Dave D'Amore | Melbourne Drummer & Session Musician

Behind the drums

I’ve been playing drums for 30 years, with a background spanning live performance, studio and remote recording, original music and education. My roots are in metal, rock and progressive music, with a broader vocabulary shaped by fusion, funk, pop and groove-based playing.

I’m drawn to music where the drums have a voice. Pocket, dynamics and feel come first, with odd metres, displacement, polyrhythms and more adventurous rhythmic ideas there when the music calls for them. Technique and complexity are tools; the part still has to serve the song.

My work has taken me from small venues to large-scale festivals, studio and remote sessions, and collaborations on internationally recognised and award-winning original music. Whether I’m developing a part for a recording or stepping into a live set, the goal is the same: bring something musical, considered and distinctly human to the drums.

Education has also been a major part of my career. I spent almost a decade running a drum school, helping players develop their technique, vocabulary, musicianship and, ultimately, their own voice behind the kit.

Full site coming soon In the meantime, follow @drumswithdave for performances, covers and current work.

Making Music

Drums are my main instrument, but my work extends beyond the kit. I also play guitar and bass, and work in production and mixing — experience that shapes the way I approach arrangements, sounds and drum parts as part of the bigger picture.

Darkshore