Today we’d like to introduce you to Zak St. John.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Green Bay, WI. My father was a professional guitar player, so I was exposed to music from a very young age. There was always something about drums and percussion that was fascinating and amazingly cool to me. I would bang on pots and pans on the floor in the kitchen and sit next to the drummer in my Dad’s rehearsals and shows. Eventually, my parents bought me a Toys R’ Us drum kit…..which I pretty much destroyed within a few days of playing it. Haha. I’ve since amassed a collection of over 30 kits and 60 snare drums… and hundreds of cymbals. To say I”m obsessed with drumming is a bit of an understatement.
I always studied and absorbed as much as I could in terms of music, music theory, and how to act in a professional working environment. Whether it was private instruction from local drummers, master classes with touring professionals or taking courses in middle school, high school, and college, I always had the drive to become the best I could be. I started playing live shows with my Dad whenever I could as well, And by around 12, I had regular gigs playing with as many bands as I could fit in my schedule. I still hold a strong work ethic and passion for drumming in that same manner.
After finishing college in Wisconsin (I got a degree in Business and Spanish….I could go on and on about the importance of knowing how to navigate business, run my business’ and communicate with others in a professional music setting)… I moved out to Los Angeles as soon as possible.
I didn’t know anyone when I arrived but made it a mission to meet as many people as possible and inject myself into as many music situations as possible. Eventually, hundreds of auditions and meetings started to pay off. I still build on those initial roots that were planted today. After about 6 months, I was able to secure a position at Drum Doctors. If you’re unfamiliar with Drum Doctors, please follow the rabbit hole on who/what kind of company that is. From my perspective, it was a fantastic opportunity. Over the years, I realized one of my core abilities was for recording and session work. One of my biggest goals was to somehow inch my way into the super tight-knit LA recording scene. And Drum Doctors was/is a big part of that. Working side by side with the world’s elite session drummers, engineers, and producers was simply priceless. I learned what mics to use, where to place them, how to tune drums for specific needs, which drums to use, how to communicate to better a situation and how to play to enhance the music.
I opened up my own recording studio 8 years ago and now have a regular stream of sessions every week, as well as sessions at studios around town on a regular basis. Besides recording, I still stay busy playing live shows around the world with a vast array of artists and clients. I also teach lessons to students of all ages and levels and do drum consulting for TV/Movies/Commercials.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have definitely been many obstacles and challenges over the years. In general, I always try to learn from an unfavorable situation and be better prepared for the next time. Rejection, cancellations, injuries, complicated relationships, and bad luck happen to us all. I use the skills I learned in school, team sports (I’m a huge sports fan), and from my peers to overcome these setbacks. Furthermore, depression affects us all, and artists, maybe more than most… It’s how we identify it, talk about it, and maintain a strong sense of ourselves that gets us through it.
I also try to have a good balance of work and personal time. My fiance, my dog(s), and hobbies are all very important to my puzzle. I use life outside of music to keep me motivated and inspired to keep playing. If I couldn’t sit on the couch with my family, eat some great food, drink some Jameson and watch a great movie, life would be much less fulfilling. haha.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a music professional. My focus is on drums and percussion. Within that broad description, I also teach lessons, build drums, consult for musical projects, tour manage, and create content for my drum sample library company…. and much more. I specialize in drum recording and session work. Within that world is where my biggest accomplishments and credits have been earned.
I’m the most proud of the businesses that I have started and continue to build since moving to Los Angeles. Those include my “contracted musician identity/playing career”, my recording studio, my sample library company “LA SESSION DRUMMER”, and a few bands that I am a founding member.
My work ethic and drive definitely set me apart from a lot of people. I wake up at 5:30am and start my day in the gym. If I”m in town, I then take care of business at Drum Doctors, then head to the recording session for the day, and after I will have rehearsals/live shows/meetings. Some days are nonstop and I thrive in that kind of environment. I am always looking to improve what I do and learn from others.
What were you like growing up?
I was an only child raised by two of the best parents a boy could as for. They were very supportive and loving. I was a happy child and a VERY well-behaved child. I was usually around adults and my dad’s bands etc., so I learned to adapt and grow up very fast. I never had the urge to cause trouble and getting good grades in school was very important to me. A few hobbies and passions outside of music were: Sports(Baseball, football, Rugby), trains/model trains, fishing, and watching movies.
Sports, in particular, really helped mold my mindset and work ethic. Learning to work with others, communication, teamwork, training, and how to stay in shape and take care of my body all came from sports.
I should note…..I did not always eat the best, nor was I always in shape. Up until the end of middle school, I was upwards of 300 pounds. During high school, I worked out and got my diet under control. I now keep that same mentality every day. Working out and eating healthy are of the utmost importance to me. Without that, I couldn’t do what I do. Especially at the needed pace and consistency.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ZakStJohn.com
- Instagram: @ZakStJohn
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ZakStJohn
- Twitter: @ZakStJohn
- Youtube: @ZakStJohn
Image Credits
@Simile_Branding_Photography “Simile Branding Photography” @Throughtheeyesofaqueen “Through The Eyes of a Queen Photography”
