markfeldman

“Green River” with Evan Kremin, Jay Shepard, Gary Bristol and Mark Feldman

Leave a Comment / By markfeldman / March 30, 2021 March 31, 2021

One of the producers I’ve been working for consistently is Keith Foley, out of NYC. He puts together a great crew of top-notch players (mostly based in New York) and in 2020 I got into the mix (no pun intended), doing my thing as an online session drummer to track for him.

Last summer we recorded Creedence’s “Green River.” I tracked it in my Aunt’s beach house on Cape Cod, where I was hiding out all summer from COVID. You can see me in the video; lower right hand corner. Doesn’t it look like a little beach house bedroom? It was!

One of the things I like about this track–besides that I think all the players are killing it–is that the drum sounds I got in this tiny room sound pretty damn good. That’s a good example of the notion that you can make great sounding records these days all “in the box,” as they say. That’s part of the fun of being a remote studio drummer–audio engineering yourself and working on getting great sounds.

Here’s the video. Listen with headphones if you can, because the sonics are great. It’s a clear, airy mix under the steady hand of Mark Dann, with JP Bowersock producing and Keith Foley Executive Producing. Me? Just playing drums!

Oz Noy’s “Steroids” Play-Along for Drums

Leave a Comment / By markfeldman / March 26, 2021 March 26, 2021

One of the side benefits of putting my recording studio together is that my videos sound way better. A couple of weeks ago, I filmed and recorded a version of “Steroids,” written by my friend Oz Noy.

The first released version of “Steroids” is very different from what is represented in the video I made. “Steroids” first appeared on “Oz Live,” which was released in 2002 on Planula Records. You can check out this version at the Spotify widget on the left. I haven’t been able to find track by track personnel credits anywhere, but both Anton Fig and Keith Carlock play on the release and it sounds to me like Keith played on this live version of “Steroids.”

This new video version was made from a play-along that Dave Weckl produced and that you can buy on his website. The personnel on the track: Oz Noy on guitar (of course), Will Lee on bass, and me making a “guest” appearance.

You’ll find out by watching/listening, but what is so different about this new version is the tempo. It is much slower than the original. And interestingly enough, it works great. Funny how tempo changes can so dramatically change a song…

There are also some drum breaks near the end of the song, so stick around for that if you’re into that sort of thing.

Check it out below.

By the way, both Oz and Will played on my band’s debut EP that was released in 2019. You can check out a video from that release here: Mark Feldman’s LEVEL5 plays “Sybil”

The Most Powerful Music Producers 2021

Leave a Comment / By markfeldman / March 18, 2021 April 4, 2021

the most powerful music producers 2021

I thought it would be really interesting to have a look at who the most powerful producers are. The obvious question you’ll be asking is “what does ‘power’ mean when it comes to music producers?”

Right. I believe that if you look at the world the way it really is–not by thinking about any of the older paradigms–what creates the most power in music is reach.

These days reach is measured in terms of streams. It’s not measured by Grammys or inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, or even (gasp) positions on the Billboard chart. So…

Since Spotify has the largest market share of the music streaming services, it makes sense to look at total streams on the service. I see Spotify like the music equivalent of Google. No one comes close, so why not use them as a bench-marker? By the way, as of this writing, Spotify has a 36% market share of music streams.

What are the most streamed songs?

On Wikipedia, there is a “dynamic list” called “List of Most-Streamed Songs on Spotify.” That list is frequently updated (hence the title “dynamic list”), but for this article, I used the list that was published and visible online on February 25th 2021. The list is limited to 100 entries.

Interestingly, that list does not include the producer credits. To give you a sense of the producers responsible for the most streamed songs, I simply added the producers’ names to the chart, which you can find below.

That should give you an idea of who the heaviest producers are–at least based on streams. Check it out.

Rank	Song	Artist	Producer	Streams (in Millions)
1	Shape of You	Ed Sheeran	Ed Sheeran and Steve Mac	2,725
2	Rockstar	Post Malone feat 21 Savage	Tank God and Louis Bell	2,124
3	Dance Monkey	Tones and I	Konstantin Kersting	2,105
4	Blinding Lights	The Weeknd	Max Martin, Oscar Holter, The Weeknd	2,004
5	One Dance	Drake feat WizKid and Kyla	NIneteen85, 40 and WizKid	1,981
6	Closer	The Chainsmokers feat Halsey	The Chainsmokers	1,952
7	Sunflower	Post Malone and Swaelee	Carter Lang and Louis Bell	1,827
8	Someone You Loved	Lewis Capaldi	TMS	1,783
9	Senorita	Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello	Benny Blanco, WATT, Cashmere Cat	1,751
10	Thinking Out Loud	Ed Sheeran	Jake Gosling	1,711
11	God's Plan	Drake	40, Cardo, Young Exclusive and Boi-1da	1,695
12	Bad Guy	Billie Eilish	Finneas O'Connell	1,691
13	Say You Won't Let Go	James Arthur	Alex Beitzke, Bradley Spence	1,651
14	Perfect	Ed Sheeran	Ed Sheeran, Will Hicks	1,645
15	Believer	Imagine Dragons	Mattman & Robin	1,625
16	Havana	Camila Cabello feat Young Thug	Frank Dukes	1,582
17	Lucid Dreams	Juice Wrld	Nick Mira	1,552
18	Photograph	Ed Sheeran	Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie	1,547
19	Starboy	The Weeknd feat Daft Punk	Daft Punk, Cirkut, Doc McKinney, The Weeknd	1,520
20	Love Yourself	Justin Bieber	Benny Blanco	1,519
21	Sad!	XXXTentacion	John Cunningham	1,519
22	Something Just Like This	The Chainsmokers and Coldplay	The Chainsmokers	1,486
23	New Rules	Dua Lipa	Ian Kirkpatrick	1,476
24	Thunder	Imagine Dragons	Alex Da Kid, Jayson DeZuzio	1,448
25	Lean On	Major Lazer and DJ Snake feat MO	Major Lazer, DJ Snake	1,446
26	XO Tour Llif3	Lil Uzi Vert	TM88, JW Lucas	1,425
27	Bohemian Rhapsody	Queen	Roy Thomas Baker, Queen	1,424
28	Despacito (Remix)	Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat Justin Bieber	Mauricio Rengifo, Andrés Torres	1,424
29	Sorry	Justin Bieber	Skrillex, BloodPop	1,419
30	Shallow	Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper	Lady Gaga, Benjamin Rice	1,413
31	All of Me	John Legend	Dave Tozer, John Legend	1,405
32	Happier	Marshmello and Bastille	Marshmello	1,394
33	Humble	Kendrick Lamar	Mike Will Made It, Pluss	1,389
34	Don't Let Me Down	The Chainsmokers feat Daya	The Chainsmokers	1,387
35	7 Rings	Ariana Grande	Tommy Brown, Charles Anderson, Michael Foster	1,385
36	Better Now	Post Malone	Frank Dukes, Louis Bell	1,370
37	Jocelyn Flores	XXXTentacion	Potsu	1,386
38	Sicko Mode	Travis Scott	Chahayed, Hit-Boy, OZ, Cubeatz, Tay Keith, Dean	1,358
39	Stressed Out	Twenty One Pilots	Mike Elizondo	1,356
40	I Took a Pill in Ibiza (Seeb Remix)	Mike Posner and Seeb	Mike Posner, Seeb, Martin Terefe	1,352
41	Faded	Alan Walker	Alan Walker, Jesper Borgen, Mood Melodies	1,350
42	Let Me Love You	DJ Snake feat Justin Bieber	DJ Snake, Andrew Watt, Louis Bell	1,350
43	Take Me to Church	Hozier	Rob Kirwan	1,348
44	Goosebumps	Travis Scott	Cardo, Yung Exclusive, Cubeatz, Mike Dean	1,344
45	Don't Start Now	Dua Lipa	Ian Kirkpatrick	1,340
46	Congratulations	Post Malone feat Quavo	Metro Boomin, Frank Dukes, Louis Bell	1,331
47	Lovely	Billie Eilish and Khalid	Finneas O'Connell	1,314
48	Let Her Go	Passenger	Mike Rosenberg, Chris Vallejo	1,305
49	Stay with Me	Sam Smith	Jimmy Napes, Steve Fitzmaurice, Rodney Jerkins	1,303
50	Circles	Post Malone	Post Malone, Louis Bell, Frank Dukes	1,301
51	Treat You Better	Shawn Mendes	Teddy Geiger, Dan Romer, DJ "Daylight" Kyriakides	1,288
52	Thank U, Next	Ariana Grande	Tommy Brown Michael Foster, Charles Anderson, Ariana Grande, Victoria Monet	1,271
53	Uptown Funk	Mark Ronson feat Bruno Mars	Mark Ronson, Jeff Bhasker, Bruno Mars	1,266
54	I Don't Care	Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber	Karl Sandberg, Karl Schuster, Fred	1,264
55	Unforgettable	French Montana feat Swae Lee	Jaegen, 1Mind, C.P Dubb, Mike WiLL Made-It	1,258
56	Cheap Thrills	Sia	Greg Kurstin	1,256
57	Girls Like You	Maroon 5 feat Cardi B	Cirkut, Jason Evigan	1,248
58	Too Good at Goodbyes	Sam Smith	Jimmy Napes, Steve Fitzmaurice, StarGate	1,236
59	Wake Me Up	Avicii feat Aloe Blacc	Avicii, Arash Pournouri	1,229
60	Without Me	Halsey	Louis Bell	1,228
61	Despacito	Luis Fonsi feat Daddy Yankee	Mauricio Rengifo, Andrés Torres	1,212
62	7 Years	Lukas Graham	Future Animals, Pilo	1,201
63	Roses (Imanbek Remix)	Saint John and Imanbek	Fallen	1,191
64	Can't Stop The Feeling	Justin Timberlake	Justin Timberlake, Max Martin, Shellback	1,188
65	Counting Stars	OneRepublic	Ryan Tedder, Noel Zancanella	1.185
66	I Like It	Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin	J. White Did It, Tainy, Craig Kallman, Invincible	1,182
67	Can't Hold Us	Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat Ray Dalton	Ryan Lewis	1,180
68	Stitches	Shawn Mendes	Daylight, Teddy Geiger, Danny Parker	1,179
69	That's What I Like	Bruno Mars	Shampoo Press & Curl, The Stereotypes (co.)	1,171
70	Moonlight	XXXTentacion	XXXTentacion	1,170
71	Cold Water	Major Lazer feat Justin Bieber and MO	Major Lazer, Benny Blanco, Jr Blender, King Henry	1,168
72	I Fall Apart	Post Malone	Illangelo	1,168
73	What Do You Mean?	Justin Bieber	MdL, Bieber	1,167
74	The Box	Roddy Ricch	30 Roc, Datboisqueeze, Zentachi	1.164
75	The Hills	The Weeknd	Illangelo, Mano	1,161
76	See You Again	Wiz Khalifa feat Charlie Puth	DJ Frank E, Charlie Puth, Andrew Cedar	1,157
77	Riptide	Vance Joy	James Keogh, Edwin White, John Castle	1,154
78	Pyscho	Post Malone feat Ty Dolla Sign	Post Malone, Louis Bell	1,151
79	Heathens	Twenty One Pilots	Mike Elizondo, Tyler Joseph	1,150
80	One Kiss	Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa	Calvin Harris	1,149
81	I Like Me Better	Lauv	Lauv	1,143
82	Radioactive	Imagine Dragons	Alex da Kid	1,135
83	Eastside	Benny Blanco, Halsey and Khalid	Andrew Watt, Benny Blanco, Cashmere Cat	1,131
84	Attention	Charlie Puth	Charlie Puth	1,130
85	Old Town Road (remix)	Lil Nas and Billy Ray Cyrus	YoungKio. Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross	1,130
86	Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)	Omi and Felix Jaehn	OMI, Clifton Dillon, Felix Jaehn	1,127
87	Demons	Imagine Dragons	Alex da Kid	1,125
88	Youngblood	5 Seconds of Summer	Andrew Watt, Louis Bell	1,117
89	Taki Taki	DJ Snake feat Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B	DJ Snake	1,116
90	Sugar	Maroon 5	Ammo, Cirkut	1,114
91	Can't Feel My Face	The Weeknd	Max Martin, Ali Payami	1,112
92	This is What You Came For	Calvin Harris feat Rihanna	Calvin Harris, Kuk Harrell	1,108
93	In My Feelings	Drake	40, TrapMoneyBenny, Blaqnmild	1,105
94	We Don't Talk Anymore	Charlie Puth feat Selena Gomez	Charlie Puth	1,104
95	Hello	Adele	Greg Kurstin	1,102
96	IDGAF	Dua Lipa	Koz	1,099
97	Chandelier	Sia	Greg Kurstin, Jesse Shatkin	1,098
98	I'm Yours	Jason Mraz	Martin Terefe	1,095
99	When The Party's Over	Billie Eilish	Finneas O'Connell	1,092
100	Work From Home	Fifth Harmony feat Ty Dolla Sign	Ammo, DallasK	1.092

It Factor: “Dog the Bounty Hunter”

By markfeldman / January 15, 2021 January 15, 2021

Release Date: May 2, 2006

In 2006, It Factor recorded 5 short tracks for inclusion in an episode of “Dog The Bounty Hunter,” the popular TV series on the A&E network.

Click on the “Cloud” Icon, above, to hear one of them, “Vavoom.”

Personnel: Arnie Miot – Guitar, Steve Hervatic – Bass, Mark Feldman – Drums

In line with the vibe of the show, the music is aggressive, hard and guitar heavy. That kind of means “Metal” doesn’t it? Well. There you have it.

“Dog the bounty hunter” (Instrumental music played on the A&E television show).

Recorded at Arnie Miot’s home Studio in Long Island, NY

Joe Taylor: “Darker Garden”

By markfeldman / January 14, 2021 February 8, 2021

Release Date: 1988

This was the first “real” recording on a real label (ProJazz) with real distribution that I was ever a part of. I only played on a few tracks, but I remember being thrilled that I was going to be on a record at all. Joe was really friendly and easy-going, and that made the experience even better. I remember being at the gym one day a few months later and hearing one of the tracks I played over the radio there. A huge thrill in my young life.

Produced by Joe Taylor and Tommy Mandel

Hearts and Minds (self-titled)

By markfeldman / January 14, 2021 February 8, 2021

Release Date: January 14, 1990

Signed by A&M Records in 1989, Hearts and Minds’ self-titled debut was produced by Mike Wanchic (guitarist for John Mellencamp) at Belmont Mall in Bloomington, Indiana. Belmont is Mellencamp’s own recording studio, where many of his albums were recorded.

It was at these sessions that I met Kenny Aronoff, which was an important event for me. He and I both played on the album and that was hugely important for my development as a session player. Imagine being able to hang out and watch one of the best on the job every day for a few weeks…

Produced by Mike Wanchic

Personnel:

Bruce Henderson – guitar and vocals
Andy York – guitars
Toby Meyers – bass
Mark Feldman and Kenny Aronoff – drums

Bruce Henderson: “The Wheels Roll”

By markfeldman / January 12, 2021 February 8, 2021

Release Date: May 20, 1997

Bruce Henderson, who I met in the late ’80s in NYC when he was the bassist in a band we were both in called Seven Beauties, went on to form a great rock band, Hearts and Minds (there’s a discography entry for that you can have a look at). Over the years, I was privileged to play with him frequently, including here on his solo debut from 1997.

With a true all-star cast of session players, the album got terrific reviews. It’s one of the only releases noted here that I only played percussion on (Shawn Pelton played drums), but regardless, I’m grateful to have been involved with this project.

Bruce Henderson “The Wheels Roll” (OMAD/Paradigm)

Produced by Stewart Lerman

Personnel:

Bruce Henderson (vocals, guitar); David Mansfield (pedal steel guitar, violin); G.E. Smith, Andy York (electric guitar); Charlie Giordano (organ); Paul Ossola (electric bass); Shawn Pelton (drums); Mark Feldman (percussion).

Various Artists: “Shawn Lane Remembered Vol. 2”

By markfeldman / January 12, 2021 February 8, 2021

Release Date: 2004

This was the first recording that was released from my time playing drums with the Rob Sbar Noesis. “Transfiguring Perceptions,” an original composition by Rob Sbar, was included on this release from Lion music, a progressive rock label from Italy. Sbar, a speed shred monster guitarist of staggering technical ability, has been causing jaws to drop since he first appeared on the NYC scene in the early 2000’s.

Produced by Rob Sbar

Personnel:

Rob Sbar – guitar
Nelson Montana – bass
Mark Feldman – drums

Various Artists: “Guitars Dancing in the Light: A Tribute to Santana”

By markfeldman / January 12, 2021 February 8, 2021

Release Date: 2010

The last of the three compilations I participated in with The Rob Sbar Noesis. This release–a tribute to Santana–was really fun for me because I selected the song we recorded, which was “Open Invitation,” one of my favorite Santana tracks.

Produced by Rob Sbar

Personnel:

Rob Sbar – guitar
Nelson Montana – bass
Mark Feldman – drums

Various Artists: “Higher and Higher: A Tribute to the Moody Blues”

By markfeldman / January 12, 2021 March 19, 2021

Release Date: 2006

The Rob Sbar Noesis was asked to participate in several compilation albums created by the Italian progressive label Lion Music. On this album, a tribute to The Moody Blues, we contributed the track “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere.”

Produced by Rob Sbar

Personnel:

Rob Sbar – guitar
Nelson Montana – bass
Mark Feldman – drums

Release Date: May 2, 2006

“Dog the bounty hunter” (Instrumental music played on the A&E television show).

Recorded at Arnie Miot’s home Studio in Long Island, NY

Release Date: 1988

Produced by Joe Taylor and Tommy Mandel

Release Date: January 14, 1990

Produced by Mike Wanchic

Personnel:

Release Date: May 20, 1997

Bruce Henderson “The Wheels Roll” (OMAD/Paradigm)

Produced by Stewart Lerman

Personnel:

Release Date: 2004

Produced by Rob Sbar

Personnel:

Release Date: 2010

Produced by Rob Sbar

Personnel:

Release Date: 2006

Produced by Rob Sbar

Personnel:

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