Myk Gózon’s approach to drumming is pretty simple: the song comes first. He tends to listen closely to the vocalist or whoever is carrying the melody and lets their phrasing help shape what he plays. Sometimes that means pushing things along, sometimes laying back, and sometimes simply staying out of the way. Either way, the groove is usually at the center of it.

A lot of his musical vocabulary comes from songs and styles spanning the 1950s through the 2000s. He has plenty of technique to draw from, but doesn’t see much reason to use it just for the sake of using it. A fill should have a reason to be there. The same goes for volume. If something can be played loud, chances are it can be played quietly and still have the same confidence behind it. He isn’t interested in being the hardest hitter in the room. Control, feel, and intention are much more important.

Myk is also comfortable helping lead a band from the drum set, though that doesn’t necessarily mean taking over. A lot of that leadership comes from listening—following the vocalist or lead player, responding to their phrasing, and helping give the rest of the band a solid place to sit.

He plays traditional sticks, does some straightforward brush work, and spends quite a bit of time playing hot rods. Somewhere along the way, the rods became a kind of middle ground for him. They have some of the definition and articulation of sticks, but with some of the softer feel and texture of brushes. That combination suits the way he likes to play: with a solid groove, plenty of dynamics, and enough room for the song to breathe.