Mattie Foulds is a highly respected Canadian drummer, music producer, and recording engineer, widely known for his significant contributions to the folk, jazz, and acoustic music scenes, particularly in the UK and Canada.

Musician

• Primary Instrument: Drummer.
• Style: He is celebrated for his « powerful yet nuanced » playing style, which brings a blend of energy and sensitivity to his performances. He is known as a session drummer who can cover a wide range of styles, from « pocket » playing for singer/songwriters to full-on jazz improvisation.
• Notable Associations:
  • He is a founding member of the long-running Cape Breton traditional music group, Beòlach.
  • He was a member of the Scottish-Canadian folk music supergroup, The Burns Unit.
  • He has worked extensively as a session musician with prominent artists including Karine Polwart (whom he is married to and with whom he has collaborated extensively), Shooglenifty, Eliza Carthy, Kate Rusby, Natalie MacMaster, Rita MacNeil, and Bruce Guthro.
• Background: A native of Cape Breton, he began his musical journey performing with prominent East Coast Canadian artists before relocating to Scotland, where he became an integral part of the UK folk scene.

Producer and Engineer

• Role: He is an accomplished producer, mixing, and mastering engineer, who has been working in this capacity for over two decades.
• Focus: He primarily works with artists and bands in the UK’s folk, roots, singer-songwriter, and jazz genres.
• Production Philosophy: He describes his style as « Hyper acoustic, » favoring the natural sound of instruments and voices, but adding texture and depth through meticulous microphone techniques and effects. His goal as a producer is to support and help artists « make the record they always wanted to make. »
• Studio: He formerly ran his own recording facility, Caribou Recording, near Edinburgh.
• Career Highlights: He has produced and mixed hundreds of projects, including award-winning albums. His production credit on Karine Polwart’s debut album, Faultlines, won the Record of The Year at the 2005 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

In summary, Mattie Foulds is a versatile and dedicated professional whose career success stems from his dual expertise as both a highly skilled, dynamic drummer and a thoughtful, award-winning music producer/engineer.