During a recent interview with Zildjian, Colin Brittain shared his philosophy on cymbals, studio recording, and how Linkin Park’s music shaped his approach to drumming.
Britain’s career has come full circle. He began as a drummer, made his mark as a producer, and joined up with Linkin Park late last year.
“It’s kind of full circle for me. I started out as a drummer, became a producer, back doing drums. And I love this band, and I love the people and the music and so it’s an oddly fulfilling experience in the studio.”
Studio vs. Live Cymbal Choices
One of the main points Britain emphasized was how cymbal thickness changes between studio and stage.
“Thinner cymbals tend to work better in the studio because there’s less resonances to have to deal with in post. I know a lot of guys and girls play thicker cymbals live because they’re more robust, they don’t break as often, and they’re louder.”
Influences and Writing Parts
Britain explained how Linkin Park’s catalog influenced him growing up, making his current role feel natural.
“I think that Linkin Park was such a big part of my upbringing as a musician. Some of that is baked into the DNA of how I play. So, it was a pretty natural transition. Obviously, anytime that you’re playing with somebody, you can’t help but to add your own personality to the instrument. That’s kind of the point of, you know, seeing a band live.”
“Sometimes it might be like Joe or Mike or one of the other guys might be like, ‘Oh, I what if it’s a, you know, reminiscent of this style or this beat or something?’ But typically, I feel like it starts in your head first. Those are the best drum parts usually. I know that’s how Mike writes a lot of drum parts. He sort of hears in his head. That’s how I write a lot of drum parts is in my head.”
Lifelong Connection with Zildjian
For Britain, Zildjian cymbals have been a constant since his earliest days.
“I’ve always just felt like the quality and the sound of Zildjian has been on so many great records. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. You know, that’s kind of how I think. So, they’ve always been the top. It’s what I always wanted to play as a kid.”
He also hinted at wanting to experiment further:
“I always gravitated towards the Zildjian cymbals. I love the idea of different style hi-hats. My friend Thomas Pridgen plays with 16inch hats. I love that idea. I’d love to try the paper-thin cymbals.”
Whether in the studio or on stage, Britain’s approach blends technical awareness with musical emotion. His setup reflects both utility and personal taste. A mix that, in his own words, keeps him “emoting the music” while making life easier for the engineers behind the board.
Colin’s Current Zildjian Touring Cymbal Setup
- 18″ EFX Crash
- 20″ Sweet Crash
- 22″ A Custom Ride
- 10″ K Custom Splash
- 18″ Sweet Crash
- 16″ Avedis Medium Thin Crash
- 15″ K Sweet Hi-Hats