Eric
Giovanola

About

I’m a Bay Area–based drummer and recording engineer with over 30 years of experience across live performance and studio work. I approach music with both a musician’s instinct and a producer’s ear, focused on serving the song and the bigger picture.

I started out as a drummer in local high school rock bands, playing in clubs around the Bay. Living in LA after college, I shifted my focus and joined a band as a guitarist and backup vocalist, performing at venues like the Roxy and the Viper Room. I came back to drumming after returning to the Bay Area, expanding into styles like jazz. I joined another band, releasing two albums and gigging consistently for several years. More recently, I’ve played with a handful of cover acts around the South Bay.

Recording with different bands sparked a deep interest in audio engineering and production, leading me to begin recording my own projects. When the pandemic made playing with other musicians impossible, I dove into building a home studio and refining my recording and mixing skills through remote collaborations.

Playing multiple instruments has shaped how I work in the studio. I think beyond my own part—how arrangements fit together, how sounds interact, and how performances support the song. That perspective has made me a more disciplined musician and effective collaborator.

I’m currently available for session drumming, musical collaboration, and recording or mixing work, both locally in the South Bay and remotely. If you’re looking for a drummer with a producer’s mindset, or help getting your tracks recorded and finished, I’d love to connect.

Session Drumming

Rock-focused drumming informed by jazz and other musical influences. Whether you need solid, in-the-pocket grooves or something more nuanced, I work with artists locally or remotely. I’m based in Los Altos and have my own kit and home studio for tracking.

Studio Work

I track, mix, and help shape recordings in my home studio. My gear collection and experience capturing drums, vocals, guitar, and bass allow me to get great sounds in the studio. I also bring a multi-instrumentalist’s perspective, thinking about how arrangements, parts, and performances fit together to serve the song.

Collaboration

I enjoy collaborating with other musicians, particularly around songwriting, recording, and creative experimentation. While my availability for regular rehearsals and gigging is limited, I’m always interested in meaningful musical partnerships and the occasional live show mixed in.

My home studio is built especially for tracking drums, but the quality preamps and diverse mic locker handle vocals and other instruments as well. I play a D’Amico kit, with multiple snares and cymbals at my disposal for tonal variety. I work in Logic, handling everything from tracking to final mix.

Gear Highlights

Drums

D’Amico kit with multiple kick and tom configurations

Snares

Ludwig Supraphonic, Tama Bell Brass, Yamaha Steve Jordan Signature, and more

Cymbals

Mix of Sabian (AA, AAX) and Zildjian (A, A Custom, K)

Microphones

A range of condensers, dynamics, and ribbons, including AEA, AKG, Beyerdynamic, Neumann, Sennheiser, Shure, and more

Preamps

9 channels of API and BAE preamps, Focusrite Clarett interface

A sampling of my work across different contexts—from band recordings to remote collaborations to solo projects where I handle everything from performance to final mix.

Ensemble

Original rock band recordings featuring my drumming. All tracks were recorded and mixed by third parties.

Collaborations

Remote projects with former bandmates and friends. I recorded the drums, compiled all the tracks, and mixed the full songs.

Solo

Projects where I play all instruments—drums, guitar, bass, vocals—and handle full recording, arrangement, and mixing.

Let’s work together! I’m based in Los Altos and available for work locally in the South Bay or remotely. Whether you need a drummer for your project, someone to help record and mix your music, or you’re looking for a collaborator who thinks like a producer, let’s talk.