We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful David Daughrity. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with David below.
Hi David, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
Looking back, I think I always wanted to be a professional drummer/musician. I’m told I started playing around age 2, and at 6 I was on a snare drum and brushes backing up my dad. He was an old school traditional country singer and rhythm guitar player. Cash, Haggard, Hank Sr., were all in his wheelhouse. I grew up with a pair of drumsticks in my hands. I was a good kid growing up. So my version of teenage rebellion was getting into outlaw country, southern rock, and 70’s classic rock. I was in elementary and high school band for seven years. I really wanted to take private lessons but my family couldn’t afford it. I went into the US Army as a truck driver at 18, and continued to play. Went to Germany in 1984 and by 1986 I was in my first actual rock band. After the Army, I worked for about three years before enrolling in school at a branch of Indiana University. Took one semester for me to change my major from computers to music (“I can get a degree in this?!!”) After three years, I went to a drum clinic in Louisville KY and my life changed. The drummer was Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, tons more). Found out he was on the teaching faculty at IU’s music program in Bloomington and I decided I was in the wrong campus. Transferred the next semester. Realized I was vastly unprepared for their amped up curriculum. Started 8 weeks of lessons to prepare an audition. Was accepted and spent another four years working through their program, graduating in 1998 with my Bachelor of Music degree. Fast forward my first wife and 12 years later, my forever wife moved me to Nashville TN in 2011 to finally get a chance to pursue my passion.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
As I inferred before, I was drawn to drums extremely young, well before I ever conceived of doing music as a career. Drums have always been at the forefront of my entire life. Much like any other creative person, I never saw myself really doing anything else. I pursued a multitude of other jobs. But none of them ever had the personal sense of satisfaction that music has.
As a musician, I feel as though I bring a lot to the table at this point in my life. I’ve spent decades (in and out of school) perfecting my playing skills. Multiple genres, developing my inner clock, listening skills, and musical chops to a point. I’ve become a “less is more” style player, preferring to focus on making a piece of music sound better as opposed to how many notes I can cram in (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I always strive to bring a smile and a positive attitude to whatever musical situation I’m involved. And always give 100% no matter what the situation.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I think in today’s society, most “normal” people can’t wrap their heads around pursuing a career that isn’t all about the “make all that money, buy that house, work until you’re old, and retire” mentality (although the millennials seem to be headed in an entirely different direction). For what I often refer to as the left brainers, it’s difficult trying to understand why anyone would chase a career so plentiful in headaches, challenges, disappointments, and heartaches. But for those of us who choose that path, we often feel like we have no other options besides the one thing that motivates us, excites us, and allows us to truly find ourselves. Well before I made the conscious decision to pursue drumming as a career, I was always in my happy place behind the kit. I could forget whatever problems I had that day, zip up my bubble, and bash away. So many non-creatives get so bogged down with trying to mold themselves into what society expects of them, they seem to lose touch with what makes them happy. Of course, one has to keep everything in balance to try and keep the bill collectors at bay. I spent a number of years away from music (not entirely my choice), was working 10 hours a day at a factory, totally stressed. I went to a stress counselor and explained my situation. Imagine my surprise when I was told I needed to quit my job and play drums…;) Being a musician isn’t an easy decision, particularly in a “left brained” world. But for those of us who do it, we can’t see ourselves doing anything else.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I could share several stories, but I’ll narrow it down to one or two, When I was in college and made the decision to switch campuses (IU School of Music is legendary in the academic world), I had no idea what I was getting into. Even after three years of full time student status, I had to literally start over my course curriculum because I was so undereducated. So I spent another four years (all full time) completely learning how to perform in classical and jazz genres on multiple percussion instruments I’d almost never touched, grouped in with much younger students who had years of experience and education under their belts. But in the end, I finished my Bachelor’s degree. That took a tremendous amount of effort and resilience. Seven full time years to earn a four year degree. Yeah, I’m a stubborn sort.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reverbnation.com/daviddoubleddaughrity
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drummerdave626?igsh=MWdhYjBmazBuOXl2Zw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1B6a7EkMkg/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-daughrity-88bbb47?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ddaughrity1?si=vCLvStfcZkEIjghC
- Other: https://www.losswampmonsters.com
