Carl-Johan "CJ" Hökdal, better known as That Swedish Drummer, is a content creator, educator, songwriter, session- and live drummer.
Growing up in a musical household, he embarked on his journey behind the drum kit at age 11 and studied music throughout his school years. Heavily influenced by drummers playing Jazz, Funk, Prog and orchestral music, he honed his skills in sight-reading and dynamic drumming. Furthering his education, he graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree from Musicians Institute in Los Angeles in 2013. After graduating, he has been working as a freelance drummer, touring and recording with various artists.
When the COVID-pandemic hit and cancelled all live shows, CJ decided to dedicate his time and energy into content creation. Building a community around a love for drumming and educational content throughout different platforms. Today this community consists of hundreds of thousands of followers and subscribers, as well as millions of views.
Sharing the stage with artists such as Louise Lemón, SCARLET, Sophie Hanson and iconic guitarist Paul Gilbert, he has toured Europe several times and played at festivals such as Sweden Rock, Eurosonic and Roadburn.
For CJ, drumming is more than just playing an instrument; it’s a way to communicate and express emotions. His goal is to share this passion for music whether it’s through educational content or from the stage, and to help people march to the beat of their own drum.
Make sure to check out @ThatSwedishDrummer on Social media:
