Meet The Rats
Ezra Oklan
Founder
Producer & Drummer
Ezra is a professional drummer/producer/multi-instrumentalist based out of Burlington, VT who has been playing, writing, and producing music for well over 25 years. He is an expert in the recording studio and has worked with several well established studios all over the United States and the world including Studio G (Brooklyn, NY), The Bunker (Brooklyn, NY), Sun Studio (Memphis TN), Shangri-La Studio (Malibu, CA) and Ocean Sound Recording (Giske, Norway). Ezra started playing classical piano at the age of five and wrote his first song on the guitar at age nine. Through grade school and high school, Ezra lived and breathed music, playing every musical instrument he could get his hands on. At 18 years of age, after a brief stint at New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ezra returned to his roots in New York City to study jazz at The New School. During his time there he studied with music masters Arnie Lawrence, Chico Hamilton, Makanda (Ken) McCintyre, Junior Mance, Reggie Workman, John Riley, Joe Chambers and Andrew Cyrille. During and after his time at The New School, Ezra called Brooklyn homebase for 20 years and played in many of the most prestigious venues in the United States, from small listening rooms to arenas and stadiums. In his early 30’s, a networking opportunity resulted in Ezra becoming Director of Business Operations for mobile app company Bitcount LTD. Ezra enlisted several famous musicians to endorse the guitar tuner app called “Cleartune,” and the rest was history - now 8 million users and still going strong!
From Brooklyn, Ezra toured, recorded, played and/or shared the stage with numerous groups, including: The Spin Doctors, Norah Jones, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Rza, Nicole Atkins, Meg Washington, John Southworth, Ambulance Ltd., Antibalis, Wakey Wakey, Colin Smith, Sharon Jones, M. Ward, Bright Eyes, Cake, Modest Mouse, Guster, Death Cab for Cutie, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend, The Killers, Steve Earle, The Black Keys, The Avett Brothers, Booker T., Rachel Platten, Elle King, Melissa Etheridge and many more. Seriously, many more.
Ezra has also worked with several record labels including RCA, TVT, Capitol, Columbia, Newline/Scratchie, Razor & Tie, Sony, Merge Records, Universal Group and The Beggars Group. Ezra has played on many TV shows such as the Conan O'Brien Show, Seth Myers, Jimmy Kimmel, Last Call with Carson Daly, Austin City Limits and The Sun Studio Sessions. He is currently playing drums, producing and fronting his own band, Matthew Mercury, with two albums to its name.
Ezra recently realized one of his life-long dreams and founded the Vermont Music Lab, a 3200 sq. ft. facility in the Burlington, VT area. The Lab consists of a recording studio and rehearsal spaces, and provides music lessons of all kinds. The Lab recently became a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation 501(c) and is currently raising capital to help fulfill the mission and vision of becoming a national hub for all things music.
Drew Holland
Founder
Visual Artist & Videographer
Drew splits his time between his two lives - running his tattoo business and living out his musical dreams, which currently consist of fostering the growth of the Vermont Music Lab. Bassist in one band and a vocalist in two others, he is no stranger to the music industry - both on and off the stage. Whether it's going to shows and finding new talent to bring into the studio or playing out in the local scene, music is never on the backburner.
His background as a professional photographer and videographer has segued perfectly into the Vermont Music Lab’s “Live at The Lab” series. Being part of a professional studio has given him the opportunity to finally unite his passion for all things music related, and his love of networking and meeting new people.
Calvin Winzler-Lane
Lead Engineer
Singer/Songwriter & Audio Nerd
With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, Calvin is a seasoned professional with a passion for audio excellence. Armed with a degree in recording engineering, he also has expertise on the tech side, having managed the cataloging, care and maintenance of a massive collection of vintage analog gear at Soundtoys.
Additionally, his past work for the record label Putumayo World Music allowed him to hone his skills in artist management, A&R, and music production. Known for his keen ear and creative vision, Calvin is committed to pushing the boundaries of sound. The Lab, his fifth studio design, is the current home for his numerous engineering and producing projects.
Xander Naylor
Business Manager
Head of Education & Guitarist
Xander Naylor is a guitarist and composer who gathers vocabularies and core energetic forces into what Rolling Stone India describes as “that signature Naylor sound.” Born of his own spiritual journey and deep study of multiple Eastern and Western traditions, music has brought him to perform in concerts and festivals all over the world, including Montreal International Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, SFJAZZ, and the Perelman Performing Arts Center (opening night).
While currently based in Burlington, Vermont, he continues to maintain strong musical ties with New York City, where he cut his teeth for over a decade. He currently tours with his own bands as well as with NYC-based acts Mwenso and the Shakes and The Sound of (Black) Music. Naylor’s most recent composition work was the original score for the motion picture Hayseed (2023). Naylor has been an educator for over twenty years, teaching privately as well as in university workshops and as co-instructor of the Indian ensemble at The New School (NYC).
Xander is the Business Manager and Head of Education at The Lab, and is currently producing his latest original recording projects at the Lab.
Ezra Oklan
Founder
Producer & Drummer
Ezra is a professional drummer/producer/multi-instrumentalist based out of Burlington, VT who has been playing, writing, and producing music for well over 25 years. He is an expert in the recording studio and has worked with several well established studios all over the United States and the world including Studio G (Brooklyn, NY), The Bunker (Brooklyn, NY), Sun Studio (Memphis TN), Shangri-La Studio (Malibu, CA) and Ocean Sound Recording (Giske, Norway). Ezra started playing classical piano at the age of five and wrote his first song on the guitar at age nine. Through grade school and high school, Ezra lived and breathed music, playing every musical instrument he could get his hands on. At 18 years of age, after a brief stint at New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ezra returned to his roots in New York City to study jazz at The New School. During his time there he studied with music masters Arnie Lawrence, Chico Hamilton, Makanda (Ken) McCintyre, Junior Mance, Reggie Workman, John Riley, Joe Chambers and Andrew Cyrille. During and after his time at The New School, Ezra called Brooklyn homebase for 20 years and played in many of the most prestigious venues in the United States, from small listening rooms to arenas and stadiums. In his early 30’s, a networking opportunity resulted in Ezra becoming Director of Business Operations for mobile app company Bitcount LTD. Ezra enlisted several famous musicians to endorse the guitar tuner app called “Cleartune,” and the rest was history - now 8 million users and still going strong!
From Brooklyn, Ezra toured, recorded, played and/or shared the stage with numerous groups, including: The Spin Doctors, Norah Jones, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Rza, Nicole Atkins, Meg Washington, John Southworth, Ambulance Ltd., Antibalis, Wakey Wakey, Colin Smith, Sharon Jones, M. Ward, Bright Eyes, Cake, Modest Mouse, Guster, Death Cab for Cutie, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend, The Killers, Steve Earle, The Black Keys, The Avett Brothers, Booker T., Rachel Platten, Elle King, Melissa Etheridge and many more. Seriously, many more.
Ezra has also worked with several record labels including RCA, TVT, Capitol, Columbia, Newline/Scratchie, Razor & Tie, Sony, Merge Records, Universal Group and The Beggars Group. Ezra has played on many TV shows such as the Conan O'Brien Show, Seth Myers, Jimmy Kimmel, Last Call with Carson Daly, Austin City Limits and The Sun Studio Sessions. He is currently playing drums, producing and fronting his own band, Matthew Mercury, with two albums to its name.
Ezra recently realized one of his life-long dreams and founded the Vermont Music Lab, a 3200 sq. ft. facility in the Burlington, VT area. The Lab consists of a recording studio and rehearsal spaces, and provides music lessons of all kinds. The Lab recently became a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation 501(c) and is currently raising capital to help fulfill the mission and vision of becoming a national hub for all things music.
Drew Holland
Founder
Visual Artist & Videographer
Drew splits his time between his two lives - running his tattoo business and living out his musical dreams, which currently consist of fostering the growth of the Vermont Music Lab. Bassist in one band and a vocalist in two others, he is no stranger to the music industry - both on and off the stage. Whether it's going to shows and finding new talent to bring into the studio or playing out in the local scene, music is never on the backburner. His background as a professional photographer and videographer has segued perfectly into the Vermont Music Lab’s “Live at The Lab” series. Being part of a professional studio has given him the opportunity to finally unite his passion for all things music related, and his love of networking and meeting new people.
Calvin Winzler-Lane
Lead Engineer
Singer/Songwriter & Audio Nerd
With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, Calvin is a seasoned professional with a passion for audio excellence. Armed with a degree in recording engineering, he also has expertise on the tech side, having managed the cataloging, care and maintenance of a massive collection of vintage analog gear at Soundtoys. Additionally, his past work for the record label Putumayo World Music allowed him to hone his skills in artist management, A&R, and music production. Known for his keen ear and creative vision, Calvin is committed to pushing the boundaries of sound. The Lab, his fifth studio design, is the current home for his numerous engineering and producing projects.
Xander Naylor
Business Manager
Head of Education & Guitarist
Xander Naylor is a guitarist and composer who gathers vocabularies and core energetic forces into what Rolling Stone India describes as “that signature Naylor sound.” Born of his own spiritual journey and deep study of multiple Eastern and Western traditions, music has brought him to perform in concerts and festivals all over the world, including Montreal International Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, SFJAZZ, and the Perelman Performing Arts Center (opening night).
While currently based in Burlington, Vermont, he continues to maintain strong musical ties with New York City, where he cut his teeth for over a decade. He currently tours with his own bands as well as with NYC-based acts Mwenso and the Shakes and The Sound of (Black) Music. Naylor’s most recent composition work was the original score for the motion picture Hayseed (2023). Naylor has been an educator for over twenty years, teaching privately as well as in university workshops and as co-instructor of the Indian ensemble at The New School (NYC).
Xander is the Business Manager and Head of Education at The Lab, and is currently producing his latest original recording projects at the Lab.