From discovering drums as a kid to building a massive social media following, a lifelong passion for the instrument has been the driving force behind Mauricio Weimar’s journey. We caught up to talk about the drummers who helped shape his playing, his e-kit setup and why Superior Drummer 3 is vital to his day-to-day.
What first sparked your interest in music?
As far as I can recall, I’ve always been very connected with music. My dad used to play the accordion and I remember paying a lot of attention to that. Things evolved when my older brother started bringing home some punk rock and metal cassettes and LPs.
How come you ended up behind a drum kit? Were you always drawn to drums and was it your first and only alternative?
Whenever I listened to music, I pictured myself playing the drums, even though I had no idea how to do it. The moment I became really fascinated with the drums was when I accidentally walked by a rock bar with live music, and there was a window from where we could see the band pretty close. I was totally hypnotized by the drummer and what he was doing… I remember that clearly to this day! From that moment on, I started saving money to buy a used drum kit from a neighbor. I am so grateful to my family, who always supported me. I was 11 years old when I bought my first kit. I can also play many other instruments, but the drums are where I can really express myself in the most natural way I can think of.
“In my world, what defines a great drummer has to do with inspiration.”
To you, what defines a great drummer? Name a few that you think stand out in today’s scene (regardless of genre) and some that helped shape you as a drummer growing up and learning the instrument.
In my world, what defines a great drummer has to do with inspiration. My favorite drummers were never the most technical ones, but surely very musical and powerful. The drummers that inspired me a lot when I started were Igor Cavalera (Sepultura), Lars Ulrich (Metallica) and Marky Ramone (Ramones). Those guys will always have a special place in my heart! Later on, I got more in touch with extreme metal, then I listened a lot to Max Kolesne (Krisiun), Tony Laureano (Angelcorpse), Gene Hoglan (Death), Doc (Vader) and Derek Roddy (Hate Eternal). Today, I think the most exciting drummers in metal are Mario Duplantier (Gojira) and Tomas Haake (Meshuggah). Mario has it all – power and technique, but above all, he also has musicality and the ability to inspire new generations to play the drums. He is pretty complex but at the same time not too complicated – and that makes his music very approachable to serious young drummers. But then again, I have deep respect and admiration for Tomas Haake. Actually, I love Meshuggah so much, and I can say that it has been my favorite band for many years now. Tomas is a unique drummer and although Meshuggah can be quite scary to learn, once you get that taste of it, it gets addictive!
When and how did you discover Toontrack?
That was certainly when Drumkit From Hell was released and I remember that VSTs were starting to get very popular! Man, that was a blast, a total game changer! Since then I have been following Toontrack closely, but when I really understood the real power was around 2016 when I got my hands on Superior Drummer 3, which has been my exclusive source of drum sounds since then.
How do you utilize Superior Drummer 3 in your work and how does it help?
Well, I am a huge e-drum enthusiast and I have been playing electronic kits for many, many years. I play with Superior Drummer 3 all the time! I use it both for practicing and for my work. I mean, I have been recording for many bands and everybody loves the final results. I have my favorite presets, but I like to experiment with new sounds every now and then. It sounds unbelievably realistic and the playing experience is out of this world. Add that to the fact that you have almost infinite possibilities inside the software, all with super high quality, and you have an amazing setup. It’s super fun, reliable and it helps you create music in a very effective way.
What is your setup like in terms of gear? E-kit, module, etc.?
I am always changing and upgrading my equipment. As of today, I have a very big real-size double bass kit (acoustic converted to electronic) and also prototype cymbals, which consist of traditional acoustic cymbals with triggers attached. So it’s 100% electronic now. I use Roland and Pearl modules. Honestly, I can’t see myself having an acoustic kit anymore. It’s just so much more convenient with e-kits today.
Your social media presence has really grown lately, amassing an impressive 200k+ following on Instagram and close to 100k on YouTube. Is there a specific video that made everything take off?
Yeah, I am pretty happy with the outcome in the last few months. Things are happening fast and I am having a great time! I started getting attention on social media when I posted a short video playing a very epic fill by Lars Ulrich from the song “Blackened.” It’s basically a three-step strategy: first I listen and react to the specific part, then I play it slowly and eventually I perform it at real pace with the song. No talking, just playing! That was it! Over a million views very quickly. That formula is what made me what I am today on social media.
Double-pedal or double bass drums?
Double bass, hands down. For me it’s totally vital to have sound coming from both sides. And I like to have a slightly different tuning and EQ for each kick drum. That makes it more realistic and exciting to play.
Click track or no click track in your headphones?
Both! Depending on what I am doing, of course. If the plan is to go more old-school, then I never use a click track. However, modern metal requires a click track most of the time.
You can only keep one cymbal on your kit – which one?
A beautiful China! I just can’t live without a China cymbal.
Dream team band (with you on the drums!):
Max Cavalera – vocals
Fredrik Thordendal – guitar
Gary Holt – guitar
Jason Newsted – bass
That would be insane!
