Founder of Drumstruck Studios
Joshua Agilan is a distinguished luminary in Singapore's drumming scene, boasting a two-decade career in both performance and pedagogy. He began his journey as a Drum Kit Specialist at Yamaha Music Asia, where he served as a Drum Tech for notable artists such as Tommy Aldridge, Kozo Suganuma, Akira Jimbo and many more. Joshua Agilan’s distinguished reputation is further underscored by his recurring role as a judge at Singapore’s prestigious "Asian Beat" band competition in 2006, 2008, and 2010. His expertise has also been sought at major regional music events, including Rock Fest 2018 in Kuala Lumpur and the highly regarded Drum-Off Singapore in 2017 and 2018, as well as the international Drum-Off Global in 2019. Most recently, he was invited to serve on the panel of judges for the Asian Supreme Drum Competition 2025.
In 2010 and 2011, Joshua honed his skills in master classes with esteemed drummers like Thomas Lang, Jojo Mayer, Peter Erskine, Dave Weckl, and more. He later conducted workshops for various institutions, from Yamaha Music Asia to recording studios, schools, churches, and music schools. Joshua holds distinctions in internationally recognized exams and certifications, including Pop Music Theory, Grade 8 Drum Kit, and Licentiate Diplomas from the London College of Music and Rockschool UK. Joshua is also a certified Trainer for the Rockschool Teaching Diploma Course from the UK. Additionally, Joshua served as a Trainer at the Academy of Rock across Singapore, the Philippines, and Myanmar. He led the drum department, provided coaching, and helped develop innovative curricula. He founded Drumstruck Studios in 2006, which has since evolved into a contemporary music school. He authored 'Drumming for Children' for Drumstruck Studios and created syllabi for the Academy of Rock as well.
In 2015, Joshua Agilan undertook the pioneering initiative of founding 'Dhoom Super Band,' marking Singapore's first-ever Tamil Live Band Competition. This monumental event was featured on Vasantham's 'Thaalam, Indian Beat' program and resonated as a resounding success, thereby creating myriad opportunities for indigenous Indian musicians. His core aspiration in establishing 'Dhoom Super Band' was to galvanize the participation of Indian youths in live music performance. Joshua's dynamic involvement extends to his role as the founding member of the live band 'Veritas,' alongside his current session work with a diverse array of artists on Vasantham. Besides performing at various gigs for the Esplanade and different clubs in Singapore, Joshua made his mark on the Tamil Live Music scene as the drummer for Shabir. His breakthrough came after recording the drums for the title track of the popular Tamil drama series 'Vettai 2.0' in 2012. Following this, he made his debut in the Tamil Live music scene at the Vasantham Live! Mediacorp’s 50th Anniversary concert held at the Gallery Theatre, National Museum.
From that point forward, Joshua went on to perform at the first-ever 'Anirudh Live in Singapore Concert' in 2014, sharing the stage with artistes like Lady Kash, Arjun UK, and Anirudh. He also had the opportunity to perform live with the legendary playback singer K.S Chitra at the 'Yaar Antha Star' program on Vasantham. Joshua has been featured in numerous interviews on Vasantham channel, discussing his drumming career on shows such as 'Friends,' 'Thaalam – Indian Beat,' 'Vaazhkai,' 'Vizhigal,' and even on 'Not the 5 Show' on Channel 5, hosted by Chua Enlai, where his students were showcased for their outstanding live performance of 'Titanium' by David Guetta ft. Sia.
Notably, from a pedagogical standpoint, Joshua Agilan’s impact is reflected in the achievements of his students. They have earned accolades in various competitions, including Safra’s Lil’ Stars 2013, the Best Drummer award at the Asian Beat Band Competition 2016, Cristofori’s Got Talent 2024 and Gold Awards at the Asian Supreme Drum Competition in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Additionally, two of Joshua’s students were successfully admitted into the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston after passing their drum auditions held at the School of the Arts (SOTA), Singapore and have since graduated from the institution’s degree program. Additionally, Joshua has showcased his talents beyond drumming by producing and directing several music videos for his band Veritas, all available on YouTube. Currently, he leads the Training & Development of Instructors at Drumstruck Studios and conducts drumming workshops for Institutions and schools.