us do - seeing a drumkit and thinking “that thing looks so cool! i want to do that!” So he picked up a few beats from MTV and taught himself to play them on the drums at school during his lunch breaks. He subsequently declared that he was a drummer when he got to high school. This led to some pretty intense musical studies, which led to the University of Miami, which led to a decade of living and playing there. He decided on his 30th birthday that he had to move somewhere, which wound up being LA, and he’s been there (though not for more than a month at a time until now) ever since.

Tune in to hear all about it. If you’re a drummer, this is an amazing episode full of goodies for you. Enjoy this one and we’ll see you in 2021.

For show notes, past episodes and more, check learndrums.ca.

Clare rips the kit (and the glock) with Halifax indie-pop superstars Hillsburn. Before dropping out of Humber, moving back home and joining a touring+recording band, she'd been considering a career in chemistry. She even applied for a job at a place that made cymbal cleaner. But as everybody knows, music is a much more stable path (hehe) and here we are! Tune in to hear us reminisce about our band-geek days, trash talk Toronto, discuss the proper pronunciation of "glockenspiel" and so much more.

Tyler is a session drummer in Los Angeles, California. He was raised on top 40 and classic rock in Sacramento, but it was a Blink-182 show in the early 00s that changed his life. Since then, he's toured the world as a backline tech for artists like Usher, Demi Lovato, the Chainsmokers and Anderson .Paak. He's drummed with Charlie Puth, Noah Cyrus, Kiiara and many more. He's played Coachella, Rock in Rio, Ellen, The Tonight Show. How does one land those gigs? What's he doing now that touring is on hold? Tune in to find out all about it.

We finally did it! People have been saying “you should get Loel on the show” since we started this thing. For listeners on the East coast (maybe Canada in general), this man needs no introduction. For those who don't know, Loel is the drummer for WINTERSLEEP. he has also worked with acts like HOLY F*CK, COLD SPECKS, MATT MAYS, CONTRIVED, THE HOLY SHROUD and more. These days he’s living the quarantine life on the shores of Nova Scotia. We discuss his own musical beginnings, the evolution of his main project, and the current state of music making - things like "how awkward are livestreams" and like “what kind of mics are you using on your kit?")