Nate Gould

Keep up with Nate here:

https://www.facebook.com/therotted

www.youtube.com/desertwindsflowing

 

 

Born and raised in Israel, I am a self taught drummer since the age of 13, half my lifetime ago. At 18, like all other men in my Country, I joined the army for three years, doing my duty in one of it's now defunct units of tanks (yup I got to use the shit ones!). During my rather intense service there during the events of 2000 – 2003 I realised I needed to go out to the world and play.

Late 2004 I moved to the UK and ended up joining Screamin Daemon with whom I toured in support of their debut album, The Decline Of The English Murder and recorded drums for their second album, Genocide Gods. I then left the band and joined the newly formed The Rotted, from the ashes of Drinkcore geniuses Gorerotted. I have recently finished recording The Rotted debut album, Get Dead Or Die Trying which has been released on Metal Blade.

Nate Gould Interview:

 

SDM: How old were you when you started playing?

Nate:  I studied reading music at 11 for a couple of years and by the time I was 13 I got my firt kit, a Pearl Forum 5 piece in black finish. I soon realised learning to read music didn’t teach me how to play music, so I started teaching myself by listening to music and trying to play it.

 

SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?

Nate: No. Just those lessons, before I actually knew how to play. So they were pretty useless!

 

SDM: Who are your top 5 influences?

Nate: I'd say, over the years:

Vinnie Paul

Nicko McBrain

Lars Ulrich

Derek Roddy

Chad Smith

 

SDM: Assuming that influences doesn't mean favorites, who are your favorites?

Nate:  As far as drummers that I look at now, I suppose John Longstreth, Gene Hoglan, Dave Weckl, Martin Lopez and Derek Roddy. I dunno, theres loads of drummers I look at now for inspiration so its hard to say.

 

 

 

 

SDM: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation

Nate:  I'm digging the new Opeth and Origin albums, Spiritual Beggars – Ad Astra,  Cynic – focus. Also been spinning the Conan the Barbarian soundtrack in my car. There, I said it! Best soundtrack ever made.

 

SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?

Nate:  I just jump around, stretch, warm up my limbs and do some stick work on whatever cushioned seat or bench I can find backstage so my fingers, wrist and palms are fluid and ready. Drink a lot of water.

 

SDM: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?

Nate:  Actually it was my last gig I played. That was at TJ’s in Newport, Wales at the end of our UK mini tour we just did for the album launch. Sound was great, so I could really hear everything and just really enjoy it. Often the sound onstage is so terrible you just play without hearing what anyone including yourself is doing, but when you get a good stage sound like that you can just really rip em a new one! I also think I had a similarly good gig with my old band Screamin Daemon a couple of years ago in Dublin when we toured with Vomitory.

 

SDM: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?

Nate:  Pearl drums and Zildjian cymbals have been my choice for a while, but frankly there are just loads of excellent things out there. I would recommend Stagg china’s and hard cases for instance.

 

 

 

 

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

Nate:  Don’t jump into the deep end and listen to your body. Make sure you are happy with the BASICS, and I mean really happy with the basics – balance, timing, comfort, relaxation, grip and posture – before you attempt what you find cool over and over and over. You will develop bad habits that will be a pain to get rid of, and that is a promise. Use common sense.

 

SDM: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?

Nate:  John Longstreth with Origin. Thing is, I've seen other great drummers but bad sound and sometimes just being hammered kinda killed the experience! But the gig I saw Origin at was just inspirational for me, as far as drumming is concerned.

 

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

Nate:  Probably do whatever I wanted, which is what I do. I think life is there for the living and I am constantly up to something outside of drumming that takes up a fair portion of my time. But if music was not there for me I'd travel to S. America, Far East, Africa etc… Study geology, biology or maybe more anthropological kinds of science.viagra