Florian Gouëllo shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Florian, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Get up and either go climb at Hollywood Boulders with friends (stretch, catch up, sauna, cold shower, Yerba Mate) or head straight to the studio with a coffee stop in Highland Park. Usually call my family on the drive.
At the studio, I’m mostly doing drum production. I listen to the rough, set up, record, send a first version, get feedback, eat, then keep going. If I’m producing an artist, we catch a vibe, listen to music, start from a loop or beat, and I track drums at the end, same as with a client.
Quick coffee break in the afternoon, wrap around 5. Then I either keep working, meet friends at my favorite bar, or hit Vidiots for a movie.
Yeah… sounds like a dream. LA life.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Florian Gouëllo, a French drummer, producer, and sound engineer based in Los Angeles. I record and produce drums from my studio here, working with artists all over the world, sometimes live, sometimes remote.
I’ve played for artists like David Damiano, Angèle, Midnight Generation, Camilo Séptimo, Jazzie Young, Georgia Getsby… and I also release my own drum loop packs, which are used by thousands of producers and songwriters globally.
Right now, I’m producing my solo project, Gouëllo, and collaborating with artists across genres.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think what breaks or restores bonds really comes down to genuine interest — in the person, not their status or what they can offer. We live off our passion, and that means needing real connection with the people we create with, grow with, and feel inspired by.
Honesty plays a big role too. Sometimes things fall apart naturally — distance, time zones, different rhythms — especially when you’re living on the other side of the world. But that connection doesn’t always disappear; sometimes it’s just asleep for a while.
Life gets busy. We all disappoint sometimes. The day isn’t endless. True friends and family get that.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Was there a time I almost gave up? Yeah, right at the moment of covid. I was so burned out, even though I was living my dream as a session musician in France. I was working with different artists, playing tons of shows, but it got to be too much. I felt lost in my life and seriously thought about quitting music. That lasted a few months, I basically lost faith.
Sometimes still struggle to balance the energy it takes to be in service of others while also making space for myself sometime.
During covid, I read The Artist’s Way (Julia Cameron) and it helped a lot. The pandemic forced me to stop, slow down, and really reflect. Oddly enough, it became one of the best times of my life. I read, made plans, and relaxed. It gave me space to breathe and come back stronger.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’d say yes, mostly. I’m a very driven person, but over the years I’ve also started leaning into the part of me that needs to retreat and be quiet.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
When I create music. When I help someone feel excited about their own sound. When I make my friends laugh. Lately, getting off the grid with my girlfriend.
I think I feel most at peace when I’m disconnected, probably somewhere I don’t have service.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.floriangouello.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floriangouello/
