#180 Emily Dolan Davies- Drummer, Educator, Podcaster and More!
Emily Dolan Davies is a touring and recording drummer based in the UK. She has worked with artists including Bryan Ferry, The Darkness, Kim Wilde, Howard Jones, Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey, Tricky, Cher Lloyd, The Hours, and many more.
She also owns her own remote recording business, EmilyDrums.com, where she records for hundreds of artists from all over the world from her own drum studio.
Emily also has an educational YouTube and podcast series, A Drummer's Guide To... that gives an insight into her world of being a professional musician to help others reach their goals. This has also been translated into a touring masterclass series that she performs at music schools and universities.
Happy Birthday Peter Erskine and Bernard Purdie!
Peter Erskine has played the drums since the age of four and is known for his versatility and love of working in different musical contexts. He appears on 700 albums and film scores, and has won two Grammy Awards, plus an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee School of Music (1992). - Read More
Peter Erskine has many play along apps on his website.
BERNARD PURDIE was born June 11, 1939 in Elkton, Maryland as the eleventh of fifteen children. Purdie began already as a six-year-old to bang out rhythms on improvised equipment. At 14 years of age he purchased his first real drum set and became the most important provider for the family - earning his pay with country and carnival bands. This "schooling" enabled Purdie to "feel my way into nearly every kind of music, 'cause I had to know all styles and was never afraid to try something new." - Read More
"Rock Steady" is a song written and performed by Aretha Franklin and released in 1971, from the album Young, Gifted and Black.[3] The single reached the #9 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts that same year. It also peaked at #2 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart. The original A-side, a rendition of the song "Oh Me Oh My (I'm a Fool for You Baby)", peaked at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart.
Aretha Franklin – lead vocals, piano
Richard Tee – organ
The Sweethearts of Soul (Brenda Bryant, Margaret Branch, Pat Smith) [4] — backing vocals
Tom Dowd – horn arrangement, production
Arif Mardin – production
This song has been sampled by many artist like Snoop Dog and Outkast to name a few. Check out the list!
Educational Spotlight
Kanjira, an eBook by Pete Lockett, is a beginner’s guide to learning to play the Kanjira.
For the first time, this amazing instrument is presented in the style of a “Western drum book”. Using notation and recorded examples, more than the traditional syllables, the material is laid out in a clear step-by-step way that blazes a simple path towards the basic technique.
Social Soundbyte
Iconic Recording
This week’s iconic recording is “Wake Up Everybody” by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. To read more on the MFSB click here.
Music News
Stand with Bandcamp to Support Racial Justice, Equality, and Change - Ethan Diamond - Article
Who in Music Is Supporting the Black Community Right Now - Ari Herstand - Article
Nearly 90% of US Independent Venues Face Permanent Shutdown Following COVID-19 - Dylan Smith - Article
Australia’s Concert Industry Has a $345 Million Recovery Plan - Ashley King - Article
Germany Commits 150 Million Euros to ‘Restart’ Live Music - Dylan Smith - Article
Ahmaud Arbery’s Lawyer Needed a Ride to Court — Jay-Z Offered His Private Jet - Dylan Smith - Article
The song leading into the interview is Open Fire by The Darkness.
Emily Dolan Davies Interview
This week’s interview is with drummer Emily Dolan Davies. The interview starts with Damon and Emily reminiscing on how they met at NAMM when Damon introduced Qrafter to her.
Emily is a drummer born and raised in London, UK. She lived in Palmers Green in the North of London. Damon mentions living in Ealing, London which was really closed to Emily. The restaurant that sells the Peri-Peri chicken is Nando’s.
Emily’s husband is a tour manager and he uses the app Master Tour.
Damon and Emily talk about how they are dealing with Quarantine. Emily has a home studio that she’s been working out of and she highly suggests that people should invest in having one. Damon mentions the Focusrite Clarett and the Presonus Quantum 2626. Emily has created a course for the business side of recording in a home studio that was released on June 4th!
“I like to treat every artist as a unique individual, and create bespoke pricing for each of my clients depending on their project needs, so let's have a chat and get you a lovely shiny quote!“ - Emily Dolan Davies
Emily shares more on her podcast and webinar “Drummer’s Guide To”. Here are some videos to check out!
Damon asks Emily what she splurged on when she felt like she was finally “making it”. She said she bought a 1987 yamaha 9000 drum kit! Damon also brings up how most musicians don’t take vacations. Emily replies with mentioning how important it is to take a rest and reassess what one is doing. Damon talks about using the Strava App for when he goes on his bike rides.
Damon asks Emily what her most wasteful purchase was. When Emily was about 17 years old she worked at a drumshop and was surrounded by gearheads. Emily saved up for a snare drum that cost £750 which is about $940 for a snare she ended up disliking after 6 months and it sat on her garage for 15 years.
Damon asks Emily if she has any stress dreams about bringing the wrong gear or going to the wrong location. Emily talks about how she experienced this during a kid’s version of The Voice in the UK. One her dreams is when she opened up her cymbal bag, all the cymbals were made of newspaper!
Damon asks Emily what is in her stick bag that isn’t a stick! Emily says she always has chocolate in her bag as well as these window gel stickers that she uses as Moongel for her drums.
Emily mentions that her dad always played guitar and that her mom wanted to be an artists but they both had to choose a profession that made more money so when she decided she wanted to be a drummer her family was all in.
Emily is sponsored by Zildjian, Yamaha, Vic Firth, Remo, and Tunerfish Luglocks.
If you want to know more about Emily Dolan Davies check out her Website, Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter.
The song leading out the interview is Alphaville by Brian Ferry.
