Corey Friedlander is a New Zealand-based drummer known for his work in the metal and rock music scenes. He gained recognition as a highly skilled and technical drummer and he is now a producer and co-owner of the production studio and music label BEATSPUN. Corey has played with several bands, most notably City of Souls, In Dread Response, Mark of Man, 8 Foot Sativa, and more. He has also been involved in various other musical projects and collaborations, further establishing himself as a respected figure in the New Zealand music community. During this korero we discussed his early life, meeting his heroes, his creative process, mental health, creating BEATSPUN and more. This was a conversation I truly enjoyed as it was amazing to reconnect with old friends who are also immensely talented. Timestamps & Moments (02:06) - ❤️ Falling in love with music
(09:52) - 🤘 Metallica - What was that?
(10:42) - 🔉 My parents asked me to turn it down a bit…
(11:26) - 🎸 Nu-Metal - The Groove
(13:30) - 🤔 It’s noise. Wait? It’s not.
(15:43) - 😲 Dude, you have met some crazy people.
(16:20) - 🗺️ Where are you from BTW? Playing in bars underage. Eden’s Bar.
(17:30) - 🥁 How I started getting into technical drumming
(18:41) - ✈️ They hire me, then travel to the US to record with the producer of Tool.
(20:45) - 🏫 What did you learn teaching?
(22:10) - 💼 I want to become a businessman. Swizl Jager Shout!
(23:05) - 🤝 @swizljager - New collaboration coming soon
(24:50) - 🇳🇿 NZ Music scene is small. That’s why you can’t be a dick.
(25:32) - ❓ What happened with City of Souls?
(28:30) - 🎶 What makes the NZ scene tough for musos?
(33:15) - 😕 The problem with the scene in New Zealand is…
(34:30) - 🔑 YOU HAVE BAD MANAGEMENT! Management is everything
(36:05) - 🔥 Metal is getting popular again… Vibe > Words
(37:30) - 🎤 Opening for Bring Me The Horizon - Weird Moment.
(39:54) - 🚫 Do opening acts get less lights, volume and quality for their performance?
(44:35) - 🎧 BEATSPUN
(45:45) - 🌟 Nathan Grey is super talented - Keep an eye on this guy.
(47:12) - 💔 Letting go, Toxic Relationship, Mental breakdown, A Friend, Social Media, Cops
(50:55) - 🍔 Who is DJ Scissorhands? - Burger Fuel Partnership & more
(54:17) - 🎚️ Did you have any background as producer? Also what about money?
(59:07) - 🏷️ Becoming a label. Realising all the ins and outs of the music industry. Wow.
(1:01:02) - 🎧 Where was DJ Scissorhands when we wanted a DJ for our Nu-Metal band.
(1:02:47) - 🧠 The Mental Breakdown - What did you learn?
(1:05:59) - 🧘 “Every thought has energy” - Breathing, DMT (Ayahuasca) & Psychedelic Experiences, Sensory Deprivation Tank.
(1:10:33) - 🧑⚕️ Get Therapy. The Song “Letting go”
(1:15:30) - 🎨 Creative Process
(1:17:35) - 🤖 Artificial Intelligence in The Music Scene
(1:21:29) - 🎛️ THE SOUNDBOARD
(1:25:43) - 🎙️ “Hi ChatGPT 4o, You are live, ask something”
(1:27:32) - 🏁 Leave us with…
(1:29:25) - 💧🏋️✌🏾 Attire by: ⛑️ https://www.instagram.com/cloudworldwide/ 🥋 https://www.instagram.com/fxxkingrabbits/ 👕 https://www.instagram.com/swizljager/ ============================ ABOUT 🫠 THE MELDING MUSE PODCAST 🟢 Melding art & design, music, film, entrepreneurship, fashion, sports, gaming and whatever is in between. We exist to showcase extraordinary people to inspire the next generation of creatives & leaders. These are stories that motivate us to continually challenge ourselves, push boundaries and ultimately reinvent ourselves time and time again. Streaming from the land of the long white cloud - Aotearoa, New Zealand 🇳🇿
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