Nashville Drummers Podcast

Neal Yakopin: Drumming for Nate Smith | TourLaunch LLC, Adapting to the Music Industry's TikTok Era

December 15, 2023 Dan Ainspan / Nathan Sletner Season 1 Episode 41
Neal Yakopin: Drumming for Nate Smith | TourLaunch LLC, Adapting to the Music Industry's TikTok Era
Nashville Drummers Podcast
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Nashville Drummers Podcast
Neal Yakopin: Drumming for Nate Smith | TourLaunch LLC, Adapting to the Music Industry's TikTok Era
Dec 15, 2023 Season 1 Episode 41
Dan Ainspan / Nathan Sletner

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Pittsburgh, PA native Neal Yakopin arrived in Nashville in July 2020 and in a few short years has become a well-known and respected player, currently touring with country star Nate Smith.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native Neal Yakopin arrived to Nashville in July 2020 and eventually began working with Sony Music Nashville singer-songwriter Drew Green, who has written songs for Florida Georgia Line and Conner Smith. In 2022, Neal joined Nate Smith’s band for a six-show tour followed by a Fall tour with American country music singer Brett Eldredge. During this time, Nate's “Whiskey On You” single was gaining traction and landed No. 1 on Canada's country radio chart for six weeks, making the song the longest-running No. 1 country debut by a male vocalist in the country's chart history.

Since then, Neal has performed at Nashville’s most revered country music venues: The Ryman, Bridgestone Arena, and the Grand Ole Opry, as he looks ahead to a busy 2024 touring season including support for Morgan Wallen's One Night At A Time tour alongside Nashville's Bailey Zimmerman and Lauren Watkins.

In this interview, we discuss Neal's approach to live shows, how he started a business TourLaunch LLC, and the current state of the music industry’s TikTok-driven era. We hope you enjoy!


We'd like to thank our Episode Sponsors:

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Detox House
https://detoxhousenashville.com

Connect with Neal:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nealyakopindrums

TourLaunch:
https://www.tourlaunchnashville.com
https://www.instagram.com/tourlaunch

Music Featured in this Episode:
Nate Smith - Alright, Alright, Alright (Apple Music Sessions)

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-groove.com
Mixed by Jackson Maddox

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded November 2023 in Nashville, TN


Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Show Notes Chapter Markers

Send us a Text!

Pittsburgh, PA native Neal Yakopin arrived in Nashville in July 2020 and in a few short years has become a well-known and respected player, currently touring with country star Nate Smith.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native Neal Yakopin arrived to Nashville in July 2020 and eventually began working with Sony Music Nashville singer-songwriter Drew Green, who has written songs for Florida Georgia Line and Conner Smith. In 2022, Neal joined Nate Smith’s band for a six-show tour followed by a Fall tour with American country music singer Brett Eldredge. During this time, Nate's “Whiskey On You” single was gaining traction and landed No. 1 on Canada's country radio chart for six weeks, making the song the longest-running No. 1 country debut by a male vocalist in the country's chart history.

Since then, Neal has performed at Nashville’s most revered country music venues: The Ryman, Bridgestone Arena, and the Grand Ole Opry, as he looks ahead to a busy 2024 touring season including support for Morgan Wallen's One Night At A Time tour alongside Nashville's Bailey Zimmerman and Lauren Watkins.

In this interview, we discuss Neal's approach to live shows, how he started a business TourLaunch LLC, and the current state of the music industry’s TikTok-driven era. We hope you enjoy!


We'd like to thank our Episode Sponsors:

Low Boy Beaters
https://lowboybeaters.com

Drum Supply
https://www.drumsupply.com

Detox House
https://detoxhousenashville.com

Connect with Neal:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nealyakopindrums

TourLaunch:
https://www.tourlaunchnashville.com
https://www.instagram.com/tourlaunch

Music Featured in this Episode:
Nate Smith - Alright, Alright, Alright (Apple Music Sessions)

Intro Drum Groove
Recorded by Taylor Friesth at Garden Groove Studios in Nashville, TN
http://www.garden-groove.com
Mixed by Jackson Maddox

------
Interview by: Dan Ainspan, Nathan Sletner
Recorded November 2023 in Nashville, TN


Connect with us:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Recorded at Garden Groove Recording Space, Nashville, TN
Podcast Artwork: GENUINE CREATIVE ART

ⓒ 2024 Nashville Drummers Podcast, LLC

Intro
Low Boy Beaters (Sponsor)
Welcome, Neal
Nate Smith vs Nate Smith (Drummer)
Returning from Tour
Sauna & Cold Plunge Therapy
Detox House (Sponsor)
Growing up in Pittsburgh
Move to Nashville
Social Media for Drummers
Recording Drums
Running Tracks
Starting TourLaunch
State of the Mainstream Music Industry
Drum Supply (Sponsor)
Transition to Bigger Gigs / Nerves
Nate Meeting Nate
Perfection, Artistry & Identity
Gong Drum & Current Setup
Drumming Inspirations (Gillespie, Sterling, Blackwell, Parsons)
Wrap-Up Questions
Outro