I am a professional musician with over 11 years of live playing experience. I started playing drums at the age of 12 throughout school, and have been obsessed ever since I picked up my first pair of drum sticks. I started out my live playing journey playing weekly at the local open mic night's aged 14. I then moved on to playing an array of shows around the UK with some local bands in Wales. At 18 I moved on to study my undergraduate degree 'Contemporary and Popular Music Studies BA (Hons)' at Newcastle University where I spent three of the best years of my life. I met many of the worlds most influential drummers and studied under one of the best teachers in England, Geoff Hutchinson. I ended a 1:1 in my major performance modules and a 2:1 overall. After Newcastle University I moved to London to get my 'Masters in Advanced Musical Studies' degree at Royal Holloway, University of London. I finished with a Merit and a Distinction in performance.
After graduating from RH I started auditioning for cruise companies as this seemed the best step to get me to being a full time player, after many auditions and two years of bar work on the West End I was lucky enough to get my first contract with the best, biggest and most incredible cruise company in the world, Carnival Cruise Line.
I'm now currently on my fourth contract and have worked hard enough to be recognised as one of the top players in the fleet. Last year I was hand selected to play for the inaugural sailing of their newest and best ship, the Mardi Gras, and earlier this year I was hand chosen again to come to the newest ship again, the Carnival Celebration. I became the first player in Carnival's history to be chosen to play in the new role as Center Stage Drummer. And this has been the most wonderful, challenging journey in my career to date. We play on average in front of two to three thousand guests a night sailing around the Caribbean.
Spending your time being paid to play drums, waking up in the most gorgeous places on earth really is an extraordinary way to work and live life. I couldn't recommend it enough to musicians wanting experience and muso's just out of university. I'm so incredibly grateful and lucky, but I also try to outwork everyone in order to get the opportunities I've been given so far.
I have been fortunate enough so far in my life to have been taught by some of the best music teachers across the globe such as Ben Stone, Geoff Hutchinson, Tony Thunder-Smith, Larry Finn, Henrique De-Almeida (at my time at Berklee College of Music Summer 2014), Steve White, Doug Harper and many more during my time with Carnival.
I have a very deep desire to become one of the true greats in this instrument, but mainly, I just focus on being better than last year, last month and yesterday. I approach every opportunity with absolutely everything I have and won't rest until I get the gigs I've put out there in my mind [Adele, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles...To name a few] It's important to set intention, and be proud to speak aloud your dreams, ambitions and goals...at least it's worked for me so far.
As well as my full time playing life I run my own podcast, "Music's Elite Seat" [Which you can find on the podcast page here and if you search "Music's Elite Seat" across any platform. It's a conversational style series where I speak with the world's most elite musicians. It's a project thats already spanned over 6 years and I'm so unbelievably grateful for the musicians time and energy. This started during university during a time I was frustrated with everything I was reading in magazines that had access to musicians I could only dream of talking to, and basically they were only talking about gear or endorsements. I always wanted them to cut to the chase and tell me how to do what they've done. So I decided to start my own and always start with that question. We talk in depth about how they got to where they are now, and also loads about other things I personally want to know about the industry and their lives. It's a lifetime project, so I record them when I can and post when I like. It's been truly life changing and career changing to speak directly with these people, so I hope you enjoy them too if you get a chance to listen.
Outside of both these [and when I'm home off contracts] I spend most of my time with my family, friends, meditating [which is actually a daily thing wherever I am], going out, going to the gym, reading and just generally trying NOT to do anything, as I usually can't sit still.
It's been an incredible journey so far, and I'm so excited to see how far I can go with this. I have big plans, big goals, and I just need to remind myself to enjoy every minute of the journey.
"The wealthiest place on the planet is just down the road. It is the cemetery. There lie buried companies that were never started, inventions that were never made, bestselling books that were never written, and masterpieces that were never painted. In the cemetery is buried the greatest treasure of untapped potential.” - Myles Munroe
After graduating from RH I started auditioning for cruise companies as this seemed the best step to get me to being a full time player, after many auditions and two years of bar work on the West End I was lucky enough to get my first contract with the best, biggest and most incredible cruise company in the world, Carnival Cruise Line.
I'm now currently on my fourth contract and have worked hard enough to be recognised as one of the top players in the fleet. Last year I was hand selected to play for the inaugural sailing of their newest and best ship, the Mardi Gras, and earlier this year I was hand chosen again to come to the newest ship again, the Carnival Celebration. I became the first player in Carnival's history to be chosen to play in the new role as Center Stage Drummer. And this has been the most wonderful, challenging journey in my career to date. We play on average in front of two to three thousand guests a night sailing around the Caribbean.
Spending your time being paid to play drums, waking up in the most gorgeous places on earth really is an extraordinary way to work and live life. I couldn't recommend it enough to musicians wanting experience and muso's just out of university. I'm so incredibly grateful and lucky, but I also try to outwork everyone in order to get the opportunities I've been given so far.
I have been fortunate enough so far in my life to have been taught by some of the best music teachers across the globe such as Ben Stone, Geoff Hutchinson, Tony Thunder-Smith, Larry Finn, Henrique De-Almeida (at my time at Berklee College of Music Summer 2014), Steve White, Doug Harper and many more during my time with Carnival.
I have a very deep desire to become one of the true greats in this instrument, but mainly, I just focus on being better than last year, last month and yesterday. I approach every opportunity with absolutely everything I have and won't rest until I get the gigs I've put out there in my mind [Adele, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles...To name a few] It's important to set intention, and be proud to speak aloud your dreams, ambitions and goals...at least it's worked for me so far.
As well as my full time playing life I run my own podcast, "Music's Elite Seat" [Which you can find on the podcast page here and if you search "Music's Elite Seat" across any platform. It's a conversational style series where I speak with the world's most elite musicians. It's a project thats already spanned over 6 years and I'm so unbelievably grateful for the musicians time and energy. This started during university during a time I was frustrated with everything I was reading in magazines that had access to musicians I could only dream of talking to, and basically they were only talking about gear or endorsements. I always wanted them to cut to the chase and tell me how to do what they've done. So I decided to start my own and always start with that question. We talk in depth about how they got to where they are now, and also loads about other things I personally want to know about the industry and their lives. It's a lifetime project, so I record them when I can and post when I like. It's been truly life changing and career changing to speak directly with these people, so I hope you enjoy them too if you get a chance to listen.
Outside of both these [and when I'm home off contracts] I spend most of my time with my family, friends, meditating [which is actually a daily thing wherever I am], going out, going to the gym, reading and just generally trying NOT to do anything, as I usually can't sit still.
It's been an incredible journey so far, and I'm so excited to see how far I can go with this. I have big plans, big goals, and I just need to remind myself to enjoy every minute of the journey.
"The wealthiest place on the planet is just down the road. It is the cemetery. There lie buried companies that were never started, inventions that were never made, bestselling books that were never written, and masterpieces that were never painted. In the cemetery is buried the greatest treasure of untapped potential.” - Myles Munroe
