Toontrack Laid-Back Grooves MIDI

FOR EASY BEATS

Laid-back pocket-style grooves and fills, ideal for soul, hip-hop, R&B, pop and more!

In this MIDI pack, drummer Skye Polson of two-time JUNO Award-winning Canadian group Digging Roots brings you a collection of grooves where sway, swagger and an ever-so-slightly behind-the-grid feel are front and center. Whether you’re working on a hip-hop beat, a lush R&B track, a mellow singer-songwriter tune or an ultra-modern acoustic-meets-electronic neo-soul song, this pack has all the chill, rootsy and laid-back vibes you’re looking for.

In total, ten “songs” and more than 400 individually played grooves/fills are included. Each song is categorized in different folders for common song structure parts so you easily can patch together full-fledged tracks in no time. If you’re looking to add a MIDI pack to your EZdrummer or Superior Drummer where each hit in every groove plays a role and where feel and vibe are the common denominators, this one’s for you. Expect no frills – just full-stop, laid-back chops for any easy beats you can imagine.

Works with EZdrummer, EZdrummer 2, EZdrummer 3, Superior Drummer 2 and Superior Drummer 3.

Features

• Performed by drummer Skye Polson of two-time JUNO Award-winning Canadian group Digging Roots
• Laid-back pocket-style grooves and fills, ideal for soul, hip-hop, R&B, pop and more
• Includes ten “songs” and a total of more than 400 individually played grooves/fills
• 4/4 and 6/8 in straight feel
• Tempos ranging from 65 BPM to 128 BPM

SKYE POLSON - FIVE QUESTIONS TO THE DRUMMER

Take us back to the very beginning. How did your interest in music first begin and how come you ended up behind a drum kit?

Both of my parents are musicians so, of course there would be plenty of great music in the house at all times. They noticed that I had an interest in rhythm and spent a lot of my time tapping on my thighs or making the start of beats on the dinner table. However, it was my grandfather who gave me the push I needed and got me some lessons when I was 12 at a local music school to get me started. I was hooked ever since!

Which drummers do you think helped shape your style growing up and learning the instrument?

This is a big question and I could probably name a few dozen greats, but I think my biggest influences were Carlton Barrett from Bob Marley and the Wailers, Questlove from The Roots, Jon Bonham of course from Zeppelin, Brian Blade, Steve Jordan and last but definitely not least, Paul Brennan. Paul was the previous drummer for Digging Roots and has played with many Canadian groups like The Odds and Big Sugar. I had the absolute pleasure of shadowing Paul for many years. He was always very generous with me in sharing his secrets and I learned the vast majority of my feel from watching him. Thanks, Paul.

To you, what defines a great drummer?

I think the greatest drummers always have a really great ear. Playing to the music without ego, serving the songs and the art. That to me defines a great drummer.

If you were to describe your style of drumming, how would you put it?

This is a tough one. I am still trying to find words to describe my playing everyday. I think this is because I am always trying to learn as much as I can. So, if I would put it to words right now it would probably sound something like laid-back, pocket groove, greasy drumming. Or something like that anyway.