 Photo by Miroslav Kapuscinski Name Anthea Skinner Where are you based? Melbourne, Australia How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? I started playing percussion almost 20 years ago. I was at home going through one of my regular bouts of rehabilitation and I wanted to use the time to learn something new. Before my rehab I’d been teaching high school instrumental music and I figured it couldn’t hurt to learn another instrument. At first I concentrated on orchestral percussion. I never did go back to instrumental teaching, but I kept up with my playing. At first I played in community brass and concert bands. There were always plenty of people keen to play kit, and my coordination issues made it difficult to keep time with kick pedals, so I mostly graviated towards timpani and auxillary percussion. I didn’t start playing kit seriously until I joined my current band, the Bearbrass Asylum Orchestra. No trio needs a timpanist, and as everyone in Bearbrass has a disability, they were open to experimenting with adaptive techniques. Eventually we put together my current drum kit, which uses a large, de-tuned floor tom as a bass drum and has no kick pedals. Do you play any other instruments? It’s been a while since I’ve played them in anger, but I play clarinet, saxophone, double bass and electric bass. What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? I play in the Bearbrass Asylum Orchestra. We’re a crip-folk trio with Jess Kapuscinski-Evans on vocals, Tim Hackett on guitars and me on drums. What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? Bearbrass has kept me pretty busy for the last few years. Before that I was completing my PhD in military band history and so was playing in lots of brass and concert bands. Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? I co-write some of Bearbrass’ songs with Tim Hackett. Jess writes a lot of our songs too. When I write with Tim I usually come up with the lyrics, usually a partially developed melody and some kind of basic rhythmic structure and Tim takes it from there. What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run? I particularly like collaborating with other performers with disability. Because my disability isn’t really that obvious to look at, people often aren’t aware of why I move the way I do, or how that affects my playing. Performing with other disabled folk has helped me to see the potential of those differences to be a strength because they make my playing unique. Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? I’m listening to a lot of They Might Be Giants and I’m loving the work of Kounterclockwise, a punk-hop duo from the US. Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? My favourite drummer is probably Victor DeLorenzo – I love anyone who works with small, simple drum kits. I also am very interested in how other drummers adapt their instruments to suit their disabilities. My drum kit design was largely inspired by the work of Mike Mignogna. 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? We describe Bearbrass’ music as ‘crip-folk’. Crip is an abbreviation of the word “cripple” which has been re-appropriated by many members of the disability community. We use the term ‘crip-folk’ (inspired by Leroy Moore’s Krip Hop Nation), to describe a style of folk music that tells the story of our community. For Bearbrass, the way we do that is inspired in the most-part by our lead singer Jess. Jess is a small woman in a very large wheelchair and as a result a lot of people tend to treat her as a child. Anyone that knows Jess knows that she is anything but childlike, and so we use our music to subvert this stereotype. So we depict Jess just like any other 20-something rock goddess. She sings about drinking, taking drugs, having sex, falling in love, and behaving badly, just like any other rock star. Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? For me it really is less is more. I have extremely limited energy as a result of my disability, and so am very limited in the amount I can exercise (ie practice). I do a lot of ‘practice’ in my head, often lying in bed. My most important pre-practice/pre-gig routine is protecting the joints in my arms, either with tape or braces, before I start. 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? We do most of our social media through facebook. We probably don’t pay as much attention to it as we should. We’re very tied-in to the disability-arts community and get a lot of our gigs and audiences through those contacts. Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? I have pretty much always made a living through music in one way or another, although little of that has been as a performer. I’m a musicologist (music researcher) and music archivist. I work at the Music Archive of Monash University (MAMU) and I’m also the regular performing arts columnist for Link Disability Magazine. In the past I’ve also worked as a performing artist’s manager and as an instrumental music teacher. My work has always been varied, but music is the one constant force that runs through it. Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? Kazakhstan. I went there to speak at a music conference and had a wonderful time. The local musicians there just blew me away. If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? To not believe people who say you can’t do something. There’s always another way to achieve the desired result. Website http://www.bearbrassasylumorchestra.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BearbrassAsylumOrchestra/ 
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 Photo by Miles Hitchcock Name
Felicity Dear. Also known in music as Flick Dear Where are you based? Perth WA. I’ve lived and played music in Jigalong, Esperance, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Nannup and PERTH. I’ve also toured to Melbourne, Adelaide and other places. How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? Since 1982. I wanted to play at high school but wasn’t allowed. I was given the flute. Do you play any other instruments? Flute. I did also learn piano which I am now wanting to take up again. What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? Broken Gnomes – rock pop band. Original music. With Cissi Tsang – ambient experimental music Warangka – Noongar band What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? Holy Rollers Charlottes Web Box Butternut Wooden Fische Many special projects and gigs over the years. Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? Yes – songs for various bands collaborations. Some develop from poems or lyrics. Others from a melody. What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run? I love the connections between the musicians. When someone brings a new song idea to the band it can take an hour or many rehearsals until you all develop the song structure and sound or mood. It’s wonderful to then play them to an audience. I’m 56 and still feel passionate and joyful about writing, playing, recording and live shows. Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? I love seeing live music of many genres and listening to new music. There are so many good bands in Perth. I’m a huge Lucinda Williams fan. I listen to a huge variety of music. Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? Lotsssss. For different reasons. Charlie Watts – he does straight simple beats with little accents to suit the music but can then do some amazing beats to bring expression and dynamics. Karen Carpenter was my early influence. She inspired me and I still watch her in awe on You Tube. I could write about 50 names here. I love the old blues and jazz players. We have some brilliant local drummers in Perth. Jess from the Tommyhawks is so cool. 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’ve mainly played original indie rock pop and Noongar country. I’m told I bring feeling and expression to the songs. Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? I do some hand arm stretchers. Rolls Excitement brings adrenaline 😁 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? FB events especially. People sharing and commenting too. Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? No I’m lucky as I also work in education that I’m also passionate about. I’ve mainly worked in Aboriginal Education and was honoured to receive an Order Of Australia for this. Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? Oooo. Remote communities. Melbourne. Jamming in New Orleans and the Mississippi. Greece. If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? Be proud and experiment. Try things out even if you don’t feel ready. Laugh at and stand up to sexism. And ageism. Other thoughts/info Music is good for the soul. Drumming is also good physically and for the brain. There is a lot of talk about being mindful today. When drumming with others it just happens.  Photo by Faye Blais Name
Jessie Jungalwalla Where are you from and/or where do you live now? Breamlea on the Surfcoast in Victoria How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? 22 years, teenage angst! Do you play any other instruments? I sing What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? Just casual jams mainly, working on a Rage Against the Machine cover band but not ready for gigs yet! What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? My last band was ‘The Late Nights’ when I lived in Vancouver, which was a combination of soul, folk and spoken word with some ridiculously talented women. Before that I played in a band ‘Jungal’ with my sister and best mate, we played together for 12 years. Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? In Jungal I wrote a little, and definitely put lots of thought into our live performance. It was really all about engaging the audience and feeding them with our energy. What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run? I think collaboration is very important to any artist who wants to explore possibilities outside of their own imagination. Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? I’m loving Sampa the Great, Tank and the Bangas, Four Tet, Gang of Youths, Peep Temple….I could keep going! Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? Every drummer has a favorite drummer right? Don’t judge me but I freaking love Carter Beauford from Dave Matthews Band. His intricate hat work is insane, every hit is perfect and he does it all with a cheeky smile. 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? Honestly since moving back to Australia I’m not such an active as a musician outside of my weekly jams doing RATM. In the past though I bring a simple, solid backbone beat and some vox work as well. Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? My favorite exercise is more like a little game where I just play a groove and do a fill every 8 beats for 5 minutes. The thing is the groove can never be the same, so it pushes me to expand outside my usual bag o tricks. 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? Back when I was playing and promoting the projects I worked in more, social media, as it’s generally free was about 75% of our promotion strategy! Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? Nope Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? The Rockies in Canada If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? Get more lessons!  Photo by Rachel Barrett Name Elloise Walsh Where are you based? Right now I’m actually moving from Fremantle to Perth. I grew up in the Perth hills and also the UK. How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? I started playing when I was 15 years old. Basically I took music to get out of taking 2nd English. We had to play a song as a band and I wound up on drums by chance. I found it perfect as I could perform which I found I loved instantly but I was behind a wall (drumkit) that meant I also couldn’t see who was watching me or be seen. best of both worlds. Do you play any other instruments? I play keys, guitar and I dabble in singing. What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? Currently I am drumming for Trolley Boy and a theatre show called Styx, playing keys and guitar for Axe Girl and kind of everything for a solo album I’m working on which doesn’t have a name yet. What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? Drums for the Love Junkies, Filthy Apes and the odd fill in/session thing here and there and Guitar and singing for Dead End Brawler. Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? I guess all the projects I work on have various levels of collaboration which I’ve had small parts in. The thing that is really my baby is about my gender transition. I was writing songs whilst transitioning just as a venting tool really. It helped me process the feelings. Some friends of mine shot a documentary about it and I asked if I could write the music. When I had a look at the old demos I was like oh there’s a really interesting albums worth of work here that would be fun to release as a kind of snapshot of that process. I asked some friends to help and they were all keen so I'm at the point of finding funding and setting up some recording time. What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run? Collaboration means different things in different situations. Sometimes you're all working to realise one person's vision. Sometimes you're all working evenly to come up with the best thing you can and sometimes your all just throwing shit at a wall and whatever sticks is what it is. I think it’s important to be flexible with collaborating. Shut up and listen one someone is trying hard to get something across. But at the same time if you’ve got an idea you feel strongly about you should fight for it too. Lately I’ve been trying to also show ideas to people that I think aren’t that great. Sometimes it surprises you what someone might like or sometimes it just takes a fresh set of ears to say try it again but faster/slower or in this key or whatever. I find it real tricky because you're trying to take the emotion out of an emotional process. The more you do it though, the easier it seems to get. Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? I just saw Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers last week who’s my all time hero and i got to hug her and Atom Willard who is an absolute beast! of a drummer. It was an incredible gig and a now treasured memory. “Screaming Females - All at once” I’ve been listening to almost every day recently. Other than that Some Beowulf, Bjork, Two steps from the Water are the last 3 things I listened to. Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? Atom Willard for one, Dave Grohl was the teen hero of course. I love a hard hitter. Around Perth Jamie Gallacher, Jess June, Dan Harper are some local drummers I love. The list of musicians that inspire me are endless really. From locals who are friends to huge acts that sellout stadiums and everything in between, you can always find something interesting and new to be fascinated with. In particular I find other trans and queer artists very inspiring as they’re fewer and farther between and I know how hard it is to be honest about something that is that difficult to deal with. I also want to thank them for making my life a tiny bit easier by being visible. In the last 5 years i’ve seen real life progress from society because they saw someone and went ah yeah they’re not that different really. 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? My home is Punk, grunge or whatever. Loud guitars, smashing drums and screaming vocals. There’s a catharsis there that always makes me feel better. But I also play keys in a pop band, folk in a theatre act and I’ve been in metal bands and dressed up like a monkey on stage. I really like anything. There’s too much out there to be kept to one or two things so I guess i’d say I’m all over the place. Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? Not anymore, I used to do rudiments and all that to warm up and practice on a pad for an hour a day and get as much time behind a kit as my parents could deal with. Now with all the instruments I'm playing and having a job and all that finding time to practice is kind of difficult. I tend to hear something and think I want to learn that and then I try to get as close as I can over a week and then move onto the next thing. When I went to WAAPA I took practice real serious and then I realised music is supposed to be fun, so now I just do what I feel like, I have no ambition to be the best drummer in the world or sell the most records or whatever. I’d like to get paid maybe one day haha. but to be honest I just like playing and that's all it needs to be. 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 not great at the social media stuff. I want to start doing it so I can promote my own stuff but right now I tend to just share whatever the band page posts. I think the power of social media is very overrated. I tend to follow my favourites and look at a gig guide and ignore the rest. I still most of my information about artists to check out from friends, radio, music blogs, interviews or Spotify algorithms. I prefer the word of mouth thing the best, you get an honest opinion of something plus I love talking about music. The best way to promote your work is to make really great art. People will usually come if it’s good. Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? I started a gardening business called Tidy Bush Gardens. Hit me up if you're in Perth! haha. Apart from tour per diems i’ve never made money. in fact, I've lost a lot. Once you hit a point of success you take all that money and put into the next recording or the next tour to get to the next step until the project is no more. Unless you blow up and become super successful and surprise!!! I’m not super successful haha. Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? All over the world! 6 weeks all around America which was terrifying and amazing! Vietnam which is my favourite country so far, in a month I’m off to the UK for another 6 weeks. Lots and lots of places. I like to look at them as paid for holidays. Travel around somewhere and see it then at night go to a bar to get your free drinks and play. It's a pretty rad lifestyle. The trick for me is getting on top of life when I'm back home. If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? Just chill babe, It’s called playing music not working music, enjoy it! Also the cymbals you’ve got are too thick, you sound like you're hitting a piece of tin into a megaphone and people want to be able to hear things the next day. |
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