Drummers Pathway Podcast

This episode features my conversation with Justin Amaral. Moving to Nashville in 1999 to pursue his career after attending the Berklee College of Music, Justin established himself as an in demand session drummer know for his versatility and creative approach.

In 2024, Justin released his album Life In Grooveland - The Hymnal, which is a collection of traditional hymns reimagined as world-beat instrumental duets.

In this episode, we discuss how the lessons he learned at Berklee influence his creative explorations, the importance of remaining humble while being of service to an artist, and the inspiration behind his Life In Grooveland project.

Let's get started with my conversation with Justin Amaral.

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Life In Grooveland -The Hymnal

For this episode, I welcome Dave Stark and Paul Quin back to the podcast for a roundtable discussion on the factors to maintaining a professional career. 

Based in Florida, Dave is a freelance drummer and educator who is highly regarded for his expertise and mentorship, and Paul is an entertainment lawyer and professional drummer who has dedicated his career to educating creative artists in navigating the industry.

In this episode, we explore the value of building authentic relationships in the music business, break down the legal side of copyright and AI, and look at how to assess your worth as a freelance musician.

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For this episode, I welcome back Mickey Curry for his second appearance on the podcast.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Mickey has worked with artists including Bryan Adams, Hall & Oates, The Cult, Tom Cochrane, Alice Cooper, and many more, earning his place among the most respected drummers in the business.

In this episode, we reflect further upon his experiences working with many of the industry's top artists and producers, dealing with imposter syndrome, the importance of prioritizing a positive work/life balance, and the joy of finding inspiration through the work of others.

This episode features my conversation with Peter Von Althen. Based in Ottawa, Peter is an in-demand drummer who has collaborated with artists including Kathleen Edwards, Skydiggers, Starling, Fred Eaglesmith, and more. 

In this episode, we talk about how his early inspirations influenced his musical approach, the importance of sonic exploration when recording in the studio, and why embracing a professional reset is essential to sustaining both your career and work/life balance.

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Photo by Lindsay Duncan

This episode features my conversation with drummer Aubrey Dayle. Based in Toronto, Aubrey's career has spanned jazz, blues, funk, and rock. Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Montreal, he started on accordion at age five before turning to percussion, eventually earning a Bachelor of Music in classical percussion performance from McGill University, then continuing his studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

From there, he built a career as a first-call sideman, touring and recording with James "Blood" Ulmer, Hassan Hakmoun and Zahar, God Street Wine, and the John Popper Band, among many others. He recently held the drum chair for the North American premiere of the musical "It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken," based on the music of The Tragically Hip.

Aubrey is a composer and leader of his own project, My id, and is also a longtime collaborator with Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid. He is the author of the book "Narada Michael Walden: Drumming, Spirit and Music," an in-depth analysis and tribute to the music icon.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of formal education, the mentors who helped him establish his career, his approach to composition, and how his exploration and style analysis of Narada Michael Walden led to him writing his book and developing a friendship with the icon.

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Narada Michael Walden - Drumming, Spirit and Music Book