Matt Johnson has played on some of the most critically acclaimed records in almost everyone’s collections. He’s also performed on some of the more memorable tours from the early 90s on. From recording the seminal cult-creating album Grace with Jeff Buckley in 1993 at age 22, he’s worked with a wide spectrum of artists over the past two decades including Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, Elysian Fields, Australia’s Angus and Julia Stone, Beth Orton, Keren Ann, Duncan Sheik, and the beloved St. Vincent, the avant-garde guitarist, songwriter and performer who continues to astonish listeners and concertgoers everywhere with her ever-evolving musical statements.
In this episode, Matt talks about:
Learning how to adapt for a live performance based on a programed or highly produced rhythm track
Creating grooves that have more complexity with less density
Teaching yourself to feel the space between quarter notes in unique ways
Getting your brain to think differently by using a “role reversal” method with your limbs
Distilling down your groove to to it’s most basic place in order to build it into a solid performance
Failure seen as an experience on the way to some type of success that you could never have planned on
The value of “grit” and the power of will and dedication
Learning to utilize a double kick pedal
Incorporating electronics to an acoustic set up
Working with Rufus Wainwright
Matt endorses: Tama Drums, Istanbul Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, Vater Sticks
This episode is sponsored by Crush Drums