Early Access - Audience Q&A, Hi Hat Combos

Nate Smith November 18, 2023

This week was a rare opportunity to dish. And I didn’t hold back. I fielded questions about Dilla Beats, life satisfaction, how to play fast in pocket and jazz contexts, how long it takes to get good at something, and more.

I even discuss online enemies, and why even though allowing negative people to live “rent free in your brain” is bad, so-called “haters” can fuel you. (Hmmm come to think of it, not exactly a hot take, laugh emoji.)

The response from my list to this inaugural Q&A was great. You guys came through with the questions. Based on that, I’ll likely do more of these in the future - maybe one every few months.

But if you’re tired of listening to me drone, fear not: we’ll be back next week with a J.P. Bouvet interview I recorded yesterday. J.P. did not hold back, and I know you’ll love this convo.

And if you haven’t caught my weekly youtube video, about trying to make the world’s weirdest hi hat combo, that’s below.

Enjoy!

Early Access - ZackGrooves, and Challenges Me

Nate Smith November 10, 2023

While Zack Graybeal, aka ZackGrooves, isn’t necessarily an avatar for the average drummer - he seems to have exceptional drum skills, comedy and filmmaking skills, hustle, and timing - he is a great example of what’s possible for an independent drummer in 2023.

The fact that noone’s asking him to teach seminar classes at the nation’s music schools leaves me puzzled.

But all-the-more opportunity for people like me to feature him on our outlets.

Zack was playing gigs right up until 2020, not thinking much about YouTube or social media. Then what happened…happened…and Zack picked up a camera, channeled his sense of humor and love of prank shows and the Nelk Brothers, and started making content.

If you’re paying attention, you know the rest. He wasted no time becoming the most meteoric drum YouTuber besides Drumeo. And he didn’t stop there. Zack secured sponsor deals from Meinl and Dixon Drums, did clinic tours of Europe and Asia, and headlined the Meinl Drum Festival and UK Drum Show.

And he didn’t stop there. He started a band. Everything Yes. And started touring the world, opening for acts like Sungazer.

Obviously, getting the chance to speak to Zack was an opportunity to get his perspective on all this success. But we also talked favorite jazz drummers, his writing process for Everything Yes, and my own struggles learning one of their songs.

And if you haven’t caught my weekly youtube video, about that very challenge, check it out below.

Enjoy!

Early Access - Joel Turcotte + tom sweeps

Nate Smith November 4, 2023

Increasingly, I want to use the podcast to introduce you to players you may not have heard of, but who deserve wider recognition.

Whatever the drum analogy is for jiujistu’s fabled Danaher Death Squad - a crew of upstarts who came seeming out of nowhere and started dominating in competition - Joel is part of that “crew” or “cadre”, many of whom I want to feature on the podcast soon.

What happens in 2023 if you have world-class/guitar-center-drumoff-winning ability, but you haven’t “hit big” yet. Every drummer had to come from somewhere. Before he was headlining stadiums with Steely Dan, Keith Carlock was a local favorite at the 55 Bar. Before he was on every gen-z jazz drummer’s influence list, Ari Hoenig was quietly turning heads with players like Kenny Werner and Jean-Michel Pilc.

And Joel isn’t just a chopper.

Like many guests, he’s reinventing the idiom, little by little. Committing to a musical direction rather than trying to do what “everyone else” is doing.

Joel’s also proven his character in the world of social media, where clout-chasing, pile-ons, and “the next thing” are magnetic, by doing what he wants in public, and sticking up for other drummers in public when few others will.

Those are among the reasons I want to introduce you to one of my favorite young drummers. Some of you will doubtless have heard of Joel, but if you haven’t, I urge you to check him out by searching his name on the Google machine.

And if you haven’t caught my weekly youtube video, about my 5 favorite tom sweeps, you can watch that below.

And here’s the free download that goes with that lesson.

Enjoy!