Meet Chad Mckinsey | Producer & Drummer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chad Mckinsey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chad, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Professionalism is at the core of everything I do. I believe the first and most recent impressions we leave are what stick with people. When collaborating on music, playing drums in the studio/in a band, or engineering in the studio, I give my all to ensure my love and passion for the project shine through in every aspect of my work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I loved music as a kid, always tapping along to any song learning where the backbeat was I heard on the radio. I would try to guess when a chorus would hit or when the bridge would come in. Mainly because my Dad made me listen to The Beatles and my Mom always sang when tidying up around the house or when cooking dinner.

Now my dad is an engineer and my mom was an art major who then found herself in healthcare after needing to take care of us three boys after my parents split up when I was 7. We moved back to her home state of Montana and I spent the rest of my childhood growing up out in the country with a total of 68 in my graduating class. I grew up listening to 90s country, alternative rock, pop, and whatever few stations we could pick up. Thank god for the cool band teachers, older brothers, uncles and aunts, and a best friend’s dad who exposed me to hard rock, prog, Zeppelin, and a flood of artists you’d never hear on the radio. That was when I was hooked.

I have obsessed over audio quality ever since my very first, very used car needed new speakers because the stock were trash. I have since chased that idea of the perfect sound and channeled it into getting that perfect performance, perfect recording, and perfect mix. The journey continued with a percussion performance degree and has continued to evolve ever since moving to Los Angeles in 2009. I worked at Exposition Studios for 14 years where I helped upkeep operations and eventually became a leader in the recording studio. I learned how to produce background music for TV shows and films, produce records for artists, and how to evolve my songwriting. All the while maintaining my position as drummer in what has always been 2-3 bands at a time. My mother always told me that I like to burn the candle at both ends and with every year that passes, I’m starting to learn that’s real. Always pushing and grinding can teach us something, both positive and negative. Being able to see that lately is helping me to be a better musician and producer. Sometimes it is about quantity, but more often than not it’s always the quality that rises to the top. So my obsession continues.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When friends come to town there are some musts, but I always leave room for exploration of new things only because of how rich this city is in culture, it’d be impossible to go through everything in a lifetime.

But to start, it might be In n’ Out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, depending on when their flight arrives. One day would be committed to a beach day and probably tacos or pizza on the way home. Either Taco’s Leo on Pico or a train ride downtown for some Pizzeria Bianco. I would encourage catching a show at The Greek one day, and then probably a Dodger game if it’s the summer or some football/basketball in the fall or winter. Of course, a Kings game is never out of the question either. If they’ve never been, a visit to the Getty is necessary along with what could be a whole day down at Exposition Park with its three different museums and amazing rose garden.

But if I really wanted them to experience my scene I’d start texting all my musician friends where they were playing that week and if they knew of any other good local shows that we could hit up. Especially a gig at the Baked Potato. To close out the long week, a stop by the Daily Pint in Santa Monica for an incredible selection of whiskey would be the perfect way to end it.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My amazing wife has been a source of unending love and support for what I do. I can easily say that without her being an inspiration for my songs, the smile on her face when she listens to them, a necessary criticism from her, or most importantly the one person who will always be there to keep me going when I’m damn close to giving up.

I also need to thank the community of people I had at Exposition Studios in Culver City. In the years I spent helping run that place I met thousands of wonderful people who imprinted upon me what being true to your art meant. That community has forever changed me and left me with relationships I will have for the rest of my life.

Website: https://www.chadplaysmusic.com

Instagram: @chadplaysmusic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadplaysmusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChadAlanplaysmusic

Other: https://soundcloud.com/chad-alan-mckinsey

http://www.redshedmusicproductions.com/

https://www.expositionstudios.com/musicvault