In this episode, we get into what it really takes to prepare to record, and why “jamming to a song” and tracking a song for an artist are two totally different worlds. Eddy shares how he practices and preps parts (often without writing anything down), why e-kits can be a secret weapon for learning technical material, and how to identify the non-negotiables in a drum part when a demo already has programmed drums.

We also talk about fighting muscle memory, why simple pop parts can be harder than complex chops, the “less is more” mindset, listening back with ruthless honesty, and the ultimate litmus test: did your drumming make the song better, or did it pull the listener out of it? Plus: the courage to “dare to suck” during the process… because that’s where the magic shows up.

Enjoy - Mike J

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In this episode, Eddy and I realized that without physical drum magazines sitting around our studios, we’ve totally lost touch with what the major brands, besides our endorsements, are doing. So, we decided to fix that by taking a deep dive into companies that we are not sponsored by, starting with Pearl Drums!

We answer the internet's most googled questions about the brand (Is Pearl actually good? Pearl vs. Tama?), and then—with an unlimited imaginary budget—we build our absolute dream Pearl kits from scratch.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Dream Builds: I go with a Reference One and the Matt Halpern Signature Snare, while Eddy leans into nostalgia with a Maple/Gum kit and the Joey Jordison Signature Snare.
• The "Magazine Problem": Why it’s so much harder to understand gear specs and innovation in the age of Instagram reels.
• Studio Update: I share the unfortunate news that my studio flooded on Christmas Day and that renovations are currently underway.

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Pearl Reference One Series
• Pearl Masters Maple/Gum
• Matt Halpern Signature Snare
• Joey Jordison Signature Snare

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Happy Monday, EVERYONE! This week, Eddy and I are geeking out on one of our favorite topics: drum fills. But we aren’t just talking about the fastest or choppiest fills; we’re talking about the ones that involve PRO-level choices. We break down some absolute genius moments from Aaron Sterling, The RH Factor, Paramore, and Mark Guiliana to figure out exactly why those specific choices elevated the music so perfectly.

We also decided to put ourselves in the hot seat. We each brought in a track from our own discographies. Eddy with a Busted track and me with a vintage Simon Says track, to analyze our own decision-making processes in the studio. We realized that whether it’s a simple snare hit or a complex linear chop, the best drum fills are rarely about the drumming; they’re about the choices. Hope you guys enjoy this deep dive!

Enjoy - Mike J

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