John Speaks is an Atlantabased drummer whose dynamic style and deep musical instincts have
made him a fixture in the city’s rock and Americana scenes. Currently holding down the drum
chair for Solid State Radio, John appears on the band’s 2023 release You Gotta Wear It, Or Let
It Go and recently completed a multicity tour including Indianapolis, Chicago, Knoxville,
Chattanooga, and Nashville. The band is now in the studio recording their next fulllength album,
Lower The Ghost Light, scheduled for release in 2026.
John performs on a 4piece Slingerland kit and is an endorsed artist with Soultone Cymbals,
bringing their expressive, handcrafted tones into his live and studio work.
Artist page: https://www.soultonecymbals.com/artist/john-speaks
A career highlight includes performing with legendary drummer Liberty DeVitto during a drum
clinic at Atlanta Drums on 9/10/95. John also appeared as a drummer in the Aretha Franklin
biodocumentary series Genius: Aretha, performing in three episodes of the production starring
Cynthia Erivo, released in March 2021. In addition, he has recorded extensively with
singersongwriter Diane Coll, contributing drums to her 2026 release Strangely in Tune.
In December 2025, John was invited to Abbey Road Studios to record a twosong session—an
experience that further cemented his reputation as a versatile and expressive studio drummer.
His past band credits include recording and touring with several Atlanta acts: The Young
Antiques (Another Risk of the Heart, 2019), Nikki and The Phantom Callers (touring and
recording in 2022), and Anna Kramer and The Easy Now (touring in 2022).
Learn more at John’s official site: https://speaksondrums.com