A Pop-Perfect Session at Amen Studio
We recently wrapped up a joyful, groove-filled drum recording session at Amen Studio here in beautiful Bristol — and we couldn’t resist sharing some highlights from behind the kit. The track, titled We Were Always, brought all the sunshine with its upbeat pop/indie pop vibes, rooted in that glorious 2010s energy. Think happy, hopeful, and polished — with a BPM sitting at a toe-tapping 138 and a tight runtime of 3 minutes and 40 seconds.
The client was looking for the perfect balance of energy and tightness — something reminiscent of Two Door Cinema Club (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Door_Cinema_Club. Luckily, with a remote session drummer setup like ours, you don’t need to be in the same room to capture the right feel.
Gear, Tuning & That Squishy Snare
We reached for our Ludwig Super Classic 1965 Vintage kit — a compact, four-piece setup that’s been a favorite among top session drummers for decades. This configuration included a 22” bass drum, 13” tom, and 16” floor tom. It gave us a great tonal base for this indie pop track. [Explore the kit](https://www.ludwig-drums.com Ludwig Drums.
The snare of choice was a Ludwig Supraphonic from the 1970s — bright, crisp, and full of character. Tuned low and slightly detuned at one lug, it gave us that perfect “squish” for the track. We added hi-hats and cymbals from Zildjian (https://zildjian.com, including 14” Avedis hats and a 22” K Constantinople ride.
Using Tune Bot https://tune-bot.com
we dialed in each drum:
- Snare: E
- 13” tom: A
- 16” tom: D
We topped it off with Remo Ambassador Vintage Coated heads — reliable and versatile. Learn more https://remo.com.
Mic Setup & Preamp Power
Our online session drums setup is always ready to go with a full studio-grade mic locker. This session used:
- Advanced Audio CM47ve for spaced-pair overheads — U47-inspired tone with smooth top-end. https://advancedaudio-europe.com.
- Lauten Audio Horizon for kick front and mono overhead — vintage tube vibe, loads of detail. Check them out at (https://www.lautenaudio.com.
- AKG D12 VR inside the kick for that all-important thump. Specs here – https://www.akg.com.
All mics ran through Daking Audio IV and Focusrite ISA 828 preamps — boutique tone for a modern mix. More on Daking – (https://www.daking.com and Focusrite ISA – https://focusrite.com.
When you’re looking for a studio drummer for hire that delivers detail and depth, this setup makes all the difference.
Mixing, Layering & Final Touches
To get a clean, polished feel, we layered the drum parts. Kick and snare came first, then hats, toms, and other percussive flourishes. This gave us total control in the mix and let us shape each part like a pop producer would.
Overheads were processed with a Chandler Limited TG Opto and SSL Ultraviolet EQ for gentle tone shaping. We subtly reinforced the kick and snare with samples — the secret sauce behind many polished pop tracks.
This is where having a session drummer who understands both performance and production really pays off.
The final take? Energetic, polished, and full of life. No surprise it came from one of the best session drummer teams around (yep, that’s us being modest).
Whether you’re after session drummers for hire for your next indie banger or something totally off the beaten path, Amen Session Drummer brings top-tier drums straight to your project — no matter where in the world you are.
Let’s make your track groove. Reach out today and work with a team of passionate, professional session drummers who are always ready to hit record.