Just a bit about me…
To get us started, I want you to get to know me a bit better. As the music industry is all about relationships & connections, it would be a fantastic foundation to build from.
My name is Lewis, I am 23 and I am first & foremost a drummer. I also hold experience in songwriting, production, mixing, videography and photography. As shared on my website, I love music. It is at the forefront of everything I am doing. Walking somewhere, my headphones are on. Doing housework, my speaker is on. Practicing drums, of course, the music is on. Everything I do, music is a fundamental part of it. It always has been.
As a child…
Ever since I can remember, music has been at the front and centre of my life. The first CD I received was “Now 74”. This CD had artists on it ranging from Cheryl Cole and JLS, through to Muse and Snow Patrol. This CD is to blame for my eclectic music taste and taking an interest in almost every genre of music that there is. Some examples of artists that I was raised on are: The Fray, Scissor Sisters, Keane and Coldplay. I’m really starting to see where I gained my interest in pop and pop-rock.
In 2009, me and my mum started attending a local church in Bracknell. This opened my eyes to a whole sector of music, commonly known as “Christian Contemporary Music” or “CCM”. I would love going to church on a weekly basis, just to listen to tracks from bands such as Hillsong United & Bethel Music. These artists were building blocks that have helped to shape my musical and artistic interests today.
Alongside all of the music I mentioned, I was also raised on common British TV programmes. TV shows such as: X-Factor, Britain's Got Talent and Eastenders were commonly on the TV. And if we are going even earlier than that, I was a huge fan of children’s programmes such as Thomas the Tank Engine, The Backyardigans, Bear in the Big Blue House and Shaun The Sheep. All of these programmes had iconic theme songs. It was these tv shows that taught me the fundamentals of music, without even knowing it. The theme for “Bear In The Big Blue House”, has a swung rhythm and the iconic “duff-duff” from the Eastenders them taught me the basics of rhythm, a key element of any drummers and musicians toolkit.
My Drumming Journey…
At the age of 7, I received my first drum kit from a family friend. I had no clue what I was doing, however it was my first experience into what drumming was. At the time, I only had half an interest & we ended up getting rid of the drum kit. But it had given me a slight glimpse into what music and learning an instrument can bring.
When I reached secondary school, life became somewhat challenging. I struggled with issues within my school life and some of that was spilling out into my personal life.
My mum mentioned to me about a close friend of her’s. Her son was offering drum lessons and that it could be an excellent way to let out some internal frustration, alongside putting my mind to something. At first, I was apprehensive, but I gave it a shot and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Since picking up those sticks with my old drum teacher Sam Wade (JP Cooper, Nina Nesbitt, Ben Poole), it has given me an opportunity to meet wonderful people from all walks of life, learn transferrable skills that I use on a regular basis and drive all of my efforts into building a career for myself, that I love. Not everyone can say that.
Since Then…
Since I found my love for drums, I have used it to build from the ground up. Upon leaving secondary school, I went to the “Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM)” in Guildford. This is where I learnt invaluable information about working within the music industry, what it takes to be a professional musician and how to network with other creative-minded people. I worked with some excellent musicians, that had many years of industry experience expertise in their field, such as: Joe Yoshida (Katie Melua, Toseland, Eurovision 2014), Paul Geary (George Michael, Nik Kershaw, Mary J. Blige) and Pete Friesen (Alice Cooper, The Almighty, Bruce Dickinson). I built strong core skills through-out various areas. This could be seen through performance classes, working in ensembles, discipline specific lessons, learning about music theory and learning music production techniques. I subsequently starting playing drums live with the youth band at church, every Friday. This was a great way of improving my confidence when it came to live performance. However, this was abruptly cut short due to COVID-19
I went on to study at the British & Irish Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) in Brighton. This is where I built on what I had learnt at ACM. My time at BIMM helped me significantly in many areas. I grew my network, musical vocabulary, improvisation & versatility - it taught me skills applicable across all areas of music. I learnt skills within songwriting, song arrangement, harmonies, & implementing my own sound behind the drum kit. I worked with many successful and talented musicians, such as: Pat Garvey (Ozric Tentacles, Noel Redding, James), Vinnie Lammi (Supergrass, Take That, The Spice Girls) and James Drohan (Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, Westlife). Alongside these musicians, I worked with some excellent producers, such as: Pete Smith (The Police, Spandau Ballet, Stevie Wonder) and Simon Janes (BONOBO, Jess Glynne, Feral Youth).
During my time at BIMM, I formed a band called “Sleepflower”. I played drums, alongside Henry Hockings (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Alex Latta (Lead Guitar) and Rory Burns (Bass, Backing Vocals). Me & Henry met at a local networking event & we hit it off. This is where I learnt the most at university - outside of my academic studies. Through working closely with Henry, Alex and Rory, it taught me a lot of valuable lessons within networking, songwriting & interpersonal skills. We sent off the tracks to Harry Amos, who is a fantastic recording, mixing and mastering engineer. He is a good friend of mine. The product Harry produced was excellent & he ensured every element of the track was mixed to an excellent standard. This allowed us to release our single & E.P. onto streaming platforms.
Recently…
I am still continuing to find work, alongside working with a range of local musicians - keeping my skills honed & ready for any opportunities that may come my way.
Keep your eyes peeled on my social media pages & my website for updates.
Until the next time,
Lewis.
