Damien Schmitt, French drummer, groove, jazz and electro

Written on 18 July 2025 - 222 views

He is a drummer, singer, composer, producer, teacher… and French. But not only that. Damien Schmitt is one of those chameleon-like musicians, capable of blending jazz, funk, electro, pop, and even French chanson, all with an incredible groove and infectious energy. Portrait of a multi-faceted artist and a spotlight on his current projects.

Drumsticks in his hands since childhood

Born in 1981 in Saint-Nazaire, Damien has been immersed in music from a very young age. His father is a drummer, his mother sings and teaches piano. Naturally, little Damien started playing drums at the age of four. Very quickly, he showed early talent and an insatiable curiosity for sounds, rhythms, and the stage.

He grew up with one foot in French pop, the other in classical music, and his head turned towards the freer worlds of jazz fusion and groove. After collaborating with legends like Jean-Luc Ponty, Hadrien Féraud, Biréli Lagrène, or Alain Caron, Damien has exported his ultra-expressive playing style all over the world.

From The Voice to Dam’nco: a complete artist

Some discovered him in 2012 during the first season of The Voice (yes, he was singing too!), but Damien didn’t wait for television to carve his path. A few months later, he unveiled a solo electro-fusion project called Electro Schmitt, where he sings, plays drums, keyboards, and explores very modern hybrid textures.

But it is with Dam’nco, a group he founded in 2016, that Damien fully asserts his musical identity. Surrounded by seasoned musicians (Michel Alibo on bass, Yann Negrit on guitar, Michael Lecoq on keyboards…), he offers a joyful, virtuoso, revisited “French Touch”, mixing jazz, funk, hip-hop and electronic sounds. A bit in the spirit of Snarky Puppy, but with a distinctly French flavor.

Their album French Touch (2018) is a concentrate of stage energy and musical winks. Dam’nco performs in several festivals and venues in France and abroad, winning over an ever-growing audience.

A passionate and committed teacher

Those who have met Damien in masterclasses know it: he is also a fantastic teacher. For several years, he has been leading workshops and trainings all over – recently in Montluçon in March 2025 – and also offers online lessons through his platform Drum Consulting. Once again, he makes it a point to transmit music in a playful, free, and personalized way.

But that’s not all: alongside this, he has been developing for over ten years a more personal and theatrical stage project, The Dada Show. A mix of musical one-man show, electro-drum performance and quirky humor. The studio album is in preparation, but there are whispers that live versions could soon emerge.

And today, what is he doing?

Since his departure from the show N’oubliez pas les paroles in 2022 (where he played drums in Nagui’s band), Damien has refocused on the independent scene and teaching. He is currently working on several projects:

• New studio creations with Dam’nco;
• Masterclasses in France and abroad;
• Finalizing The Dada Show;
• And always, an online presence to share his knowledge with musicians looking for groove.

In conclusion

Damien Schmitt is not just any drummer. He is a musician in the broadest sense: curious, bold, versatile, with a sense of rhythm that goes beyond technique. He composes, sings, teaches, fuses styles and cultures. In short, he lives music as a universal language – and he is not done surprising us.

See you soon, here or elsewhere !

Chrys