The Beatles, PJ Harvey, Brad Mehldau, Radiohead, Miles Davis, Tom Waits, Nirvana, Matt Chamberlain, Elliott Smith, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Bill Evans, Death Cab for Cutie, Lucinda Williams, Jim Keltner, Fiona Apple, Bad Brains, Arvo Part, Johnny Cash, John Leventhal, Joseph Arthur, Leonard Cohen, Paul Motian, Shawn Colvin, NOFX, Kenny Buttrey, Modest Mouse, Neko Case, C.C.R., Jack DeJohnette, Bob Marley, Cocteau Twins, etc.
One positive thing about growing up in an isolated city with extremely cold winters, is the motivation to spend a lot of time inside experimenting with music. I moved from Winnipeg when I was eighteen to study Jazz drumming at Capilano College in North Vancouver, and have since stayed in Vancouver, continuing to play and work with a wide variety of musical projects.
In the last few years I've really enjoyed co-writing with quite a few people, and have had many resulting songs featured on Film/TV soundtracks. One of my favorite songs, 'Fool's Gold', written with Adrienne Pierce, was twice featured on ABC's Grey's Anatomy. I've also recently had placements on, The Hills, Army Wives, and Greek. Some of the other fine people I've written with are, Emily Jane, Motion Soundtrack, Lily Frost, Hannah Georgas, Eileen Roth, Marnie Mains, Ben Sigston, Carmen and Camille, and Nat Jay.
As a drummer I've gotten to perform and record with some pretty great people, in a wide variety of styles, including, Marcy Playground, Issa (A.K.A. Jane Siberry), Kelly Rowland (Destiny's Child), Motion Soundtrack, Adrienne Pierce, Winston, Christa Couture, Hannah Georgas, Nat Jay, and Lily Frost. I have also worked with such producers as Thom Russo (Audioslave, Johnny Cash), Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Jimmy Page), Jeff Dawson (Daniel Powter, Kelly Rowland), Vince Jones (Alanis Morissette, Dave Gahan), Bill Bell (Jason Mraz, Tara McLean), Winston Hauschild (Hannah Georgas, Nat Jay), Brenndan McGuire (Sam Roberts, Sloan), John Shepp (Matthew Good, Gob) Mathew Yelton (Pixies, Frank Black) and Futcher (The Be Good Tanyas, Christa Couture).
Though most of my recent playing has been in more commercial genres, I have also regularly performed in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival with such artists as Bruno Hubert, Steve Fisk, Gord Grdina, and George McFetrich, as well as having recorded with Experimental Jazz artists Marilyn Lerner and Peggy Lee.
hey Niko! just stopping by to say hi and listen to some tracks! sounds great! hope you're having a nice summer! talk to you again soon! Cheers from Victoria! -Riley Smith
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