Today we’d like to introduce you to Dave Brandwein
Hi Dave, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
For as long as I can remember, the drums have spoken to me. It’s the piece of the musical puzzle that my ear is immediately drawn to and it’s been that way since I was a little kid. My mom says that while she was pregnant with me, I would tap along to the beat of music playing in the house! At an early age I began to have ambition that surpassed my surroundings and by the time high school was over, I had decided to pursue a college music degree. I discovered very quickly that playing great SONGS was the thing I loved more than anything. I love exploring all musical styles, but my favorite thing is playing pop music that crowds move and sing along to.
After college, I spent significant time between Chicago and Los Angeles – touring with artists and making records in the midwest, while also having a presence in California. In 2022 I started working with Forest Blakk, an incredible singer-songwriter from Canada that I met while living in LA. I was invited to go on tour with him supporting Australian artist Dean Lewis, and off we went. Those two months kicked off a great working relationship that continues today.
After that run, we played festivals and various shows throughout the US and Canada and in 2023, Forest headlined his first North American tour. Following the success of that tour and a great new album, we hit the road in early 2024 supporting UK artist James Arthur. Rounding out the end of this year will be a 30+ date headlining tour that I’m excited to play drums, run playback, and be the musical director for.
In between work with Forest, I moved to Nashville and also began to spend time on the road with Sean Stemaly – a country artist with a great sound and a perfect outlet to play loud rock drums! I now have my own studio and have been tracking drums there as much as possible. I continue to work with as many inspiring artists and songwriters as I can and am always on the lookout for new collaborations! I like to say that “a great song is a great song!” and I’ll take every opportunity to play those songs live in front of crowds that love them.
My work as a live drummer, studio musician, musical director, playback engineer, and teacher has taken me to some amazing places but I have high goals and expectations. There are so many amazing musicians and artists in the world. So many great stages. So many incredible songs. I can’t wait to do bigger, better things and I am very happy to call Nashville home while I pursue my musical dreams even further!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The music business and world is never a smooth one. It is full of rejection and setbacks but the common thread is that the harder you work, the more you achieve. I love the sayings “the war is won by those who show up” or “the only way to fail is by leaving the room” – I think both are true in the highest way. I’ve dedicated so much time to bands and artists that were talented but didn’t decide to embrace the drive to move on to the next level. It doesn’t mean that they weren’t good enough, many of them are incredibly talented!, but “making it” means different things to different people. I learned a long time ago that I was going to work as hard as I could to bring myself to the next level. I still struggle with motivation and imposter syndrome some days but in the end, I want to succeed in the music world and I won’t “leave the room” until I do!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m primarily a live touring drummer specializing in pop/rock/country music but overall I just love a great song – no matter the genre. I love touring and want to continue to make that my top priority. I am also a musical director and playback engineer. I love making a show work for an artist and take pride in building playback sessions, in-ear monitor rigs, and everything in between! I enjoy being in the studio recording drums, percussion, overdubs, and programming for songs. It’s great going to other studios to work but I also have my own studio at home where I can work more affordably and comfortably while tracking drums for people around the world! When not on the road, I teach private drum lessons for students of all ages. I love working with younger students to develop a love for the instrument and with older students to help them achieve their musical goals!
I am the most proud of the work I’ve done live with Forest Blakk. As his drummer, playback engineer, musical director, and more, I’ve worked closely with him to develop shows that have touched people on a deep level. We’ve brought the power of his music to audiences that want to have a great time but also are affected deeply by those songs. I can’t wait to take it even further to the rest of the world!
When bringing songs to life on stage or in the studio, I love every piece of that puzzle – from sound design to arrangement, to lights and setlist. Every aspect is something that I enjoy! I love saying that I am a “professional OTHER guy in the room” – meaning that I’m always down to collaborate and brainstorm ideas to make the impossible happen!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I think there are two ways of defining success: personal success and professional success. If you’re lucky, you can find your way to a place where both happen equally. Professional success is a bar that keeps changing and moving forward – you always have to keep yourself in check to make sure you don’t move it so far away that it negatively impacts your happiness. I’m always working on being better at living for the moments outside work and making those days the best they can be. Personal happiness and success should really be the most important and from there, everything else is flexible. I feel successful playing stages around the world but also adventuring with my partner and our dog!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.davebrandweinmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbondrums
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/davebrandweinmusic
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Ez4iIkAUSb8AkVFJaSkJ7?si=e5215621b83d4ee8
