ROCK & POP DRUMS SESSIONS: 'SIR DUKE', STEVIE WONDER - WITH MATT BROOKS

Watch session drummer Matt Brooks give his take on 'Sir Duke' by Stevie Wonder. Matt can always get excited about talking about Stevie Wonder. ‘I grew up listening to lots of gospel music and Motown music, so Stevie Wonder is one of the holy grails per say in that genre.’ He really enjoys playing ‘Sir Duke’ as it’s ‘so musical’, and allows him to play in more of a loose style. ‘When you play Motown, you get to just sit off the beat a bit, and if you’re playing to a click you play just behind it, and that’s where a drummer should kind of naturally play, so it feels good.’ Matt enjoys the shuffle style of the song and how the hi-hats take on the role of a shaker. ‘You’ve got the hi-hat doing the triplet part, and it creates a space and a groove and a feeling that is so laid back. I just love it, I could play that song all day.’

Matt Brooks is a London-based session drummer, musical director and band fixer currently working with Matt Wills (Virgin EMI) among others. He’s played drums for artists including Nicole Scherzinger, Meghan Trainor, Raleigh Richie, Marcus Collins, and has played all over the world at venues such as the O2 Arena, Le Trianon in Paris, and at festivals such as Glastonbury, V Festival and SXSW in Texas. Read our interview with Matt to hear more about his career as a drummer.