Matt Ingram has been drumming since childhood and now plays professionally with various artists, including at different times Nerina Pallot, Paloma Faith and Jeremy Warmsley. He also runs Urchin Studios in East London and has started training his musical ear to the production of bands.
What do you do all day?
I’m a musician/producer/collaborator. I play drums for various artists as well as co-running a recording studio in East London where I have started to produce music for various bands and solo artists.
What will you do today/ What have you done today?
This morning has been dedicated to speaking with a couple of bands that are in next month, sorting out the delivery of a piano to the studio for Friday as well as some crushingly boring admin. This afternoon I will prepare for a drumming session I have tomorrow as well as continuing to pick my way through Dr William Moylan’s excellent text “The Art Of Recording”.
What’s your working process?
I’m not sure I have a process. Every bit of work is different and requires its own approach.
What’s the best thing about what you do?
Being creative and sharing ideas with others.
And the worst thing?
Admin.
How did you get into it?
I fell in love with music at a very young age and have never considered doing anything else.
What’s been the biggest achievement in your career so far?
The fact that I’m busy and people I respect want to work with me.
Where do you go from here, career-wise?
I’d like to do more production work and be known as someone who can help facilitate the realisation of a person or groups artistic ambition.
Have you got any advice for someone trying to do what you do?
Listen to as much music as possible.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A drummer.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Most obviously in other musicians, gigs that I see and albums that I hear, although inspiration comes come from a huge variety of other sources too such as books, films, good conversation, a sunny day, a passionate kiss. The list is endless.
Which other artists do you look [up] to?
Tom Waits, Aphex Twin, Thom Yorke, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, there are too many to list, anyone who has something to say and is not afraid of bold statements.
What constitutes a successful work, for you?
One with clear intentions and is true to its original purpose at conception.
What constitutes an unsuccessful work?
One which is bloated with its creator’s self-importance.
