Matthias van Olst started with playing snare drum by the age of 4 and playing the drumset by the age of 12 and has since then been the backbone in several bands in various styles: pop, rock, jazz, soul, R&B and funk.
Since his first hits he worked at the basic skills that are the grounding, discipline and training to a big pallet of styles. His ability to look, listen and stop has put him in demand as a musician with several bands and projects. He also is in high demand as a studiomusician. Recording in the Netherlands as well as abroad.
Although based as a free-lancer Matthias is first call drummer/percussionist for the following bands: Superfreak (Party band), Louis & the Losers (Boogiewoogie), Blz 15 (pop), Firma Weijland (Music Theatre), Blues on the Rocks (Blues/Rockclassics), a U2 tribute band: Rattle & Humble (featuring Warntje Brugge, Lou Leeuw, Harry Bijl, and Patrick Folgerts), new rockband called Marlon , Dutch popband Pampus and many many more.
His first own band started at the age of 15, jazz group: Doxy. This group , with Sebastiaan van Olst (bass), Erwin Werring (sax), Roeland Werring (guitar), won the Jeunes Music Festival in Bruxelles in 1990. They performed in Belgium, Luxemburg, France and Holland until 1992.
After that period Matthias was involved with and helped the start up of these bands: Bluestrain, Good Intentions, Heelbop, American Hot Wax, Nameless, Want2Swing, , Got2Groove, Another Fine Mess, Robin Eenkhoorn Trio (Jazz),
Here are some of the other bands he played or still plays with: Les Rouges, The Magnolians, Trio Jaap Arts, Bud 7, Van Kessel 7, BigBand Moonlight, BigBand Emmen.
Matthias shared and shares the stage with people like: Harry Emmery, John Hayes, Barend Courbouis, Dolf de Vries, Angelique Beauvence, Henk van Benthem, Joel Groenewold, Anneguus Teerhuis, Serge Bredewold, Rick Elings, John Vis, Jan Wessels, Karlijn Kunnen, Peter van Soest, Arthur Douglas, and many, many more.
Matthias likes to share his enthousiasme for music and drums aspecially. As a clinician and workshop leader he developped special educational programs to share the energy of making music. It varies from drums (jazz/rock/pop/funk) to Chinese/Brazilian/African and Latin Percussion. He is a workshopleader at Xplosief and de Muzerie and also gives privat lessons and clinics.
As a studiomusician Matthias worked at various productions. It varies between album, songrecording or commercials. He also delivers drumtracks on demand which are recorded at very good studio's near his hometown so he can work fast and accurate.
Matthias also works as a producer/bandcoach. Projects he is involved with currently are: Stremm (bluesband), Leo Sings (singer/songwriter), and several independend projects.
As an actor he was involved with a musictheatre project named "Heel2" by director Jan Willem van Beusekom (2006). This year he performed in a Greek mythology called Atreus & Thyestes, directed by Jurriaan Kamp
Matthias is connected as a programmer for several musical stages. He is involved with projects like Muziek in de Tent and a varied number of bars and pubs in the Netherlands.
Gear:
Drums:
All YAMAHA
Cymbals:
All Sabian AA/AAX/Signature Series
Microphones:
Beyer Dynamic (hi-hat),
Sennheiser E-602 (bassdrum),
Audix SCX-1 (overhead),
Shure SM57 (snare),
Sennheiser E-604 (toms),
Sticks:
Vic Virth Peter Erskine Model,
Vic Virth Peter Erskine Ride Model,
Vic Virth Dave Weckl Model,
Vic Virth Dave Weckl Evolution Model,
Brushes:
Vic Virth classic
Regal Tip Jeff Hamilton Model,
Ludwig Vintage,
And of course the Peter Erskine Stick bag!
Heads:
Snare drums: Remo Ambassador Coated or Remo Fyberskin 3 FA,
Toms: Remo Ambassador Coated (top) Remo Ambassador Clear (bottom),
Bassdrum: Remo Ambassador Clear/Coated.
You could also check his website: www.matthiasvanolst.nl for other projects he is involved in.
