Matt Billingslea is a skilled musician and drummer, most known for being a member of Taylor Swift’s band. Billingslea’s background includes that of the band ‘The Dresden Dolls’, where he rose to fame as an A-list drummer. Billingslea’s power-packed chops are a highlight of Swift’s concerts and albums. Matt Billingslea has worked in the music industry for more than a decade. He moved from playing small shows on on the road to performing with celebs on the world’s biggest stages. Matt was also a part of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, as the drummer mesmerizing the audiences.
Raised in Westminster, Maryland, Matt Billingslea has been inclined towards music since childhood. He began with the piano as a kid, and was exposed to music such as Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, and Michael Jackson. Even at an early age, he took piano lessons in a Western classical style, however, later on, he lost interest in that. When he was 10 years old, Billingslea found his first love for drums. Billingslea immediately fell into local rock bands and high school jazz bands, as well as regional Big Bands, where he was practicing and getting used to the stage.
Intending to make a career, Billingslea went to Capital University in Columbus, Ohio where he obtained a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and the Music Industry. The education that he has received while at Capital University has enabled him to acquire the technical and theoretical skills to survive in the cut-throat music business. After college, Billingslea relocated to Denver, Colorado. He lived there for four years, recording and performing with local artists such as Matthew Moon, Christopher Jak, The Jars, Aubrey Collins, Ten Tiers, and Radio Jetstream.
Billingslea’s Next Steps
The year was 2005 and Billingslea was determined to change the course of his life by moving to Nashville, Tennessee. Of course, Nashville is very competitive for drummers – and all musicians. Still, throughout his career, he has been in and out of studios or on the road with some very famous names: Gary Allan, Thompson Square, David Nail, James Otto, Josh Thompson, Jimmy Wayne, Joey & Rory, Mindy McCready, Dustin Lynch, Craig Wayne Boyd. His heft as a drummer and percussionist enabled him to cross over genres many times.
One of the brightest moments in Billingslea’s biography is spent with the multi-Grammy-winning country music group, Lady Antebellum. During his three years in the band, he not only played the part of their drummer, but was also active in the band’s writing sessions. He was a co-writer on “Wanted You More“, a top 20 single from Lady A’s third album, Own The Night.
In addition to his writing endeavors, Billingslea has a well-established practice as a clinician and educator. He has given lectures and masterclasses to young aspiring drummers, passing knowledge to the future generation of drummers. In 2016, he spoke at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), which happens to be one of the largest percussion festivals in the world.
Yet his most global claim is being the drummer for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, which has undoubtedly made him more popular. His first performance with Swift was during the Red Tour, and his relationship with the pop star has taken him on the 1989 and Reputation world tours too – both of which set records.
Billingslea is an outstanding drummer whose performance is always driven, controlled, and versatile. His input has been key to ensuring that the level of live performance by Swift is always energetic. The rhythmic, ever-changing aspects of the shows pull the entire stadium in, and he’s a big part of why that happens.
During the period that he had been with Swift, Billingslea has taken to the stage on some of the greatest stages in the world in front of millions of fans. On stage with Swift, he has performed in prestigious award ceremonies, including the Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and BRIT Awards.
He has also been involved in numerous television and advertising campaigns such as appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Saturday Night Live, and many more including their performances during the campaign. These publicity stunts have allowed Billingslea to leverage his drumming skills to an international audience and confirmed him as a first-class musician.
However, the most interesting is the performance with numerous guest artists which is commonly seen in Billingslea’s experience with Swift. While touring with Swift, he has performed along with some best-known names in the music industry such as…
Mick Jagger, Carly Simon, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Nelly, Alanis Morissette, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Alison Krauss, Ricky Martin, Wiz Khalifa, Beck, Ryan Tedder, Train, Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding and Bryan Adams among so many others.
As one reflects on his career, it is evident that Matt Billingslea is a name all drummers have to respect. His love and passion for drumming can be traced back to the early years. He has earned the praise of top musicians around the world, and he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
FAQs
Who plays drums for Taylor Swift?
Matt Billingslea is the drummer for Taylor Swift. He’s performed with Swift on multiple tours, including the Red and Reputation tours, and at award shows like the Grammys and Billboard Music Awards.