Australian Songwriter and Producer, Paul Kneipp
Paul Kneipp is a drummer, songwriter and producer, who lives in Sydney, Australia. Paul is one of Australia’s best known drummers. Since turning professional at the age of 16, he has performed throughout Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the U.S.A.
Paul moved to Sydney from Queensland at just 17 and after working on the door at the prestigious Musician’s Club for a few months, took over the drum chair (from Steven Hopes) with the Leon Berger Band.
Paul has since played for many artists in Australia and overseas, including:
Seals & Crofts; Tim Finn; Marcia Hines; Jeff St John; Sharon O’Neil; Marc Hunter; Ricky May; Renee Geyer; Robertson Brothers, Rick Price; Dave Dobbyn; Errol Buddle and jazz guitar virtuoso Steve McKenna.
Paul studied jazz at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, with Don Burrows and Bill Motzing, with classmates James Morrison and Dale Barlow. He also holds an Advanced Diploma of Music.
While playing in the USA, Paul became interested in production and song writing. Record signings in Australia followed, first with Chrissy Moy for Festival Records and then The Robertson Brothers with BMG. Nominated for an ARIA award as Best New Artist, their first single ‘I Know Why’ written and co-produced by Paul, made the top forty in Australia. Paul wrote four songs for their album ‘Symmetry’, which was produced by Nashville legend Barry Beckett and featured Dan Huff on guitar. Paul’s songs have been played in Asia, the U.K., Europe and South America. The Robertson Brothers – with Paul – toured Germany as the support act for the group America.
Paul has toured in Australia, New Zealand, USA and Germany. Theatre and television credits include Countdown (multiple times); resident drummer on ‘Late Night With Jonno and Danno’ and ‘Have A Go’; Barnum with Reg Livermore, Chess, Blood Brothers starring Russel Crowe and ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ with Martin Shaw.
Paul also plays drums in The Kites – one of the toughest drum chairs in Sydney. The Kites specialize in playing classics from Steely Dan. They regularly perform the album ‘Aja’ in it’s entirety, including Steve Gadd‘s iconic solos.
In recent times, Paul has written, recorded and produced two albums with the duo Rock Farm Road from his studio in Sydney.