Drummer for La Voz (The Voice): Behind the Scenes

Working on a television show is a passionate and fast-paced job, even more so when it involves a live music spectacle. Every entrance has to land in exactly the right place, and there is simply no room for "we'll fix it later". For those curious about the inner workings of such a production, my experience as the drummer for the show La Voz offers a unique perspective.

As many are aware, La Voz is a television competition where participants sing various songs accompanied by a live band. Being part of that band as a drummer is one of the most significant challenges I have faced annually for several seasons. It is not only about playing well: it is about supporting, emotionally, the person who is singing in the most important moment of their life, in front of the cameras and their audience. This role is part of a broader career that has demanded that kind of versatility year after year.

Hundreds of songs every season

One of the primary challenges of working on La Voz is the sheer volume of music. The show is broadcast in three different formats depending on the age of the contestants: Adults, Kids, and Senior. Each year, we perform approximately 600 songs divided into various stages such as the Blind Auditions, Battles, Knockouts, Semifinals, and the Grand Finale.

Seen from the outside, that workload seems impossible. From the inside, it often feels that way too. The number of pieces that pass through our hands in a single season is enormous, and each one demands preparation, concentration, and the energy to play it as if it were the only one. There are no filler songs: for the contestant singing it, that is their song.

Every style imaginable

This intense workload is accompanied by an immense variety of musical styles that must be mastered, ranging from pop and rock to copla, jazz, ballads, soul, and hip-hop. Within a single programme I can move from a powerful rock groove to the delicacy of a ballad, and from there to the swing of copla or the feel of soul.

For me, this is the real training ground. Switching registers within a matter of minutes forces you to have each language internalised, to know what every style is asking for, and to respect it. Playing the same way every time is not an option here: you have to serve the song, whatever its genre, and make it sound authentic. That versatility is something I carry into every session of my daily work.

A kit ready for anything

To handle such a diverse repertoire, I utilise a drum kit capable of producing many different sounds. Using two snares, four toms, two rides, and a wide array of accessories like brushes and hot-rods allows a single kit to offer the varied tonalities required for each genre.

This is no whim: it is a working tool designed to answer any demand. Brushes give me the softness a ballad or a jazz piece calls for; hot-rods provide a middle ground; sticks deliver the power of rock. Switching elements in a matter of seconds is part of the craft, and having the instrument properly prepared is half the battle.

Reading the scores on the fly

The pace of the programme is frantic and demanding, making it impossible to perform every song from memory. Consequently, it is essential to read the scores prepared by our team of arrangers.

Sight-reading is one of the most valued skills in this job, and also one of the most demanding. You have the score in front of you, a single chance to understand it, and from there you have to trust your craft and the rest of the band. Because this, it is worth remembering, is not an individual job: we are a team. The understanding between the musicians is what makes everything fall into place when the pressure builds.

On the first take!

Furthermore, there is no possibility of repeating a song; everything must be recorded perfectly on the first take. This adds an extra level of excitement to my work as the drummer for La Voz. There is no "another take": what you hear is what stays for everyone to see and hear.

That demand to get it right on the first attempt is precisely what I have turned into my way of working. It is the same standard of excellence I apply to every project at Toni Mateos, where my thirty-five years of experience and contribution to over 1000 albums ensure that every session meets professional expectations. From my studio in Barcelona I now record drums online for musicians and producers worldwide, offering the very same versatility, speed, and reliability that a live show like La Voz demands.