Volume 62 - Jason Eilers

JASON EILERS

Hello Hello Hello! I am back again with another drummer and his drum life. 
A kool young kat, who is making his way in the musicverse with his band and his aspirations. 
I dig finding these players who at the beginnings of their careers, their raw and full of promise.
Venturing into the world of hard hitting rock n' roll, is where we find this featured drummer, although I actually found him on Facebook, lol. Anyhoo, let's find out what Jason is up to and see if he has anything worth Talkin' Chop about ;)




*

Name or Stage Name: Jason Eilers

Where are you from? 

Band is from Cincinnati, OH. I am from Grant County, KY

How long have you been playing? 

About 13 years

What are the genres of music that interest you? 

Metal, Rock, Punk, Pop Punk, Metalcore, Jazz, Funk, Classical, Reggae 

How did you become a drummer? 

I think it started when I watched the Tom Hanks movie, "That Thing You Do." I was about 4 years old and the music in that movie and the story line just drew me in.

Why did you choose the drums? 

I think it was the easiest thing to do when I was little. I could just grab a pair of wooden spoons and play anywhere. 

What are your goals, short & long term? 

I think I've accomplished some of the things I've wanted to do. The biggest one would probably be to tour on Warped a few times. No matter what band I'm in, I wanna play and tour with my favorite bands. The smallest one is to play as many shows that I can.

If you weren't playing for your band what artists would you like to play for? 

The Word Alive, The Color Morale, or Pierce The Veil. They've been some early influences in my music career.

Your current band is Sins of Motion. How did the band form? What kind of music are you guys doing? 

The band was formed when my rhythm guitarist and lead singer/lead guitarist got together and decided to form a band. I came in as a fill in during March 2015 because they basically went into the studio with no drum parts yet, so at that point, they only had a studio drummer, so I filled in the gap for a show they had. I eventually became the full time drummer the next month and thus, we are here, after a few line up changes. We would say that we play Heavy Rock/Punk/Metal. Kinda sound like Bullet For My Valentine, Escape The Fate, and A Day To Remember. 

Do you like being in a band? Do you guys have good chemistry? 

I love being in a band. We get on each others nerves, but its a nice, tight nit group.

"As I Am" - Sins of Motion

Are you one of the songwriters in the band? 

I take part in it sometimes. I usually write thoughts or lyrics onto my phone when they pop into my head, then I use them if we're writing a new song. 

As Indie bands, you have to hustle to make things happen... do you perform any other roles in the band, other than drummer? 

I book most of the shows for us. So I'm always usually busy.

Have you guys done any touring? 

Something might be in the works for April ;)

How is the fan base for the band? is it growing? are they dedicated?

Since we came back from hiatus, our fan base has increased with every show that we've played and with how we released a single last month. Improving our line up increased our fan base too because we'd have a lot of negative responses from the audience with our previous line up. Not going into details, but it needed a lot of work. So far, our fans have been pretty dedicated about coming out to shows we have. They always try to come out whenever they can.

Listening to the song "Mom (I'm Sorry)" I see you guys are really solid musicians and the recording is very good. Is this part of an upcoming album release? 

We decided for "Mom" just to be a single since we had to get something released from our new line up, but we are releasing an EP sometime in the next 2-4 months. 

"Mom (I'm Sorry)" - Sins of Motion

Does your approach change between recording in the studio and playing live?

We record on Pro Tools I do believe, so I usually record a demo version to give to our producer and he programs the drums into Pro Tools based off of that demo, but there's not really a difference between what I do live and how I record, besides stretching and warming up before I play. If there's a part I only play live, then I don't put that onto the demo. 

Playing with such high energy, do you do anything to help maintain your endurance?

Stretching a lot helps if we have long sets with intense songs. Drinking a lot of water before and during helps also. Just staying relaxed and hydrated has helped me keep high endurance. Adrenaline rushes keep me going too.

Describe your current set up & gear - heads and sticks...ect? 

Right now I have a Pearl Vision Birch 3 piece kit 8x12 rack, 16x16 floor, 18x22 kick. And with it I have a 7x14 SJC Tour Series snare, which I also call my baby, because it's precious. Cymbals I use right now are 14 inch Meinl MB10 Medium Soundwave hi hats, 19 inch A Custom Zildjian Crash, 21 inch Sabian B8 Pro Crash/Ride, 18 inch B8X China, and a Soultone 7 inch FXO Bell. I'm in the middle of getting an endorsement with Soultone, so hopefully I'll be using all Soultones soon. For drum sticks, I'm endorsed by XCEL and I use 2B sticks. For drum heads, I use Evans all the way around. G2 clears on my toms, a Heavyweight snare head, and an EMAD 2 on my kick. I use Tama pedals, and assorted cymbal stands for my hardware. I use Cympad cymbal felts. And I use a Roc-n-Soc drum throne.

Do you have a “Dream Kit”? 

I'm pretty good as of now. If I got a full SJC kit, then I'd be down for the rest of my life. 

What famous drummers kit would you steal, if you could get away with it? 

Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, and Luke Holland. #freedrumlessonsforlife

How do you describe your drumming style? 

Loud. Very loud. Haha. I don't really know how to describe my style. I guess that's for other people to decide, because I just care about playing.

If you weren’t playing drums, what would you be doing? Absolutely nothing, haha. Drums are a big part of my life.

How has drumming impacted or changed your life? 

Other than playing in a band, I march on my high school's drum line and that has given me so much strength and confidence. Even though band camp kills me every single time. 

What kills you about band camp?

This past year was my first year on drum line and I marched tenors and I had a gock block attached to it. So it was a good 50-60 pounds sitting on my shoulders. So, on hot, humid summer days, it'd upset my stomach so much. I ended up throwing up 3 days in a row because of it. You could say I was beaten up pretty well.

What are you doing when you're not playing music? 

I'm always tapping on something, so I'm probably eating.

Are you involved in the local music scene in your hometown, other than just playing in your band? 

There is literally no music scene where I live. It's so boring out here in BFE. So I'm always traveling to Cincinnati to do stuff. I'm too anxious to be a promoter, so I try to attend as much local shows as possible. 

How's the scene in Cincinnati?

In 2008-2010, the Cincinnati scene was booming. After that, it pretty much went down hill. But, over the past 2 years that we've been in the scene, it's picked back up, especially in the past few months. Shows are becoming more packed and we've played some of those shows and it's pretty cool to see the scene being revived.

Name 5 of your drumming influences? why? 

Explaining this is going to be hard. But my top 5 influences have to be, Luke Holland, Josh Manuel, Chris Turner, Steve Carey, and Mike Fuentes. I love the drum parts that they portray and the technique they use is amazing, especially Chris Turner. That guy is literally a human metronome. But when this EP comes out, you will definitely hear my influences. 

Name an inspiring concert that made you want to go home and start shedding? 

Warped Tour 2016 was when I wanted to just go home and play so bad. But it was late, so I couldn't. 

Who were some of your fav bands from Warped Tour 2016? 

There were so many good bands that I saw. My favorites were probably The Color Morale, Oceans Ate Alaska, The Word Alive, The Maine, Mayday Parade, Issues, Crown The Empire, and Sleeping With Sirens. 

How much time do you practice? 

2-3 hours a day when I can get a chance to.

What types of things do you work on, in those sessions? Mostly rudiments and foot work.

Do you record drum videos of yourself? if so, how has it helped you? 

When I recorded drum videos from between the time period of 2011-2014, I posted them on Youtube and I watch them now and I realize that I sucked so much. They're actually still viewable, just look up my name. But later on after that when I joined SOM, I watched them to see what was good and what wasn't. So I was changing a lot of drum parts, hahaha. 

Do you have a crazy or interesting gig you can share with us? 

I have the typical band mate story for this. Okay, So, Sins Of Motion was slated to play at Reading Metal Fest up in Reading, OH in October of 2015, so I asked my (now ex lead singer and ex bassist) to get some of my stuff for me from our practice space in Lawrenceburg, IN. When they show up in Reading, they had brought everything, but my throne (or as some people call it, the drum seat). Every component of a drum set is important, but nothing is more important than the seat. And as expected, I start to flip. I think I ended up walking back to my car and just screaming and kicking everywhere because, I was really frustrated. So, what I ended up doing was try to find something to sit on and in the corner was these metal bleachers, usually used for little league baseball games or soccer games, and I sat on these bleachers and set my drums in front of it and for the entirety of our 30 minute set, I was sitting on these bleachers.

What are your words of wisdom for your fellow drummers out there? 

Learn technique asap! I can't stress that enough. I still struggle with it sometimes, but over the years, I can tell that my technique has gotten better. Not breaking as many cymbals, drumheads, drumsticks, anything basically. Yeah, you're going to break them because there's no way out of wooden sticks or 2 ply heads breaking, but it shouldn't happen at an alarming rate. Also, learn to play quietly before you play loud. Playing loud is so much easier than playing quietly.

Last Words, Links, Hashtags and Thank You’s???

Check us out at www.facebook.com/sinsofmotionband, www.twitter.com/sinsofmotion, www.instagram.com/sinsofmotion, and www.youtube.com/sinsofmotionband. We are also on snapchat with the name, sinsofmotion

My personal instagram is www.instagram.com/drumlinenerd.5116 and my Youtube channel is www.youtube.com/jasoneilersdrumvideos





So, once again I am glad I was able to bring another great, young, drummer to light. Jason is a very enthusiastic kat and I know he is going to make a name for himself in this game.
I want to wish him and his band Sins of Motion nothing but success. For those of who were digging on their music please go and support these young men and their music. connect with them on Soc. Med. and Buy their single, go to their shows, if you're in the area.
Thx Jason!!!



*



Would you or some one you know, like to be featured on Talkin' Chop?
Well, hit up and let's make it happen. You don't have to be in a band or doing major touring, lots of studio work. You can be anybody with a heart for playing drums and is out their making music.
Let's help get you some more exposure and another tool you can use to make it happen.

Contact: DeHaven - de@oliomusic.com
www.facebook.com/dirtyde

www.facebook.com/talkinchop

twitter.com/talkinchopblog



#DrummersSupportDrummers  #TalkinChop  #DrumLife




I'M OUT!





DeHaven is sponsored by:
Soultone Cymbals - Silverfox Drumsticks - Cympad - Cymbag - Phatfoot Drum Harness

Volume 61 - Will Sarver

WILL SARVER

*




Hello my TC peeps!
I'm back with another talented drummer. Sent to me by way of TC artist Darien Guy (#53).
That's exactly how this thing works. We have a great community and we should all network together and help promote each other and our works. I am definitely glad to help promote this young man, Will Sarver. Another young passionate player with ever growing skills and determination. He is also in a pretty kool band that is creating their own mixed genre of groove. I can see Will is one of those guys who is on his way to great things and making the most of the opportunities put in front of him. Let's find out what happened when I put the Q&A of Talkin' Chop in front of him.

Name or Stage Name: ​Will Sarver 

Where are you from? 

Levittown, Pennsylvania 

How long have you been playing? 

2​0 years 

What is or are your main genre of playing? 

I​ would say I don’t have a specific style or genre. I don’t like to limit myself to just one specific genre - I enjoy playing all of them. 

How did you get started playing? ​

My dad used to play and had drums around the house. I picked it up easily. It came naturally to me. 

Was your dad a professional drummer?

My dad was not a professional drummer. It was a hobby for him that he did for fun. I have him to thank for playing tunes from the 60's and 70's in the car. I consider myself an "Old Soul" when it comes to my musical taste and style. It shaped me into the player I am today. 

Concert band, Jazz band, Marching band..How have these experiences to shaped you as a musician? ​

These experiences shaped me into the musician that I am because they challenged me to play different styles of music and different techniques. They also opened my ears to listen to different types of music. Also, my worth ethic came from that. I learned a lot of skills about being a professional. 

I'm glad you mentioned 'Ears' How long do you think it took you to train & trust your ears?

It certainly didn't take long. For starting so young I didn't have a choice to read, so my ears were my only option. I had to trust not only my ears but the players around me. My brother is a fantastic musician and being able to play with him and other advanced players was a great experience for me. It opens yours ears to hear creativity and style and how to play and fit in with others. Being able to trust your ears in my opinion is probably one of the most important tools you can have in music. Most of the times you just have to sit in and play without music in front of you. I prefer it that way. Gets your head out of the sheet music and more into listening to others around you. I can't say this is enough to other musicians, listen listen listen! 

What are some things you would like to achieve? ​

I would like to tour the world someday and be able to play and enjoy music full time for as long as I can. 

Any artists you would like to play for? ​

I would love to play for Pharrell Williams, Bruno Mars, Steely Dan, Tower of Power, and 1975 just to name a few. If you were to ask me a month from now, I would give a totally different list because I would love to play for any big artist out there. I just love to play. 

List some of your accomplishments: 

-Playing in London &  Italy 

-Was a part of New Years Parade in London 

-Played with and opened for a bunch of world-class musicians, such as Wayne Bergeron, Bill Watrous, Dick Oatts, Denise Donatelli, Scott Lee, Neil Kirkwood, Wycliffe Gordon, and Gerald Clayton Trio. 

Also, opened up for Kurt Elling at the Berks Jazz Fest. 

-Performed at St. John’s Cathedral in London 

-CooperGroove Signature Artist 

-Symrna Signature Artist 

Do you play any other instruments? 

I​’m all about drums and percussion. 

Have you done any touring? ​

Yes. London, Italy, and some smaller tours on the East Coast. 

Where do you go to listen to live music and how's the scene?

Mostly the Philadelphia and New Jersey area. Philly has it all going on but the surrounding areas provide a lot of opportunities to listen to live music. Lots of big venues so it brings in some of the best players from across the globe. That being said, it can be very competitive. Always have to get creative and put yourself out there. 

Describe your current set up & gear - heads and sticks...ect? ​

My drum sets include my very first drum set that I got, which is an older Ludwig set from the 90’s that I restored. My second setup is a Gretsch Catalina Club. My cymbal setup is the Symrna Araf Series and that inclues 13 inch hats, 16 and 17 inch crashes, and a 20 inch ride. I also use CooperGroove sticks, Remo drum heads, Moongels and a Pearl Demonator pedal. The rest of the hardware is PDP and Gibraltar and Pearl. 

You recently became an artist endorser for Cooper Groove sticks and Symrna cymbals. How did those relationships come about? 

My ​band mate, Charles Laurita told me to check out CooperGroove and started to become friends with Carlo Cooper and eventually became an artist. Carlo introduced me to Darien Guy from Symrna and the rest is history. Both great companies and great guys. 

Do you have multiple kits and snares? 

Ye​s, the more, the merrier. I try to create different sounds. 

Do you have a favorite piece of equipment? 

I​ would say my piccolo snare that my parents got me as my first drum. I still play with it today. 

What is it about that piccolo that you like so much?

That drum has a lot of sentimental value but it sounds great. Has a clean snappy tone to it and has held up well over the years. It's not my main snare but it's always on my side ready for action. When the piccolo is out, you know it's about to get funky! 

Which wood shells do you prefer? ​

I prefer birch and maple wood. I like birch because of it’s high, punchier sound, but the warm tones of the maple wood sound great for a lot of different styles of music. 

Do you have a “Dream Kit”? ​

Yes, I’ve always been obsessed with Yamaha Recording Customs. 

How do you describe your drumming style? ​

My style is very laid back, funky, and groovy. 

Tell me more about the Charles Laurita project: What kind of music are guys doing?

The band consist of a rhythm section with a 3-piece horn section. We classify the music as "Alterna-Funk." It's all original music that is written by Charles Laurita. He's a very talented musician. We film and edit all our own videos and recently just built our very own recording studio. Recording and film have become a huge part of the group. I can't really compare the sound to any other group out there and to me that's the way it should be. Make it your own. It's truly one of a kind! 

Charles Laurita & the Mischief

Do you guys have an album out yet? 

The band currently has a 7 track EP out and the new album is in its final stages of mastering. " Interstellar Fortuneteller" is 13 track album that was produced, mixed and mastered by Charles Laurita and myself. I can't give you a release date but it's very soon! 

Charles Laurita & the Mischief - "Ratrace" Live

So, If you weren’t playing drums, what would you be doing? ​

Probably law enforcement or military. 

How has drumming impacted or changed your life? 

I​t’s definitely challenged me. I’ve learned how to improvise with not only playing, but with life in general. It’s always kept me busy and focused on a goal. 

Charles Laurita & the Mischief - "On Monday" (official video)

Are you doing music full time? ​

That’s a tricky question. I work at it as a full-time job, but I’m just waiting for the right time and opportunity. I also have a full-time job on top of that. The ultimate goal is to play music full time. 

Name 5 of your drumming influences? Why? 

Pharrell is definitely one of them. David Garibaldi is another, Stanley Randolph is another one, Keith Carlock, and Bernard Purdy. They’re all very versatile players that fit into every situation, very creative, and everything they play is enjoyable to listen to. 

You are the first person to Mention Pharrell on Talkin' Chop. Some people don't know he is drummer. What is it about his playing intrigues you?

 I have my brother to thank for introducing me to Pharrell. Most like you said don't know that he's a drummer and most only heard of him from his most recent projects. I was listening to Pharrell when he was with the Neptunes and N.E.R.D. His is a true musical and creative genius. His playing is so smooth and simple but it's very complex at the same time. I know that won't make sense to most but just listen to his albums. Trying to play with that much groove only takes years of playing and relying strictly on your ears. His playing and the music he creates is all rhythm and groove. Pharrell leaves nothing untouched. He fills in every single crack and space of his songs with tasty licks and melodies. He's got it all going on! 

Name an inspiring concert that made you want to go home and start shedding? ​

Probably seeing Steely Dan. 

How much time do you practice? 

I​ practice and work on music around an hour to two hours a day, whether that is editing music or listening to music. I’d love for it to be more, but there is not enough time in the day. 

What types of things do you work on? ​

I work on listening, recording, and making sure that the drumming sounds and feels good and is consistent. 

Is there one particular thing that is still bugging you, to play correctly? ​

Trying to translate what I have in my head for my hands and feet to play. That’s the worst! 

Do you record drum videos of yourself? if so, how has it helped you? 

Y​es, I do. It helps me analyze my playing and it puts it under a microscope for me to fix and work on mistakes I have. It also helps me find areas that are lacking. 

Are doing any studio work? ​

All the time. Trying to record and put out videos often with the band I am currently in, which is Charles Laurita and the Mischief. Charles and I just set up a studio in my house. 

Do you have a crazy or interesting gig you can share with us? 

I​’d say playing at a jazz club in Italy. The people over there are very into music. They’re on a whole other level. The energy was really exciting and a lot of fun to play. 

What are your words of wisdom for your fellow drummers out there? 

O​pen your ears and listen to as much music as you can. Take any opportunity to play or watch people play. Listen, go to concerts, and learn from everybody. 

Last Words, Links, Hashtags and Thank You’s??? 

T​hank you to everyone who has supported me - my parents, friends, family, my girlfriend, teachers, Carlo Cooper, Darien Guy, Charles Laurita and the band. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do today without the support of all of you guys.

https://www.facebook.com/will.sarver

http://www.charleslaurita.com 

https://www.facebook.com/CharlesLauritaTheMischief/ 

https://www.facebook.com/symrnacymbalsusa/ 

https://coopergroove.com

This is another example of a good musician, honing his craft and staying focused on the job at hand. Using all of the techniques that were open to him and creating his own path.

Yo Will, keep up the great work man!
Thx so much 4 taking the time to share with us, pieces of your drum life.
I wish you nothing but success in all your endeavors. 

Hey fam, make sure you swing by Will's FB page and drop a "Hello" on him. Also, don't forget to purchase his bands EP and sign up on their email list & get the new album when it drops!
#SupportIndieMusic #NetworkWithOther



*



For those of you wondering, "How do I get featured on Talkin' Chop?"
Just hit me up. It's that easy

DeHaven - de@oliomusic.com

www.facebook.com/dirtyde

www.facebook.com/talkinchop

twitter.com/talkinchopblog

#DrummersSupportDrummers  #TalkinChop  #DrumLife

I'M OUT!





DeHaven is sponsored by:
Soultone Cymbals - Silverfox Drumsticks - Cympad - Cymbag - Phatfoot Drum Harness

DRUMMER Apparel & Accessories