Nic Collins is a touring drummer and educator known for his precision, consistency and disciplined approach to his craft. What stood out to me wasn’t just the playing itself, but the way he articulated progress — not as talent or shortcuts, but as habits, structure and long-term thinking.
Through his responses, Nic shared how he approaches growth, pressure and identity, both on stage and away from it — a perspective that fits naturally within the DRMMR mindset.
1. Everyone always talks about musical influences. But who influences you as a human being for the times you're not sat behind a kit? And what is it you find influential?
There are a number of people who influence me in my daily life. For one, my partner, Isabella, definitely makes me a better and kinder human being. But generally, I find people who always strive for more and are open to trying different things very influential. That concept first came about in my life because of my dad. His mentality was to always be open to different opportunities. He had his career as a drummer and singer, but also dove into production work, acting, movie soundtracks etc… Finding different ways to find fulfilment is a great approach to life.
2. You've toured and played in a number of different bands? Does your identity as a drummer switch when you switch bands, or is there a version of you that stays the same no matter the musical environment?
There’s definitely an element of me and my drumming that stays present no matter who I’m playing with/for. That’s usually my general approach to playing and the power/sound I try to get from behind the kit. But of course, you have to wear different hats depending on what’s required for the gig and lean into different styles or vibes from artist to artist. When I’m hired for a gig, my top priority is making sure the rest of the band feel comfortable and that comes by serving the songs in the most appropriate way possible and playing for the song, not for me. That also translates to the audience and making sure that they are hearing the same elements of a song that made them fall in love with it in the first place. All that being said, I am probably the most authentic version of myself when I’m playing with Better Strangers as I get to play what I want in a musical context that I love and don’t have to compromise or adjust in any major way.
3. Everyone evolves over time, it's a part of being human. Is there a part of your drumming identity that you've protected over time or are you happy to let everything evolve?
I’m all for evolving over time. You can never stop learning in music and that’s the beauty of it. I’m definitely not the same drummer that I was 5-10 years ago and I’ve always strived to improve and learn new things. However, I do sometimes feel it’s important to remind myself why I fell in love with drumming in the first place. There are so many great drummers with different chops and styles on social media nowadays. This influx of information and content makes it easy to question yourself and your abilities. But remembering that everybody plays drums for a different reason and making sure you stay true to yours is very important. I’ve always believed that feel and pocket are the most important sides to my drumming and I try to make sure to preserve that as much as possible no matter what skill I’m trying to improve or work on.
4. There’s always chat about what makes a drummer impressive — chops, speed, fills. But what do you think is the most underrated skill a drummer can have that has nothing to do with any of that?
When it comes to being a professional musician, the most important skills to have are people skills. In order to get asked to do a gig or go on tour, you need to be enjoyable to be around. The time on stage is only a fraction of your day and the rest is spent with other people in smaller settings. Always being approachable, a good hang, and open to other people’s ideas are key skills to learn when working in this industry. Another crucial skill is… do your homework! Come prepared to every gig and make sure you aren’t the one guy dragging the rest of the band down because you didn’t prepare appropriately.
Also, be attentive. Be attentive to what the other band members are playing and what is being asked of you. And don’t ever make somebody ask for something twice! If they have notes, take it positively and try to fix it immediately. My goal is always to receive the least amount of notes from an artist as possible and make them feel confident and comfortable with me behind the kit.
5. Some people meditate, some run, some write pages of notes nobody reads. For you, is drumming the thing that keeps you happy, focused, and well — and if so, what’s the moment it proves its worth every time you sit down to play?
Generally, yes. But there are tons of times where drumming makes me incredibly frustrated during some humble practice time! But that’s the beauty of the process and working at improving your craft. When I’m behind the kit, the rest of the world turns off. And when I’m writing new material with Better Strangers and creating songs from nothing, that’s the best therapy in the world. The concept of creating something with others that didn’t exist a few hours ago is extremely rewarding and gives you a high that’s hard to beat.
6. Has there been a moment in your drumming life where things went properly wrong, and you came out the other side better for it? Could be musically, could be personally, could just be a happy accident.
Absolutely, every negative experience is always an opportunity to reflect and learn. I’ve had my fair share of bad show experiences and it teaches you to be more flexible and adaptable to different situations. It’s very rare that everything goes 100% perfectly, so make sure it doesn’t throw you off and find the beauty in the imperfections. It’s all a part of the process and will continue to make you a better drummer and musician.
7. Not talking fashion, just any brand you’ve ever seen — what makes one actually cut through the noise for you? What makes you pause, look twice, and go, “nah, I respect this”?
Generally, the most important thing to me is what a brand or company stands for, who they are, and who is the target demographic they are trying to serve? And are they doing that appropriately? For example, in music, if a brand has a clear message as to why they’re doing what they’re doing and are making sure that their priority is the satisfaction and happiness of their original target audience, that speaks volumes to me. Nowadays, you see countless brands “sell their soul” for the capital and sacrifice what originally made them stand out and betray their original audience. When I see a brand who has stayed true to their core idea/message no matter what, I respect it and admire it significantly.
NC x Above Average DRMMR hoodie. Availalble in North America & the rest of the world
8. When you find yourself connecting with a brand, do you connect with the identity behind it, or can the right message make a brand feel like part of your identity too?
I think it depends on what the message is. Like I said in the previous question, when a brand has a set identity that they don’t stray away from, the respect is gained there. If the message is one that I relate to, it can definitely become part of my own identity. There’s nothing better than sporting something from a brand where you actually fully back and relate to the message behind it.
9. You’ve spoken before about the importance of doing what you love. But on the days you play the kit purely to protect your happiness, what does that give you that achievement never could — and how do you keep that version of drumming safe from becoming another expectation?
Those days are extremely important and I need to remind myself of that from time to time. It’s very easy to begin treating drumming as work or chores which leads to you only practicing to reach a specific goal and not because you enjoy it. And when you’re playing a lot, the time behind the kit very rarely stays “just for fun”. But as a kid, the only reason I played drums was because I loved it. The days where you’re just having fun being behind the kit and have no expectations are what remind you of why you started playing drums in the first place. There’s a mental peace and quiet that I get when I’m behind the kit where nothing else matters except the present. So fitting in those days of “just playing drums” are key in maintaining the inspiration and drive that we strive for in music.
10. And lastly — what does feeling “above average” mean to you when the answer isn’t about being better than others, but being better than a previous version of yourself?
Funnily enough, I’ve always joked that I strive to just be slightly above average in a sarcastic self-deprecating way. But with that being said, I do think there is a great message there. Especially because of social media, drumming can turn into a body building contest where people are comparing who’s fastest, who’s got the most chops, who gets the most views etc… And in reality, none of that matters. Music is not a competition and it is not objective. Everybody has their own reasons for playing and their own goals. Staying true to yours and always striving to improve while celebrating and admiring others is a healthy balance. For me, I always want to get better as a drummer and try to develop new skills, but I also try to make sure they align with what I love about drumming and music. Practice with purpose!
