Jamie Sutor

 

Keep up with Jamie here:

www.myspace.com/aestheticpa

 

 

Hello, my name is Jamie Sutor. I have been playing drums for about 5-6 years now and loving it. I’m very passionate about my drumming and feel that it is a way to musically express myself. I play in a band called Aesthetic, a metal/hardcore/thrash band from Scranton, Pa.

My mother and father were the first people to buy me my first drum kit at the age of 12-13. Ever since then I just can’t get enough drumming for one day. I live and breathe drums and music so I usually spend my spare time looking at drum solos or just different styles of music to get an idea of new licks and tricks to use in my band. I usually listen to metal, rock and hardcore music but I sometimes like to listen to jazz music. Every morning to be honest I listen to some jazz music just to wake myself up with music that’s not too loud but, it’s interesting.

Before every gig I usually stretch, warm my hands and feet up for 30 minutes. Without warming up I just can’t play to my fullest and that’s what I try to do every show. If its 10 people or 1000 people, I always play to my fullest.

 

 

Jamie Sutor Interview:

 

SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?

Jamie: When I first started playing drums I was around 13. I grew up around a lot of heavy metal and rock music. My father is a veteran musician for over 30 years and at that time was playing in a rock band. After begging him to buy me a drum kit he finally did. My first drum kit was a Tama Rockstar Custom 5 piece drum kit in a red wine finish. After my father tweaked it out and tuned everything it was only a matter of time before I was ready to play in a band.

 

 

SD.com: Do you play in a school band or any drum corps?

Jamie: Yes I do. I play in the Scranton High School band. The band is led by a great teacher, friend, and conductor Linda Hickernell. She also works as a mother and the conductor of the school marching band.

SD.com: Ever take any lessons?

Jamie: Actually I am currently taking lessons from a veteran jazz drummer/studio drummer named Marco Mancinco. Marco is teaching me the subtlety of drumming and at the same time the finer touch of it. I like his teaching because he always keeps me on the ball by giving me writing exercises or just making me learn the things he assigned for that week. It’s quite fun.

SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?

Jamie: When people ask me this question, most of the time I just give them a list of all the drummers that inspired me throughout the years which is honestly about 50-75 drummers. Ha. But if I were to name the top 5 I would have to name: Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Chris Adler (Lamb of God), Steve Smith (whatever he is doing now), Derek Roddy (Hate Eternal), and Carter Beauford (Dave Mathews Band)

 

SD.com: Assuming that influences don’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?

Jamie: Wow…I have so many to be honest. There are a lot of local drummers out there that are my favorites too. If I were to name all of them it would probably fill up this entire page. But I will name some: Brian Dailor, Ian Paice, Jason Bitner, Dave Garibaldi, Jordan Mancino, Joey Jordison, Mike Portnoy, Mike Tyre, Brian Harding, Zoro, Mike Mangini, etc.

SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation

Jamie: The 5 CD’s that are in my current rotation…hmm…I believe its all new music: Throwdown, Unearth, Aesthetic (my band), Mastadon, and Hatebreed. I listen to a lot of hardcore/metal music as you can see. I love the lyrics and most importantly the drums. Most hardcore music is about brotherhood, respect, and not stabbing your friend in the back. It teaches a good lesson while it’s also entertaining.

SD.com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?

Jamie: Well I don’t really have a favorite brand of drums but here is my current set up:

Drums: Pacific Drums CX Series in the Royal Onyx finish

Cymbals: Zildjian

Heads: Evans on all drums.

Sticks: Whatever sticks I feel like buying that day.

Hardware: I use Tama and PDP hardware and use a Tama Iron Cobra with Danmar wood beaters and a PDP hi-hat stand.

The only favorite drum related brand is Evans drum heads. I love the durability and sound they make. I only use Evans.

 

SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to younger drummers than you, it would be…

Jamie: Practice and never give up on your dreams. This applies to life too. Always practice what you want to be great at and never give up on what you want to be in life. For example: If you want to be a professional drummer practice every day for at least 30 minutes and if you are that passionate about doing that, work at it no matter what happens. Just look at the drummer of Def Lepard, he lost his arm in a horrible car accident but because he was so passionate about his fulfilling his dream, he found out a way to play drums with one arm. Basically what I’m saying is never give up, never back down: Throwdown

SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?

Jamie: Well last year during the summer my band and I went to see a show in NY. The bands that performed were Soilwork, As I Lay Dying, and Killswitch Engage. Out of the three, I would have to say that Soilwork gave the best performance out of all of them. Their drummer, may I say, is the sickest live drummer as he is on the record. He keeps on time and does every fill according to the recording. Wow!

SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?

Jamie: Wow is this the last question already? That went quick! Well I’ve always liked to write stories, poems, and songs as a hobby. So I would probably have to say an author. I love writing so much that I’ve actually considered taking a professional writing course as an elective in college. I’m actually the kid in school that most of the time writes a twenty-two page story when it was only assigned as a 3 page story ha. I eventually plan on going to Berkley and majoring in some sort of drumming. So when I graduate I want to eventually write a book on professional drumming assuming I will be as good as a professional. It would be on the finer touches of drumming and how to change from listening to music to feeling the music.

Music and drumming is my life and I will never give it up, even if I was the worst drummer on Earth I would still keep it up. Also thank you very much for the opportunity to be on your amazing website.