Name: Pablo Viveros
Band: Chelsea Grin
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Link: https://www.facebook.com/ChelseaGrinMetal/
When did you understand that you had a passion for music?
Honestly, as long as I can remember. My parents have photos of me from when I was about three or four years old, playing guitar with tennis racquets and watching/imitating music videos and what not.
How come you ended up behind a drum kit, were drums your first and only alternative?
Drums were always the most fun for me. My Dad is also a drummer. I always experimented as a kid though. I tried guitar, vocals, bass… I tried it all and drums were just my favorite.
Before you joined Chelsea Grin, you’d been in bands but nothing quite as established. How was it to jump straight into making headline tours, playing big crowds and making records?
It was so wild! My first tour with Chelsea Grin was Warped Tour 2012. We had a full crew, a bus, an in-ear monitor rig. It was insane! My last “tour” prior to that was four days to California…in a pickup truck. So I went 0-100 really quick! Needless to say I was very stoked and sooo grateful.
You didn’t come from a metal background, you drew your early inspiration from the punk scene, rather. How come you ended up in Chelsea Grin and how much of a challenge was it for you as a drummer and artist to adapt?
It was definitely a challenge going into a metal band not being very good with a double pedal. My foot speed was definitely the biggest struggle. Even today I still struggle with a couple parts, but it’s not impossible! After writing my own parts for the last two records, I’ve definitely had a good time playing metal.
For the first record that followed after you joined the band, you programmed out your drum parts and collaborated on ideas with the rest of the band by sending stuff back on forth over the internet before you headed into the studio, something that seems like a pretty common songwriting practice today. How did Toontrack help in this process?
Having access to Superior Drummer made ALL the difference in the world for this process. That combined with packages like The Metal Foundry and EZmix 2, made it SO unbelievably easy to get really crazy good-sounding pre-pro.
Comparing technique, speed and ability today with the era before the internet and and software, it seems like drummers in general have come a long way. How come, do you think?
I see young, YOUNG kids doing the most insane stuff behind the kit nowadays. I think a lot of it has to do with YouTube! I personally learned 95% of my audio engineering knowledge from YouTube. It’s such a crazy tool. I’ve even learned a couple rudiments on there, haha! So I think a lot of these young homies are just sitting there learning and learning and learning! It’s sooo cool!
With Chelsea Grin, you’ve had quite a ride, you’ve played numerous tours, major crowds and been around the world. If you would point a few highlights in the years that have passed since you joined, what would they be?
I think a lot of my highlights revolve around Warped Tour and playing European Summer Festivals. Those are some of the biggest shows we have ever played. That along with headlining in Mexico City, my hometown…man. What crazy experiences!
FIVE MUST-HAVE ALBUMS.
Blink 182 “Take Off Your Pants andnd Jacket”
Underoath “Define the Great Line”
Misery Signals “Controller”
Issues “Headspace”
Drake “Views”
QUICK Q SHOOTOUT.
Double-pedal or double bass drums? I’m torn! Two single pedals feel better than a double pedal, but two kick drums makes my whole set up uncomfortable…. DOUBLE PEDAL, ONE KICK DRUM!
Click track or no click track in your headphones live? Always click track!
DAW: Logic 9 & ProTools 10.
Studio computer: 2016 Mac Mini
Dream team band (with you on the drums!): It would be a heavy rock band! AJ Rebollo (Issues) on guitar, Matt Wentworth (Our Last Night) on guitar, Fletcher Howell (The New Low) on bass/second vocal and Zach Britt (Young Lions) on vocals.
