New Videos

I am in some new videos!  Watch them below:

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Firstly, a recording session I did in March this year in the UK, with The Incredible Disappearing Boy himself, Mr Sam Bates.

Also in the studio were the hugely talented Cinzano Taylor and Jon Bucket to help make this record one of the best I've ever been a part of.

Thanks to all you fantastic guys and also to Paj and Henry and Thom for the videos.

This is "Where I Wanted To Be" by The Incredible Disappearing Boy.

You can also watch the documentary about the making of the EP here:

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Next up is a live video from the record release show for my band FlyCatFly.  Recorded by Eike Klingspohn and filmed and recorded by the venue Hinterhof Arpke (all of these guys totally rock), this song is "A Perfect And His Slave".  Interestingly, this song isn't actually featured on our debut album, but it will be on the follow up - which is already under way!

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Another 'studio shot' music video comes from Mr Flemming Borby and his Flying Saucers band - (I am a flying saucer; another interesting fact is that there is a flying saucer picture on the front cover of the FlyCatFly album!)

This one was made at the legendary Funkhaus in Berlin earlier this year and was shot and edited by Chris Koll.
The song is "Somebody Wrong" and is out as a single now.  It is also from Flemmings forthcoming album, out in the summer 2015.

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Last but definitely not least is another video from Zeki Min's debut album I played drums on.  We're recording the follow up next month in Bremen, Zeki's new home town...

 
Enjoy!

Releases and latest news

April.
The weather.
What is all that about?!
I returned to Berlin at the start of this month to a mix of hail, snow, rain and wind, but now, at least, it is sunny and getting warmer...
This is good.

There are lots of other good things about April 2015:


This month sees the official release of the FlyCatFly album "Pocket Full Of Pain".

This is a special album for me as, not only did I play the drums, I also feature on the album playing a little bass guitar, keys, singing some backing and I also am proud to say that it is my first official mixing and production project, having recorded a lot of it at my own studio.  It was a fantastic learning curve and I really got excited about creating string and song arrangements along with the beautiful Cord and Sina.

I am looking forward to the second album already - we already have 7 songs halfway finished, so I am hoping this one takes a lot less time to finish!

We officially release the album this Friday in Arpke at a show we will play with a good friend of mine, Gaz Brookfield who is currently on tour across Europe.  I cannot wait.


As for the rest of this year so far; well... where to begin...?

I guess with the ill-fated "tour" of the UK in March.  I was looking forward to playing a fairly big tour in March with Eban Brown, lead singer of The Stylistics.  However, due to unfortunate circumstances we only got to play one show together.  It was a good one though, and so I hope that there will be another chance to play with Mr Brown next year.


However, spending a month in the UK without a tour wasn't a total loss...  I got myself busy!  I ended up teaching at The Academy Of Music And Sound for a couple of weeks, including some extremely successful workshops - so successful in fact that I plan on returning to the UK in December to do some more!  Details to come...


I also had the extreme honour of being asked to record with song-writed and producer Sam Bates for his current project, "The Incredible Disappearing Boy".  Three days in the studio to record 4 songs for the debut EP with some of the finest musicians in the area.

One of the quickest turnarounds ever, the EP is already out, and to make the entire experience even better, I got to work with some of the most amazing and talented guys in the business!  One of the tracks on the EP is not only one of the best songs I've ever been a part of, but it is in fact probably one of the best songs I've ever heard.

Sam - you are a musical genius.


The UK aside, I also completed recording an album and music video for Flemming Borby, which sees the video release party and concert happen in Berlin tomorrow night (15th April) at The Monarch in Kreuzberg.

Flemmings album is another album I am excited about being released later this year.






The Blowbacks have now started posting songs to their soundcloud and I am sure this is yet another album which will be officially released soon.

Zeki Min keeps the videos for his last album coming.  This keeps my appetite up for the recording of the new album which is booked for May this year.

I finished recording an EP with the üer-talented Nadav Meir at Legato Sound Studios recently.  The release is due soooooon!  (I've already heard it and it's bloody beautiful!)


Idan Altman has given me some new tunes to work on - extremely mellow and laid back, this will be nothing if not some of the most beautiful music he's produced so far...  Keep a look out for this in the summer...


I also have my first paid producer job coming up!  So, I guess now I can officially also call myself a music producer!

So, if anyone wants any recording time in my studio, mixing, or music production, please let me know.  My rates are good and my tea is better :-)


The other avenue of work I am keen to push right now is my teaching.  After such successful workshops in the UK, I realised how much I really enjoy teaching.
Basically, I want to be busier.  So, anyone wanting drums recorded or anyone wanting to learn more about drums, drumming or the music business, please get in touch.


And finally...

belarus.

Not the country.  The band.  We broke up 8 years ago!  A lifetime.  And I miss it still.
But, we have some incredible news.  I think I have to wait for the official broadcast before I can tell you all what's going on, but, it is bloomin' cool!  I cannot wait to share with you all...  :-)

Look out for the updates

Go and buy good music

Employ me as a drummer, teacher, producer, mixer or tea boy

Enjoy the sun

Website

Dr Paradiddles WonderDrumporium now has it's very own website:

 www.wonderdrumporium.com

 

In other news, I have been busy playing and recording for more bands and artists from across the world...  With 4 current musical projects underway I have a busy year ahead:  2014 see's my debut outings with FlyCatFly, ZekiMin, Frog Baseball and Strangers By Day, with each of these amazing bands releasing their debut album this year!

My tour diary can be viewed here:

Rich On Tour!

And, if I wasn't busy enough already, it looks like I have at least 2 more recording and live projects lined-up this year both in Germany and the UK, aaaaand, I am should also be recording some drums for Mr Si Hall - fans of Chuck Reagan pay attention!

 

(I should really get on that immediately before I get my arse kicked...)

Back again...?

I flew back from England on Monday after spending 70 hours in the studio with some truly amazing musicians...

If being asked to attend a song-writing and recording session by the UK's "next biggest producer" wasn't enough, the fact that it was for Josh Kumra made it an extra special honour.  If you don't know who Josh Kumra is, you should definitely have a listen...  His songs are beautiful, his lyrics connect and his voice, well, that's something else entirely...

Mr Sam Bates

I've been lucky enough to play for some outstanding bands and musicians in my career and Josh has to be right up at the top of the list; Witnessing the magic when an artist can play a tune with perfect emotion and intent is something that always gets me, but to see it done in one take, the sun shining through the window shining off the guitar and with the fire crackling in the background, that is a moment I don't think I'll forget in a long time...

Hopefully this past weeks session won't be the last time I get to work with Josh and the team.







I am very excited about 2014.  It has obviously started extremely well, not only with the session last week, but also having already played a couple of shows with Strangers By Day.

There will definitely be more shows, not only from Strangers, but also from other projects and bands I am working with:

FlyCatFly are playing a show in Arpke, Germany in July (7th) along with some Swindoners!  I am hoping this won't be a one off!

On the same bill, and also with some stand-alone shows, I have been working with Zeki Min on his solo album (mixing in progress).  I can't wait to hear the finished product...

The extremely intense - (I think that's probably the most apt adjective) - "Frog Baseball", also have an album in the mixing stages and will be ready to explode live soon.

Dr Paradiddles WonderDrumporium is getting busier too, but still I want more!  I get bored when I don't have a million things to do!  So, if you need some drums recorded (anywhere!), or if you are in Berlin and want some drum lessons, please get in touch!

Hello 2014!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I know I'm about two weeks late to be saying that, but it's been a super busy start to 2014 for me!!!

News:

I joined a new band last week...  having had a couple of rehearsals for the super lovely "Strangers By Day", we have two gigs already happening this week in Berlin!  (No pressure then...)

I also started and finished(!) recording an album between Christmas and New Year with "Frog Baseball" in Berlin...  We're looking to gig as soon as we get out lazy arses into gear and book some shows...

I recorded a new tune, "My Good Day" with FlyCatFly which you can hear on my Soundcloud.  The other exciting news from the FlyCat's is that we have a show booked!  (July 12th)

Dr Paradiddles WonderDrumporium is fully functional now, (apart from the sign not being painted yet), but I still have room for students so email me if you want some!

At the end of 2013 I recorded a live album in my studio with Zeki, the fantastic lead singer from The Driftwood Fairytales.  A "solo" album, we recorded everything live (drums, bass, guitar and vocals) in two days.  The mixing is underway and so we look forward to some live touring and an album release in 2014.

I am finally ready to launch a Rock Club here in Berlin at the Berlin Met.  It's been a while in the offing, but the time is finally here.

All of this not to mention the most exciting upcoming work I have...

...Next week I am flying to the UK for a week.  I am extremely excited to have been asked to work on the new album with one of the UK's most exciting young singer/songwriter's!

It's gonna be a busy year ahead full of music and drums.  I am expecting there to be a lot of recording, a lot of shows and some teaching thrown in for good measure (and the world cup)!  Here's to 2014!  Happy music!

Latest News

It's been a busy couple of month for remote sessions.  I have been kind of inundated with work, which is great and I have been working with some amazingly lovely and talented people from all over the place!  Here's what I've been up to:

Firstly was the fantastic Morgan Finlay, who asked me to record 4 tracks from his forthcoming album, "Fault Lines".  One track I played, "The Fisherman's Son", is up on Soundcloud as a pre-release listen.

You can hear it here:

The Fisherman's Son by Morgan Finlay.

I think the album is due for release next month - I can't wait to hear it.




Next was Mike Salisbury, a groovy Blues guitarist with a voice full of soul from Florida.  I recorded one track, "Mr Green", for his forthcoming EP which will be released sometime soon.

At the moment, the song is still in the mix-stage, but you can listen to Mike's music here:

Mike Salisbury on Soundcloud.

I have also been recording drums and percussion for the stage adaptation of The Golden Compass.
This project is due to be staged next month in the UK.











Not to mention the on-going FlyCatFly project, with
the first batch of 4 tunes recorded at my studio here in Berlin and with more recording booked in for later this month, the album should hopefully be ready for a full airing early next year.




There are other little bits and bobs coming my way, but it's never busy enough, so if you or anyone you know needs any drums or percussion, please contact me:

richmillindrums@gmail.com

Soundcloud

Check out my Soundcloud here:


https://soundcloud.com/rich-millin-drums