Name
Ali Foster

Where are you from and/or where do you live now?
I grew up in Western Sydney and now live on the Central Coast.

How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument?
19 years! My dad was a professional drummer in the 60s so we always had a kit in the house. I’d been playing piano since I was 5 and wasn’t really that interested in dad’s drums. When I was about 13 I remember watching my brother rehearse with his high school band and for some reason I just jumped on the drums that day and not only loved it but was better than him... I never looked back!

Do you play any other instruments?
I can play tuned and untuned percussion, and a bit of piano and guitar. Currently working on my singing.

What are you working on right now?
I do a lot of freelance work so I’m always working on whatever it is that I have coming up - which is usually gigs and recordings. But I’m always practicing the basic skills for fun. Single stroke rolls, double kick and off beat timing work is my favourite at the moment. I’m also working on a lot of jazz performance stuff for the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival in November.

What else are you (currently or previously) involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)?
The main band I play with is Hussy Hicks and we’ve been busy doing gigs, recordings and festivals all over the country.
Earlier this year I toured with UK band, Sshh, supporting Liam Gallagher and Primal Scream on their Australian tours. Some of the other artists I’ve played with this year include Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Peter Northcote, Bushwackers Adam Harvey, Bill Chambers and Melody Moko. I’ve gotten to do a bit of recording this year too which has been really fun. I recorded an album with Sandy Evans and Sirens Big Band called Bridge Of Dreams and recorded the drums on Beccy Cole’s new album called Lioness. And I’m just about to go into the studio and play drums on Kelly Breuer’s new album which is being produced by Shane Nicholson.

Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about?
I used to arrange my own music for the Ali Foster Quartet as part of winning the Jann Rutherford Memorial Award back in 2011. We recorded at ABC, had tracks played on the radio, played at many jazz venues around the country and played at the Melbourne International Womens Jazz Festival. Lately, I’ve been enjoying drumming in other people’s projects.

What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run?
It’s essential. It’s the greatest joy. Creating beautiful music with the best people is something I feel incredibly grateful for.

Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now?
I always listen to a range of stuff, lately it’s been; Jill Scott, Fela Kuti, Brandi Carlile, Tool, Led Zep, Deep Purple, Mutemath, Jeff Beck etc.

Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why?
Philly Joe Jones - his playful, melodic approach to the drums.
Art Blakey – his power and assertion.
Steve Gadd – groove, restraint, class.
John Bonham – mayhem, drama, power.
​
How would you describe the kind of music or projects you’re mostly involved in? And/ or what kind of unique perspective/sound do you bring to these gigs?
The styles of music I’ve been involved in lately differ so much it’s hard to describe them but I definitely aim to bring ‘groove’ to it whether it be country, jazz, folk, rock, blues or a mixture.

It’s hard to say if I have a unique approach or sound but I do know that I learn songs as best I can for each gig, then when we play the music, I’m open to it going elsewhere. I like to make an artist feel safe and secure and, at the same time, like they could go anywhere with it.

Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises?
At the moment my favourite exercise is the single stroke roll exercise from the Alan Dawson book where you use the single beat combos and interchange them with single stroke rolls. I have all of my students doing it as well. I have been working on playing to a click that goes for 8 bars then is muted for 8 bars and then comes back in.

Does social media play a big part in how you promote yourself as an artist and your various projects? Do you promote your work in other ways?
I’m trying to use social media regularly and I do feel that it reminds people that I play drums. I don’t think it plays a ‘big’ part, necessarily, but maybe it helps.

Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? 
Yes I do. Gigs and recordings make up most of my income, with teaching just being one day a week.

Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you?
Onstage, with musicians you love, making music for people that love it.

If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be?
Practise with a metronome more. Listen more. 
​

Name
Renee Kelly
 

Where are you from and/or where do you live now?
I was originally born in Mackay but because I was born 15 weeks premature had to undergo a number of operations so I was airlifted to Townsville and then I came to Brisbane and was in hospital for 5 months (I weighed 620g when I was born). I grew up in Rockhampton and then eventually in 1997 moved back to Brisbane from there so I’ve been a fair few places. And I've lived here in Brisbane ever since then.
 

How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument?
I first started playing the drums when I was about 3 years old. My dad had a drum kit and growing up we had music constantly around us in the house. Dad played drums in a few local bands when he was growing up as well. He wasn’t professional or anything he just loved playing. So he originally introduced me to the drums and I guess showed me the basics and I just kept going from there. So I’ve got him to thank for that, and he also introduced my brothers, as they were growing up, to playing instruments as well and always encouraged us to play. If it wasn’t for him we wouldn't have had that that sort of musical exposure so I feel very fortunate to have had that growing up as a young kid. Even now he still loves his music – he doesn’t have a drum kit anymore but I’ve got an electronic drum kit now - whenever he gets the chance, when my parents are coming down, he’ll get on there and have a play so that’s always good.
 

Do you play any other instruments?
I dabble in a few other instruments. I play a little bit of guitar, a little bit of violin as well – and these are just instruments I just play on randomly - I don't know them so very well at all - but it's fun to experiment. I play a little bit of the dulcimer which is a European sort of guitar you sit on your lap, and the bongos as well, they're good fun - I love playing them. I’ve got a set of bagpipes but I haven't managed to learn how to play them yet! And I’ve got a banjo as well but I’ve still gotta work out how to tune that and play that properly. I love it, it's good fun.
 

What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now?
I’m not involved in anything at the moment. I was given the chance to play with a band from Melbourne called Rudely Interrupted: they are a band made up of people with multiple disabilities so that was a really really amazing experience having a chance to jam with them. Their singer has got aspergers and he's also totally blind as well and nothing stops him he’s amazing! He just gets up there and sort of goes for it. His name is Rory Burnside. And I got to have the chance to play one song with them down in Melbourne recently when I was down there: played with them once on the Friday night and then rehearsed the song for about an hour or so and then on the Sunday, so two days later, had a chance to play on stage with them: got up, played the song and had a ball - it was a really really good fun. And at the end of November I'm gonna have a chance to actually go to Adelaide and play with them  - probably play three or four songs with them so that's really exciting to have a chance to play with them again and catch up with all those guys. They’re really nice bunch of people too so I’m really looking forward to that. And my main focus at the moment been Drummer Girl (the documentary about me): trying to get that out there and get a bit more exposure for the film.
 
https://iview.abc.net.au/show/seed/series/1/video/RA1808H001S00
 

What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)?
Back in 2013 I actually got together with a friend of mine David Rowlands who is a really really top guy. He was my bandmate for a little while there. We did some collaboration: a little project that we started called Hollow tree (it’s got a Facebook page and our album’s on Bandcamp). We recorded an album and I played violin, dulcimer, keyboard and a bit of guitar in that little project. Dave is great he pushed me musically and encouraged me to try new things out with my music and he was a really good mentor to have.
In the past I’ve also had the chance to jam with Kevin Borich who’s a really really really well known and excellent Blues guitarist. I had a chance to jam with him in Maleney. A few other friends from Maleny also were there playing guitar and it was just an amazing night. So that's what I've done so far in my musical career.
 
https://www.hinterlandtimes.com.au/2011/09/09/kevin-borich-is-rocking-on-after-his-battle-with-cancer/
 

Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about?
As I said I’ve done work with Hollow Tree and I’ve written a few songs there. There are a couple of Irish Jigs I’ve written on my violin that’re also in the Hollow tree catalogue. The album is on Bandcamp as well: https://hollowtree1.bandcamp.com/
 

What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run?
It was really good fun as I said collaborating with Dave and having the chance to do that. Like I said he pushed me musicaly and I was very very lucky to have that experience of recording the album and the EP with him and also we did a few live shows back then around
O'Malley's which is the Irish pub up here and it was really good to have a chance to do that.
 
And Drummer Girl as well. I had a really good time filming that - was a week down in Bangalow in Byron Bay with the director and producer who I’ve now become really good friends with. That was an amazing experience too and they’re lovely lovely people to work with - same with the crew as well. I’ll never forget that week. It’s beautiful down there as well in Bangalow so beautiful to have the chance to go down there. I’d do it all again. It's amazing what you learn about the film industry as well: how long it takes for a film to be made. It just blew me away how precise you have to be with the angles of the camera and what light you have to be in to shoot different parts of the film. It was definitely a really good experience.
 

Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now?
I'm a big fan of Soundgarden and Chris Cornell’s music so I've been listening to him a lot. He’s a massive inspiration to me. And I’ve been getting into Fleetwood Mac – I’ve been really enjoying their music as well. I love a lot of the 90s music, a lot of the rock from then: Pearl Jam and bands like that. Cog as well – they’re my favourite Aussie band. I’ve got a lot of inspiration and a lot of respect for those boys. I’ve met them a few times and they’re a lovely bunch of boys and always inspire me with their music, and just as people in general.
 
​
Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why?
Lucius Borich from Cog is my favourite I just love the way he plays and all the different styles that he can play as well. I love the fact that he’s got such a broad range of styles. There’s so many drummers out there I don't think I could name them all because I'll be here all day but he's my top favourite. So many good Australian drummers too but I love Dave Grohl’s drumming as well (Queens of the Stone Age I love his work there) and I love Taylor Hawkins from the Foo Fighters. I love Dave’s recent song he put out where he was playing all the instruments. That was amazing too, incredible, he’s an absolute musical genius.
 
 
How would you describe the kind of music or projects you’re mostly involved in? And what kind of unique perspective/sound do you bring to these gigs?
I try to inspire people I think with what I get involved in to show that there's no limit to what you can do, you know? I think that's what I try to do is inspire people to follow their dreams especially with the release of Drummer Girl I want to inspire people follow their dreams like I've done with mine, and getting the film out there show that people can do what they want to do and there’s nothing stopping them.
 
 
Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises?
When I drum at home I practice to Cog songs - that's my favourite thing to do to warm up. I do that quite a lot. My drumming practice consists mostly of Cog songs! So that’s always good fun. A couple of Carnival songs in there too.
 
 
Does social media play a big part in how you promote yourself as an artist and your various projects? Do you promote your work in other ways?
Definitely it does. It's definitely helped with getting the film out there and I think with getting Hollow Tree out there as well.
 
 
Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise?
Not currently no. I'm hoping to one day be in a band, we’ll have to see how that goes.
 
 
Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you?
Byron Bay for the film I think, as well as Melbourne for playing with Rudely Interrupted and soon-to-be Adelaide. I think that's it for now and obviously the film’s gone worldwide. It had its debut in Montana and it played in The Aeretaler Kurz Film Festival in Switzerland from the 16th to the 18th of November this year. It’s gone to New York, and it's going to be in the UK soon at the Aesthetica Film Festival. It’s gone further than what I ever expected it to go at all so it’s been an amazing journey so far.
 
If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be?
Yes! I do have an answer for this. Learn rudiments! That’s my advice to myself because I never learnt that when I was growing up. I learn purely by ear with my drumming and my music so I can't read braille music. I find it very confusing and I’ve never been able to pick it up even through high school, and I never learnt rudiments – I’m all self taught. So that’s my advice to myself: learn some rudiments from a young age.
 
 
Other thoughts/info
If you would like to look me up on Facebook for other thoughts / info I’m @reneekellydrummer on Facebook or look up Hollow Tree as well on Facebook. Thank you so much!
 
 

Name
Nat Grant
 
Where are you from and/or where do you live now? 
Sydney originally but Melbourne my whole music and adult life
 
How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? 
I saw and heard the percussion ensemble at a school concert – I was really drawn to the whole percussion family: marimba, timpani etc as well as the kit. My friend and I decided on the spot that we’d start learning together.
 
Do you play any other instruments? 
I was a woodwind player in another life. But no.. drums and percussion are plenty/already too many instruments! I wouldn’t change anything but I do wonder what it would’ve been like to dedicate all this time to just one instrument.
 
What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now?
I play drums with synth pop artist Emah Fox, and my duo Octave Pussy with Miranda Hill is an unconventional electroacoustic drum’n’bass situation. I play vibes and sometimes drums in Adam Simmons’ Creative Music Ensemble. And recently have been playing those with Ev Morris too. I’m going to be involved in their next recording project which is really exciting – we’ve known each other for 15 years but only really recently began playing together. There’s also a fairly new project of Gemma Horbury’s – a 10 piece art ensemble that’s still figuring out what it is. I play drums and vibes in that. Everything else is freelance or more sporadic collaborations.
 
What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? 
A high school band called Maladiction – we played Pixies and Hole covers, and I really hope the demo tape I have is the only remaining one… drums and/or percussion in The Tequila Mockingbirds, Justin Ashworth’s band, Future Happiness (Martin Mackerras), various projects with James Hullick and the Amplified Elephants, Peter Knight and projects initiated by the Australian Art Orchestra, similarly Liquid Architecture, Melbourne Afrobeat inspired band Papa Chango, orchestras RMPO and Corpus Medicorum, percussionist with the Brunswick Women’s Choir, collaborations with dancers, puppeteers, film makers, butoh artists, and really most importantly in the creative brain children of my incredible friends including Miranda Hill, Erica Rasmussen, and Solstice Piano Trio (and lots more – you get the idea. I like playing with people!).
 
Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? 
Yes! And I’m so proud of that – coming from an instrumental background, only playing other peoples’ music; It was a bit of a journey to realise that I could actually create my own things. I’ve been making, performing, and recording my own electroacoustic compositions for a little over 10 years. I’ve put on two shows in previous Melbourne Fringe Festival seasons, and have an ongoing sound art project called Momentum. I’ve been working on it since 2012 and am heading to Mexico at the end of this year to add a new chapter (http://momentumproject.blogspot.com) .
 
I am also developing a solo show for drums and feedback called FEED that I’m really excited to premiere at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute in 2019. It’s a collaboration with lighting designer Gina Gascoigne.
 
What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run? 
Playing and creating with other people is really the best feeling in the world, for me. The level of collaboration depends on the project, of course. Sometimes I’m a bit player in someone else's dream, sometimes work is made with a 100% dialogue between the members. Each project needs a different level of everything, and I really like all the various iterations – it’s so exciting when someone has a vision and trusts you to do your thing within that. It’s exciting to make something from scratch with someone (I love the idea of the third hand – that there are outcomes we get from working together that we just could not have achieved individually). Sometimes it’s a relief to just be told what to do as well. It’s all about balance and I feel really lucky to have that in my life in spades.
 
Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? 
Evelyn Ida Morris and also this great Melbourne rock band Rudely Interrupted who I’m going to Adelaide with in a couple of weeks. A lot of my listening is gig preparation. Other than that, right now according to Spotify – Bikini Kill, Morphine, Neko Case, and I recently had a little trip down memory lane with Regina Spektor and Suzanne Vega. Funny how certain times in your life bring back music that you listened to at others… And Stevie! I have a Motown playlist that is my current driving music and it’s just the best.
 
 
Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? 
Fritz Hauser was a huge influence on me as a young percussion student. I learnt so much from him about minimalism, space, improvisation, collaboration, and about really, really listening.
 
How would you describe the kind of music or projects you’re mostly involved in? And what kind of unique perspective/sound do you bring to these gigs? 
I’m mostly involved in projects that are really driven by the heart. I don’t mean in a romantic way: I mean that the people I work with and who’s music I help bring to an audience is mostly about big feelings, big thoughts, digging deep, and being vulnerable. I am drawn to projects that are all about listening and reflecting. I hope I bring both – I really try to.
 
Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises?
Like lots of folks I always come back to singles, doubles, paradiddles. At the moment I’m working on extending the range of ostinato foot patterns I can do, with these over the top. And as a bit of a late comer to the Purdy shuffle I’ve been all about triplets and groups of 3 and 6 for a little while too. Right now I’m revisiting a great exercise on ‘paralleladiddles’ from an old Percussive Arts Society magazine: the hands travel in parallel from left to right across the kit and back again. It’s ridiculous fun if you’re a giant nerd.
 
Does social media play a big part in how you promote yourself as an artist and your various projects? Do you promote your work in other ways? 
Absolutely. And I’ve been surprised, as a sound artist, how much I love Instagram. What I do is really quite visual and it’s been a great journey the last few years being able to share that with people. Facebook is probably no. 1 for gig promotion. I have a website, bandcamp, etc. I do the occasional email out but socials is a great way of getting to lots of people and also for creating community around music. 

Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? 
Pretty much. My income comprises performances, commissions, writing for a drum magazine, sound design work for dance and theatre, research, and teaching. All music or sound related(!).
 
Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? 
Geographically, the times I’ve spent in Santa Cruz and Monterey for the Y2K live looping festivals were probably the most exciting – playing overseas on my own for the first time and meeting so many like minded artists. Otherwise, into the bands and projects of my friends and musicians I admire – being trusted and even sought out to play the way I play, or write the way I write. That’s an amazing, amazing feeling.
 
If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? 
Just play. Stop worrying that you don’t have the fastest chops or that you’re scared of jazz. Who cares? Playing drums is the best feeling in the world, don’t deny yourself that!
 
 
Website
 
http://natgrantmusic.com