Dan Presland

Keep up with Dan here:

www.myspace.com/theocularisinfernum
www.myspace.com/aphoticdawn

 

 

Dan started drumming in 2003/2004 at the age of 18, due to the music class in high school requiring a drummer, so Dan put his hand up. Drumming soon became more than a requirement in high school for Dan, as he would practice on pillows and pads until he recieved his first kit for his 19th birthday. Early on he was jamming with friends, and only after around 18 months after first picking up drum sticks he successfully auditioned for the band Ne Obliviscaris in 2005.

In 2007 Dan joined Aphotic Dawn, and in 2008, he increased his playing load by taking on the drumming duties of The Ocularis Infernum. Dan also begun teaching and being a session musician for the first time in 2008. Since then he has worked with a vast array of bands in different musical environments. After completing his first Austrlian tour with Ne Obliviscaris in early 2009, he is currently in preparation for a busy studio schedule with session material and his original bands.

Dan Presland Interview:

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

Dan: I was 18 years old when I first picked up drum sticks. I was in high school and the music peformance class I was in was 1 drummer short, so I put my hand up for the task and gave it my best shot.

 

 

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

Dan: I played in the music peformance class band. We just covered pop songs, rock stuff, some faith no more, those kind of tunes. It was actually great experience for me. When I first picked up sticks I just wanted to go fast and blaze around the set! This certainly put me into perspective and made me realise how much hard work it takes to make even the most basic of beats sound good.

 

 

SD.com: Who are your top 5 metal influences?

Dan: This one’s a real tough question, I’ll have to narrow it down to:

Miles Kreznin- Although probably and unfortunately unknown to the drumming world, Miles is an amazing player. He certainly inspired me to pick up drums, and showed me lots of stuff early on. I’m very fortunate to be able to watch a guy like that play early on in my playing!

Dave Haley- Dave is a good friend of mine, and I feel very lucky to be able to watch and learn from this guy. He’s very intelligent, and is always up for helping out with technique or anything drumming related. From watching him so many times I’ve definitely stolen a bunch of his stuff!

Derek Roddy- Derek is a true guru. Derek has a fountain of knowledge, and is passionate about sharing it. I’m very grateful to have learnt a lot from him. His knowledge and experience beyond the drumset has also been invaluable, and definitely influenced a few of my drumming decisions.

Danny Carey- The master of feel! Danny has amazed me with all of his records. I love his feel, it’s just perfect. His style is just so unique. I’d love to meet and study with him sometime. I’ve certainly put a fair bit of time into learning his grooves, they’re so subtle yet so tough to nail.

Hellhammer- I love his versatility and drum parts. He is very musical, and fits the music extremely well with his playing. A lot of his work with Arcturus has definitely influenced me.

 

 

 

 

SD.com: Who are some other of your favorites?

Dan: George Kollias, Richard Christy, Sean Reinart, Dave Weckl, Vinnie, Marco Minnemann, Virgil, Trym, John Longstreth, Hene Hoglan, Steve Smith… There’s really so many. I like watching any and all drummers, there’s so much to learn from everyone. You can always take something in from a performance.

 

 

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

Dan:
Ruins latest release, Front the Final Foes!
Pantera – Cowboys from Hell
At the Gates – Slaughter of the Soul
Enslaved – Vertebrae
YYrkoon – Occult Medicine

 

 

SD.com: What do you do to warm up before a show?

Dan: I always try to get loose, stretch a bit, and move my limbs around to get warm. Usually I’ll just grab a shirt or something from the merch desk and put it over my snare drum, turn the wires off and do single strokes, doubles, whatever it takes to loosen up. I’ll tap my feet on the floor, or if there’s something to hook my pedals up to I’ll do that. Sometimes a couch backstage is pretty useful!

 

 

 

 

SD.com: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have effected your playing?

Dan: I can only read basic stuff. It has definitely effected my playing the little I do know. It lets you understand the correct spacing between notes. I do wish I knew more, and I endevour to learn someday.

 

 

SD.com: Can you tell us about the gear you use?

Dan: My setup in Melbourne is a pearl session maple kit. I love it, it’s done some yards now but it still holds up and sounds awesome.

22×18 x2 bass drums
8, 10, 12 rack toms and a 14 floor tom.
2 crashes
2 splashes
2 hi hats, one is a remote hi hat and I have the pedal next to my right bass drum. I really only use this for Ne Obliviscaris.
2 chinas
2 rides
Axis A longboards, with ekits.
Alesis DM5 module.
Vic Firth extreme 5an sticks

 

 

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

Dan: Practice to a metronome from day one! Learning correct note value and spacing is crutial, especially for the fast death metal kinda stuff. Lock in the tempo and learn how it sounds, then increase your metronome. Also keep open minded with your playing, take in all kinds of styles and jam with as many people as possible!

 

 

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

Dan: That’s a hard one, I’d have to narrow it down between Gavin Harrison, Derek Roddy, George Kollias, Marco Minnemann and Thomas Haake. Pretty much flawless. I’d say Gavin takes the cake, simply because his drum sound was just amazing that night.

 

 

SD.com: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?

Dan: I’m a big fan of computer games. I love games like Quake and Call of Duty. Infact I’d probably be a half decent drummer if it wasn’t for these hobbies, ha ha! I enjoy technology stuff like computers, meeting new people and generally improving myself as a person.