Jed still calls Drouin West home
Could you imagine jamming with Lenny Kravitz and Sting at a private house party in Los Angeles? Or perhaps working alongside musicians such as Pharrell Williams, Barry Gib and Olivia NewtonJohn?
This is the life of local drummer Jed McIntosh.
The 21-year-old is taking strides on the international stage as a session musician but, thanks to always improving computer technology, is keeping grounded by calling Drouin West home.
He recently returned from a one-month stint in Los Angeles. Along with working on an EP with his band “Stripping on Sunset”, Jed worked in pre-production for new TV music show “The Four” featuring DJ Kahled.
Meeting on the show, Brisbane singer Ash Minor invited him to work on an album and at private gigs – including Kravitz’s house.
“It’s what you know and who you know,” emphasised Jed who counts Pharrell Williams as “one of my biggest connections”.
Jed was only three when he first picked up the drum sticks and was playing in shows around Gippsland at just 10.
His break came when he filled-in for a drummer at a Kylie Minogue gig when he was 15.
“From then on, I just met people through gigs,” said Jed.
After attending Drouin West Primary School and St Paul’s Anglican Grammar, Jed studied at the Victorian College of the Arts.
His parents weren’t thrilled when year 12 exams were missed for a recording session in Los Angeles, but on reflection it all worked out.
While many musicians would be keen to live it up in Los Angeles, Jed wants to make Drouin West his home for “as long as I can”.
He has set-up an impressive music studio to remotely provide studio session work and is keen to supplement that with studio hire and music teaching.
“Always coming back here is great. It keeps me grounded and Gippsland is great.”
It comes as Jed admits there are glamorous and dark sides of the music industry.
As a result, he joined forces with Cameron Noble to hold motivational talks and workshops at schools and detention centres about life in the music industry. The pair plan a Gippsland tour in September/October before taking it to New Zealand.
Jed still counts his late call-up to perform with Barry Gibb and Olivia Newton-John a couple of years back as a career highlight. A big fan of the Bee Gees, Jed said “to work with Barry was cool and obviously Olivia too being from here”.
He has also worked with Hans Zimmer on a few projects, including movie “Paddington 2”.
Locals may have seen Jed perform at Beyond the Valley over the past two years after last minute call-ups.
“I’ve grown up doing things at the last minute,” said Jed who isn’t bothered by performing in front of a crowd of thousands with little to no rehearsal.
“I’m a session musician. I have to come in at the last minute with the same confidence as if I’d rehearsed for 10 months.”
For further information on Jed’s studio or music lessons, email jedmusic03@gmail.com.