Updates
NEW RELEASE:
Artist: Reggie Atwood
Song: "Company"
Date: May 12, 2026
Style: indie-alternative
Session credit: Luke Wotawa, drums
Full credits & personnel:
Written by: Reggie Atwood
Produced by: Manolo Osorio, Reggie Atwood, and Nikki Vallens
Guitar: Nikki Vallens, Reggie Atwood, and Manolo Osorio
Bass: Kbto Simental
Drums: Luke Wotawa
Mixed by: David Montuy Robles
Mastered by: Juan Sebastián Rodríguez
NEW RELEASE:
Drums in new studio during tracking session for "Company" photo by Luke W September 11, 2025
Artist: Seraiah
Song: "painstaking depth !!"
Date: January 31, 2026
Style: Pop, singer-songwriter, ensemble
Session credit: Luke Wotawa, percussion
SHOW UPDATE:
Metal Mass - **VENUE CHANGE**
Saturday October 25, 2025
>>>moved to The Sardine
address:
1101 S Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731
This song is special to me for many reasons, but stands out with the fact that this was the first song I recorded as fully remote session work from my current studio location in North Hollywood.
Creating art can reveal synchronicities if you're open to that sort of thing, letting you know that you're right where your higher power wanted you to be.. and this song seemed to do that for me.
Reggie was so great to work with, always present to communicate remotely. I instantly loved the song upon hearing the early demo - an indie-alternative song with a driving rhythm and an evolving drum beat. She composed the drum part and wanted it played exactly as composed. The grooves were awesome and felt really good to play. I also recorded tambourine for the chorus.
For session work I like to ask the artist if there is any particular vibe that ought to inform the sound of the rhythm section, whether that's based on the lyrics or just the emotion that inspired the songwriting. Reggie let me know that the lyrics were a somber realization of the Agent Orange chemical attacks in the Vietnam war and the generational impact that followed. Out of sheer coincidence in that exact moment I was in the middle of watching a docuseries about the tragic injustices of the Vietnam war.
With that description in mind, I was able to channel a new purpose and tone with my sound. Around this time I signed a lease and moved my drums and recording gear into my new private lockout studio. This was the first song I got to record in there, before I had fully moved all the rest of my music gear in.
For more Reggie Atwood:
IG - @reggieatw00d
Listen - on your preferred platform here
-LW
I'm so excited to share this song, it may be one of the most musically interesting and emotionally reflective songs I've been asked to be a part of. Artist Seraiah (Kesed Picazo) invited me to a recording session with engineer Ryo Tomishima at the world renowned Studio A, located within the MI Hollywood McCadden building.
I had prepared a drum set groove but after a few passes we decided to go a more cinematic soundscape approach. I used my soft felt mallets to play dramatic cymbal swells while Kesed (composer, pianist, singer of this song) conducted the timing and dynamics in real time for me from behind the glass in the sound room.
They say you have to be ready to do whatever necessary to serve the music, including surrender your ego and prior planning or expectations. I'm just grateful I got the call and had the right tools for the job and the final result is beautifully done. I love its classical dynamic instrumentation in a modern presentation. Listen now on all streaming platforms, or youtube link to the left of this text!
-LW
Left: Luke Wotawa at Studio A in Hollywood, CA recording mallets on crash cymbals for the song,
"painstaking depth !!" by Seraiah, with audio engineer Ryo Tomishima
(to learn more about Ryo, check out this in-depth interview)
Supply And Demand (the club originally booked for this event when it was first scheduled 2 months ago) has closed down, possibly for good.
Metal Mass (@theMetalMass) has moved the Oct 25 show to THE SARDINE in San Pedro, CA. Also, Teeth have dropped off. the lineup for the evening is: Ancestral Awakening, Nightmare Body, Unblessing, and Insineratehymn. Show starts at 9. See you there!
-LW
SHOW:
Metal Mass Presents:
Saturday October 25, 2025 @ 9 pm - $10, 21+ at Supply And Demand
2500 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA
Ancestral Awakening (@Ancestral_Awakening_) is back for another Metal Mass, this time it's on a Saturday night! Also performing: Teeth, Insineratehymn, Image Of Abuse, and DJ Organized Sound. Band Practice has been feeling good and I love digging in to the heavier side of my drumming that works so well with this music
-LW
UPDATE:
Saturday August 16, 2025 @ 6pm
Red Engine Brewing Co - Fillmore, CA
Emery Johnson & the Reid Family Band had a wonderful debut at this family friendly event. Emery and Graham are my cousins. They are some of the most talented musicians I've known my whole life and it's amazing to finally play in a band with them. Hope to do it again soon!
UPDATE:
May 1, 2025 @
Metal Mass was a success! My first metal show of 2025, Vine had a great turnout, packed on a Tuesday night. Metal in LA is alive and well. Check out the video from our set. Hope to do this again soon. -LW
SHOW:
Tuesday April 29, 2025 @ 7pm - FREE -
at VINE, Long Beach, CA
Pleased to announce I'll be drumming with Ancestral Awakening. (@Ancestral_Awakening_)
This is the 4th and final night of Metal Mass, the Tuesday night residency at Vine in Long Beach this April. Along with Signal Bleach and Purging. -LW