David Steinmetz

David Steinmetz

Gabriela Bee, Katie Tupper, 88JETZ

David Steinmetz is a drummer, musical director, producer and songwriter born and based in Toronto, Canada. David graduated Humber College's Bachelor of Music program a week early in order to begin touring, playing shows across Europe and America with singer-songwriter Scott Helman. 

Since then, he has been going nonstop, touring and working as a music director/drummer for several artists. He has played on stages across the world including Osheaga's main stage, Smokin' Grooves, Spain's Primavera Sound, London's Latitude Festival, The Calgary Stampede, Lollapalooza Paris, Hammamet's International Festival in Tunisia, and many more.

David has worked and toured with several of Canada's brightest artists including Gabriela Bee, Faouzia, Charlotte Day Wilson, Katie Tupper, Preston Pablo, Tyler Shaw, Renforshort, Anna Sophia, Ruby Waters, Scott Helman, Wild Rivers, Sacha, Michael Kaeshammer, Riell and many more.

David is starting to make his mark in the world of songwriting and producing. He recently co-produced Cam Kahin's debut album, coming out later in 2025, and he also released an EP with his production duo 88JETZ, which features several Canadian artist features.

In all facets of David's work, Zildjian cymbals have played a huge role in his original sound.

David Steinmetz'S SETUP:

  1. 14" Constantinople hi-Hats
  2. 18" K Custom Special Dry Crash
  3. 22" Custom Dark Complex Ride
  4. 18" A CUSTOM EFX

* May be prototype

David
Steinmetz's
IN 3

David Steinmetz's
IN 3

  • WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

    The thing that inspires me most is finding new, creative, and original sounds that I haven't heard before. Music is something that has no limits, and I'm always looking to create something that can expand on sounds of the past, creating new sounds for the future. When I find myself in a musical rut, which so many of us musicians have experienced, I get inspired by watching live performances, listening to music I haven't heard before, and lastly, creating music from a different instrument than what I usually play.

  • WORDS OF WISDOM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF DRUMMERS

    Never compare yourself to others. I found it challenging while in college not to focus on what others were better than me at, and worrying about my talent compared to others. What I later realized, was that the differences in my playing verses others is what makes my sound original. Rather than comparing yourself, try learning from others when you hear them play. Push the ego to the side and enjoy the differences that you notice. Learning from other drummers has been one of the highlights of my musical career, and now when I hear someone play something that I've never heard or imagined on the drums, it's one of the most exciting parts of listening.

  • FAVORITE ZILDJIAN CYMBAL/COMBO

    This is such a hard question because I love changing things up as much as I can. In a pop performance, I can't get away from my 14" Constantinople hats for that crisp, clear sound. They're versatile, which helps me when a set has multiple musical layers, and their sound is so reliable when recording in the studio. With these hats, I need a mix of bright and dark crashes for different transitions and moments within the set. I choose to use the 18" K Custom Special Dry Crash for its fast, darker sound. For contrast, I use the 18" A Custom EFX for its bright, washier sound. Lastly, the ride I fell in love with is the 22" Custom Dark Complex Ride. I found this one when I received the wrong backline in Dubai, and after a short panic, I released I had ended up with the ride of my dream! This cymbal is so versatile, I use it for jazz, pop, and everything in between. When I'm at home recording, I have a 20" Zildjian Soundlab Prototype Flat Ride that I can't get enough of. Its crash is explosive, and its ride sound is unbelievably controlled. Zildjian has so many variations, which makes my life a drummer who loves new creative sounds a dream. Every time I try a new Zildjian cymbal that I've never hit before, a world of possibilities opens.

David Steinmetz’S GO-TO’S

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