British powerhouse drummer and musical director Matt Brooks has held down the groove for some of the biggest names in the music industry, including multi-BRIT Award-winning artist RAYE.
We sat down with Matt shortly after his massive six-week American tour to chat about his gospel roots, playing live at the BRITs earlier this year and how his Cosmic C8As have completely transformed his on-stage mix.
What was the first album you ever bought with your own money, and did it influence your drumming style?
I can’t remember the first album I bought with my own money. I have two older siblings who are heavily into music and an uncle who would always give us the latest gospel records to listen to, so I had a large collection before I even had the money to buy anything. That said, the most significant piece of music in my life is Pages of Life: Chapters 1 & 2 by Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ. I saw Marvin McQuitty Jr playing a red Pearl Masters drum kit, and I knew from that moment that I wanted to play the drums.
RAYE's recent performance at the BRITs was nothing short of historic. What is it like holding down the groove and managing the energy for such a massive, career-defining set? Does live TV give you the jitters compared to stadium shows?
The BRITs performance was special. I love being the foundation for the band so that all of the other instruments and RAYE’s amazing vocals can shine. TV shows can make you more nervous than a stadium show. They’re almost like visual records in the sense that you only have one chance to get it perfect. Whereas in a regular show you still have to play everything right, there’s more nuance to it and a little more room for improvisation, spontaneity, etc.
Think back to your first-ever gig – where was it, what did you play, and how does it compare to the arenas you are playing now?
The first show I played within the pop music industry was in 2013; it was a festival in Newcastle (if my memory serves me right). I had stopped playing for about five to six years, and this was my first time playing again, so I was nervous! I think one big difference between now and then is that I’m more musically mature. I’m aware of my role within a band; I’m more comfortable with myself and who I am as a musician, and I have found my sound.
Was there a specific moment or gig that made you realise you wanted to play drums for a living?
Funnily enough, I didn’t realise that I wanted to do this for a living until after I had already started doing it. It sounds weird, but playing the drums professionally wasn’t in my plans, and even when I started, it wasn’t something that I thought I would do for a long time.
I think what sealed it for me was after my first full year of touring, the artist I was working with suddenly stopped, and I had no work. It would have been easy to go back to doing what I did before, but instead, I chose to continue to pursue music as my career choice moving forward, even in the absence of work. Everything coming to a sudden stop made me realise how much I loved it and how purposeful it felt to me. It was then that I knew my future was in music.
You’re heading towards a massive six-week American tour with RAYE. Aside from your drum sticks and your Cosmics, what is the one non-musical item you absolutely cannot hit the road without?
As a practising Christian, I will always have a Bible, a devotional, or some form of book to help me stay connected with God and keep things in perspective. It’s so easy to lose your grasp on reality while on tour, away from home, and sometimes even cut off from current affairs. My faith grounds me and keeps me in a good space, even when being on the road gets difficult.
What’s the best piece of advice another musician or audio professional has ever given you about surviving a long-haul tour?
One great piece of advice I received early on in my touring years was to make use of opportunities to see the world. We’re very fortunate that we get to do a lot of travelling, whether that's globally or even just to different places in the UK that we don’t normally consider visiting. Sometimes we have free time, and I make use of that time to try to soak in the culture and atmosphere of a place and its people, whilst learning and exploring things that I haven’t experienced before.
If you could jump into a time machine and play a gig in any decade from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, or 2010s, which would you choose and why?
This is an easy one for me. In my early years, I only listened to gospel music, so that was the biggest influence on me musically. There was a particular DVD of a live version of a studio album by Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ called Purpose by Design that I watched all the time, to the point where I memorised every groove and fill that the drummer, Marvin McQuitty Jr, did. Because of the significance of that DVD to me and my journey, I would have to choose Purpose by Design: Live in Las Vegas by Fred Hammond & Radical for Christ.
RAYE’s live shows are incredibly dynamic, blending heavy R&B, jazz, and pop. What challenges does that bring to you as a drummer and to your sound?
I love how dynamic RAYE’s music is and how that forces us to be creative in terms of the live show. As a drummer, I ensure my kit sounds right for each genre we play by having multiple snare drums, a wide range of tuning on the toms, and cymbals that give the right tonality across the different genres.
I really have to think about my choices in terms of what I use, trying to be as true to the music as I can. Finding the right drums, the blend of electronic drums, and the correct cymbals wasn’t easy; it took a lot of thought and experimentation with the different options available to us.
When did you first realise you needed to make the jump to custom IEMs to manage that kind of stage volume?
I had been using generic in-ear monitors for years. As a drummer, I was always aware that I needed to protect my hearing, so I started using IEMs early on. However, it was as I became more experienced and knowledgeable about what I needed to hear to play well that I was driven to look for custom IEMs.
I have large ear canals, so I could never get a good seal with generics. A bad seal also means a loss of low-frequency information, which is crucial for me to have a good drum and bass sound in my mix. I also wanted better clarity across the frequency spectrum and the ability to hear my whole mix with great stereo imaging whilst listening at a lower volume.
Which Cosmic Ears model are you currently using, and what do you love most about the mix you get from them when you're behind the kit?
I’m currently using the C8A IEMs. I really love these monitors because the frequency range is brilliant. The lowest of lows from sub-bass and 808s to the crispest of highs all sound clear and full-bodied. I’m able to get great stereo imaging, which helps everything find its place in the mix. Since moving to the C8As, I’ve been able to turn my IEM pack down by approximately 5dB, which is great because we play long shows and it means I’m not listening at too loud a volume for long periods of time.
How has using custom hearing protection or in-ears changed the way you perform night after night?
I feel that my ears are well-protected from loud stage volumes because the isolation is great. I always feel confident knowing that I’m going to have a mix that inspires me and allows me to hear the music exactly how I need to hear it to play well. I also feel free to work closely with our monitor engineer in rehearsals to get the perfect mix, because I know these IEMs can handle it comfortably.
If you had to describe the sound profile of your Cosmics in just three words, what would they be?
Musical, focused, full-bodied.
You’re curating your ultimate dream festival. Which three artists (dead or alive) are headlining the main stage?
Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and, because of the impact he’s had on me musically, Fred Hammond.
Which band or artist would you most like to write the soundtrack to your biopic, and who would play you in the film?
Firstly, I don’t think anyone would want to watch a biopic about me, haha! But I would choose Fred Hammond. His ability to write songs with relatable, real-life lyrics fused with faith and their worship of God perfectly represent who I am. My brother Adam could play me as an adult, and my son Zion would have to play the childhood version of me.
Keep up to date with Matt and his amazing drumming via his Instagram page.
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