bo ely cd interview: with john swanson, drummer
linda bracamonte — i know the difference between a sad song and the blues
What were your contributions on the new CD (instruments played, vocals)?
I played all percussion parts on the new cd. I haven't sung with the band (yet). If Linda keeps encouraging me, I may do some back up singing in the future.
How did you prepare or what was your approach for the new CD?
The songs are all originals written by Ema, or by Ema and Linda. Ema orchestrates the original songs, and we've been practicing and performing these for awhile. Since this is my first real experience recording a cd, I tried to be as consistent as I could, and not be too fancy.
Did I detect some electronic drums played on the new CD and what sort of sound does that capture for a song versus conventional drums?
Yes, I played an electronic drum kit for the cd. It's Ema's equipment, which includes Trapkat pads, and a Yamaha box. Playing electronic drums for recording purposes offers some distinct advantages and disadvantages.
First, the electronic set was great, because the Yamaha box has very good, realistic percussion sounds. The box allows you to program various parameters like volume, balance, decay, pitch, etc. Also, the Trapkat set has 18 different pads allowing a lot of sounds (different cymbal crashes and drums) to be available at the same time. Once you have the sounds you want, the set up for recording is pretty quick, because you don't need to mike any real drums (the sound goes straight to the mixing board). That
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photo by linda bracamonte |
The disadvantages are that you get a little less in the way of dynamic range (loud to soft), and percussive effect. The programmed pads sound the same each time you hit them, which is good when you want a consistent sound, but doesn't allow creating different sounds from the same pad. With "real" or "live" drums, you can get different sounds by hitting the drums and cymbals in different spots or at different angles, which allows more creativity in what the drums sound like, but also requires a very steady approach when you want a consistent, repeated sound.
How do you and Lance, the other half of the rhythm section, lock into a groove for each original song?
For most songs, we try to keep the bass guitar notes and bass drum notes in the same rhythm, and as tight as possible. There are a few exceptions, but that's the norm.
Is putting in long hours in the studio difficult or enjoyable and why?
I have limited experience in recording studios, and although the hours were long, I didn't mind. It was fun, and quite an adventure. However, I wasn't involved in the overdubbing, mixing and engineering. You would have to ask Ema or Willy [Seltzer] about that!
Can you describe an average session in the studio with the band?
This was our first cd as a group, so "average" is a relative term, I guess. We had fun together putting down the rhythm tracks (bass, drums, keys and rhythm guitar), although it was challenging. Recording is so unforgiving; any little mistake or hesitation is there for good. It's hard to know when "good enough" is good enough, because we're all our own worst critics, and we always want to make it a little bit better. There's simply a limit to the amount of time you can spend on trying to get one song just the way you want it.
What do you feel are the most important things aspiring drummers need to know?
I would say first to work on keeping a steady meter, which includes both the tempo and the evenness between the beats. This can be challenging for certain types of beats, or if you play a variety of different beats (shuffle, straight rock-and-roll, jazz, latin rhythms, etc.). Then, the use of dynamics. The application of dynamics (loud and soft notes) within an ongoing beat, and especially during rolls or fills, is what makes a drummer sound professional (or not). Finally, the complexity and speed of your rolls and fills. The important other things to consider are listening to your bandmates, and playing to the level of the song, in terms of volume and style. Overplaying (too much or too loud), and underplaying (too tentative) can both be problems. Practice, practice, practice.
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photo by nancy stegemann |
Describe what it is like working with a producer to get the sound or beat he or she is looking for?
This session went very smooth for me, because the use of the electronic drums made for a quick setup, and sound check, and the drum parts were worked out between Ema and myself beforehand. Ema usually has a specific idea about how he wants the drums to sound on a particular song, and his musical instincts and experience are excellent. We usually get to where he wants it pretty quickly, although there are always times when it takes a little more effort to work out a specific part. Ema also encourages me to use my own imagination and suggest contributions of my own within the framework of what he has envisioned. Working with Larisa [Bryski] and Willie (the studio folks) was also great; they were positive and helpful the entire time.
How do your family and friends feel about the new CD?
They hate it. No, I'm joking. I think they were pleasantly surprised at the quality and the professional sound. We were all very pleased with the end product, considering the limited time and budget we were able to devote to the project. My teenage daughters think it's pretty cool that dad is on a cd. Linda's voice and Ema's arrangements are amazing, and Ema, Lance and Matt's playing are wonderful.
What were the biggest challenges and the most enjoyable moments of the recording sessions?
The challenges include budgeting your studio time, and focusing your energy and concentration. Also, fixing mistakes and deciding when you should re-cut a track is difficult. The most enjoyable moments are when you listen to the playback and really like what you hear, and just spending the time with the band, working on the project together.
BO ELY CD INTERVIEWS
linda bracamonte | ema roberts | lance davis | john swanson | matt kaiser
BO ELY 2006/07 INTERVIEWS
linda bracamonte | ema roberts | lance davis | john swanson | matt kaiser
linda bracamonte band | it’s all about me | where i’m at | where the boys are | talk to me
special features | photo gallery | buy my stuff | download this | say something nice | sammies: vote for me
linda bracamonte official website | www.lindabracamonte.com
ema roberts • lance davis • matt kaiser • john swanson
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