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Matt Mcilwain: Personality & Podcasts | Drumming for Trey Lewis, Touring During COVID, Avoiding Burnout

Raised in Selma, AL, Matt Mcilwain has only been in Nashville for less than 2 years but has quickly become a known personality in town, most notably as the drummer for American country music singer Trey Lewis. Matt’s skillsets extend far beyond his talents as a touring drummer. Utilizing his skills in media and production,…

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Sammi Potts: Mental Health & Touring | Drumming for Shane Profitt, Mentorship, & How to Leave a Gig

Raised in Minneapolis, MN as a young classical percussionist, Sammi Potts moved to Nashville in 2013 to study music at Belmont University. In this interview, we learn the valuable skillsets she learned both in and out of the classroom to propel her to an already fruitful career as a full-time rock drummer, currently on tour…

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Tayvieon Graham: Lessons from the Golf Course | Bandleading, Speed Skating, & Why You Should Wait on Endorsements

Hailing from Louisiana, Tayvieon Graham moved to Nashville with rockstar ambitions and an attitude rooted in kindness, understanding, and respect. In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss the parallels between drumming and Tayvieon’s non-musical hobbies including golf and speed skating, integrating other musical styles, and why you might wait on endorsements. We hope you enjoy! We’d…

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Daniel Kozlowski: The Language of Music | Building a Home Studio, Incremental Progress & Why You Need a Mood Board

Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Daniel Kozlowski holds degrees in Percussion Performance and Music Theory, both of which continue to serve him greatly as a sought-after live and session drummer in Nashville, TN. In this episode, we discuss his 2020 move from touring to session drumming, why music education is so important, and how incremental…

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Tim Buell: Tactics for High Performance | How to Prepare Like an Athlete, Adapting to AI, Optimizing Your Workflows & Minimizing Distractions

You may know our next guest from his online educational videos and plethora of drum transcriptions that have taken the industry by storm. We were thrilled to sit down with Nashville-based drummer, Tim Buell, in this jam-packed, nearly 2-hour long conversation spanning a wide range of informative and valuable topics. We discuss the parallels between…

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Kip Allen: Session Drumming, Touring for Madeline Edwards, Bourbon, Endorsements & How to Use Social Media

We’re kicking off 2023 with local session drummer, producer, and songwriter Kip Allen! Having graduated from Belmont University, Kip has taken every opportunity to refine his craft and grow professionally as a touring and studio drummer, currently on the road with country artists Madeline Edwards and Devin Dawson. Kip’s experiences in the industry are wide-ranging;…

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Jonn Bostwick: Living with Intensity | Touring for Parker McCollum, Performance Mindsets, Desperation & Being Open-Minded

We’re closing out 2022 with our interview with Ohio native Jonn Bostwick, currently on tour with Texas country artist Parker McCollum. Jonn is a gifted all-around musician who moved to Nashville with an intensity and drive that fuels his passion day in and day out. Jonn shares with us invaluable performance mindsets and career advice…

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Thomas Finch: Life of a Drum Tech | Living with Intent, Joining the Army, Achieving Stability in the Music Industry

Our next guest is Nashville business owner and drum tech Thomas Finch of FDS Drum Services! Thomas is a man of conviction, discipline, and a work ethic second to none. Growing up in New Jersey, Thomas shares his upbringing as a drummer touring the world to eventually letting go of music and joining the army,…

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Howard Artis: Balancing Your Good Ego | Touring with Yola, Football Mentalities, Musical Exposure

Working professionally in Nashville as a drummer, artist, and producer, North Carolina native Howard Artis joins the podcast hot off his 2022 AMA performance with Yola. We were inspired to learn of Howard’s journey to Nashville where he overcame the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to major life events that have all shaped…

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Kevin Keith: Classical Percussionist to Rockstar | Auditioning for Orchestras, Forming an Original Band, Taking Risks & Why You Should Try Singing

Nashville multi-instrumentalist and educator Kevin Keith joins the podcast as we discuss his unique journey from the classical percussion orchestral world to starting a rock band on lower Broadway, Too Hot For Leather. Kevin persevered through many challenges brought on by the 2020 pandemic, including moving to a new city and joining a band from…

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