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Riley Jones Where are you based? I just moved to London yesterday but I have been based in Brisbane up until now. How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? I started playing drums when I was 15. In Brisbane at the time there were some all ages shows - this is where James, Louis and I (The Goon Sax) first met. I felt a sense of excitement and belonging I hadn’t felt before. I attended an all girls private school where showing any kind of individuality resulted in social execution. Looking back the shows weren’t really all that radical but at the time I felt a huge sense of relief that there was a world where I could be myself. This feeling was echoed by the music I started getting into after that like the Pastels, Heavenly and Beat Happening. That music felt like it was speaking to me and it also felt like something I could do myself. Drums were easily the coolest instrument so I got a $50 drum kit for christmas from my dad and I bashed away at it crudely and relentlessly. My dad said ‘Oh well you’ll either quit or you’ll get better’. Now it’s been 7 years. Do you play any other instruments? I have picked up the guitar in the last few years and for better or worse I’ve been approaching it like a drum. You have to start somewhere. What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? At the moment I’m playing drums in three bands, one is called Ghost Bird with my friend Skye McNicol on violin which is an improvised sludgy/doomy/stoner rock phantasy. A band called Angel Dust with Yvette Ofa Agapow and Tim Green which is a part free jazz part brutal noise frankenstein and then there’s The Goon Sax - an indie pop trio. What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? In 2017 I formed a band called Soot. It was a love child between me and my friend Tia Wolf - a tribute to the Raincoats, Captain Beefheart, a Brisbane band called Bent and angular No Wave skronk. Tia played drums which she had never before, I played bass which I had never before, James Harrison (Goon Sax) joined and played squarky trumpet and an ‘angel glock’ and we wreaked havoc around Brisbane and Japan. This band was the first time I had experienced total creative freedom - we never questioned anything because we had total faith in eachother - it’s how I worked out how to write songs. That band burnt out unfortunately some love affairs are too hot to last. Now the other members continue under the name Primordial Silt. Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? I started writing my own music and putting on shows with Soot and have continued developing my ideas ever since. In terms of songwriting I like to keep things as impulsive and uncritical as possible so as not to stifle my own creativity. I think this mentality has come from playing a lot of improvised music with my friends like Tim and Yvette and Skye. They’re all trained musicians who actually know what they’re doing. I know barely any theory but I’ve learnt some unspoken rules from them: 1) you never talk during a jam, 2) you never stop until it naturally comes to an end and 3) you don’t really talk about it straight away - not specific parts anyway. It sounds funny, but I find following these rules allows for a deeper sense of knowing, of form and communication. It doesn’t mean you can’t talk about ways to improve or different directions to take at some point but it lets the music speak for itself. 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 magic. For me, music is an illusion - it works when individual parts combine to have an effect far more powerful than the sum of their effects in isolation. The music I have made in collaboration is music that I could never have made on my own. When collaborating we can bring out sides of each other that we never knew existed; it's all dependent on the chemistry of the artists involved. When there’s chemistry the illusion is an infinite world you never have to leave. I’m always amazed by this in the Goon Sax. We have been playing on each other's songs for over seven years, at the same time we have all continued to grow as musicians individually. So when we come back together there’s no way of knowing where the synthesis of all our external influences will take the initial bones of the song, or where we’ll take each other. Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? At the moment I’m obsessed with Hyph11e, a Shanghai-based producer. She makes post industrial sort of dance music. It’s like a combination of noise, footwork, gqom, breakcore - it’s ambiguous, dark, hypnotic and all about nature. Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? My favourite drummers are Sunny Murray and Elvin Jones. They are both very influential free jazz drummers. They’re my favourite because they sound like they’re possessed by something. They play so powerfully and with such conviction but they sound as though they’re on the edge of their drum stools, like they don’t know what’s coming next but they’re always ready. 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? Hmm.. This is quite a hard question because the projects I’m in vary so much but I guess what ultimately unites them is a sound that is unique to Brisbane. Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? I like to twirl my sticks around seven times in each hand. 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? It does, inevitably. I was quite reluctant at first, and with some more transient projects I try to avoid it completely but I’m starting to get used to using it to its potential, especially with Goon Sax. I think there’s a way you can incorporate it into your creative process and I think you sort of have to - that’s just the way the world is now. Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? At times I’ve been able to live off music but it’s certainly unreliable. I recently studied sound engineering with the hopes it would help me find a job I love and also survive. Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? I’m so lucky that music has taken me all around the world. It’s hard to name a coolest place but touring Japan with Soot was hard to beat. Taking the Shinkansen through the mountains all the way up to Sapporo and dragging my bass through the snow is one of most serene memories. If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? I wish I had started improvising on drums from a younger age. I think I would have improved much faster or at least developed my own style from earlier on. I would also tell my younger drumming self the same thing I would tell my current drumming self - practice your rudiments! Other thoughts/info Thanks for the interview! Website https://thegoonsax.com/
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Nat Gray Where are you based? Currently Based in Townsville in North Queensland after nearly a 4 year stint in Wagga Wagga, NSW. How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? I’ve been playing drums since the age of 11, but only really got serious at the age of 15. I thought I would have originally liked to play saxophone, but my school program put me on percussion. I can remember not being too pleased about at the time at the age of 10. I had heard all the sayings that if you’re not good enough for anything else they put you on percussion. However, over the summer break I saw a very talented dude by the name of Jonathon Barbagallo play kit with a band at the local RSL. I was inspired by the sheer skill and co-ordination it took to command such an instrument and how much of a key component the instrument itself was to the music. It could be subtle and in the background, or it could be there at front and centre at certain moments to lift the music. This is a very analytical and educated viewpoint I give now, but back then I guess that this is what I felt and just couldn’t put it into words at the time. Anyhow, to cut a long story short, I went back to school with the inspiration I took from seeing a drum kit played in a band to learning percussion with a can do attitude. Do you play any other instruments? Funny enough, I started on the violin for a few years. It’s still an instrument I deeply respect to this day. At home however I do dabble in a little bass for the purposes of music theory application. What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? At the present moment I am working full time with the Band of the First Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR Band), and a member of the Australian Army Band Corps. Im currently working on a few online collaborations and recording projects as well in my spare time. What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? While studying at Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (2010-13), I had the privilege to play with the likes of James Morrison, Bob Cousin, and LA artist and educator Jeff Jarvis. My favourite was having the privilege to play a some shows with Jazz legend Don Radar (Maynard Furgerson, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Count Basie, and many more). After leaving university I was involved in some projects that were going to go ahead in Brisbane with Latin music, however, those unfortunately didn’t work out for a few different reasons. Before joining the Army 4 years ago I was involved in a number of groups in the Cairns area, play in the pit for local theatre productions, and would gig regally with a cover band named Careless. That group was something I was particularly proud of as it started as a jam session in a back shed, and within two years grew into a popular and regular gigging group. Whenever I see their gig list on their facebook page and see a list of gigs for the month, this very proud former member goes ‘Yeah! good on ya guys!’. The past 3 years I’ve been lucky to be involved with a number of different shows and projects with The Australian Army Band Kapooka when I was posted there. We did a number of really fantastic themed shows including: Music of Motown, Around the World in 80mins of music, Music of Neil Diamond and Carol King, Music of Adele (which was a huge sing for our vocalist!), Latin Big Band Lunch, On the Shoulder’s of Giants (A tribute to the ANZACs), to name just a handful. While I was there I also had the privilege to support a number of artists as well including the likes of Beccy Cole and Tom Burlinson. I also had the privilege to play for Tom in a civilian capacity when he came through to Albury for a show the following year. Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? It's been about ten years since I’ve written original tunes, however its something I’d like to get back into. What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run? I think collaboration of creative ideas and knowledge is a really important part of our industry. Over the past two years or so I’ve been learning the art of arranging, particularly in the field of Big Band. Many drum charts give the drummer too little information, too much, or written so poorly that it's too hard to understand at first read without hearing a recording. It was through collaboration on drum charts that got me interested in arranging tunes myself, starting with a salsa arrangement of The Flintstones. For me it’s been a challenging but very rewarding learning process. I was extremely proud to be able to produce an arrangement of Tito Puente’s Oye Como Va for the Latin Lunch concert with Australian Army Band Kapooka in 2019. It was one of six charts I worked on throughout the year and was probably the only one really worthy of being played by a band at the time. But it was a great opportunity to learn about other instruments and how sound can be manipulated to sound clear as opposed too muddy when sounded in the same range. As a drummer, learning about the harmonic series, overtones, and how they can work or not work in a large ensemble I found particularly fascinating. It's one thing to be theoretically correct by how notes are in a chord on paper, but how they sound played at the same time by different individual instruments is another thing. Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? Depending on the time of day I’ll be listening to a range of different music. At present moment I am listening to music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and works from the well known Australian composer and drummer Tim Davies. Great band! I’m also listening to Brahms, Sir Edward Elgar’s Nimrod, and works such as Shostakovich’s Festive Overture. The way Shostakovich wrote his percussion parts was particularly beautiful. I also love to chill out to different music too. I was just listening to G-Flip while on my afternoon run. She’s so awesome! Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? I find everyone inspiring to tell you the honest truth. Everyone has their own story, and it comes out in the music they create. My own work colleagues constantly inspire me. And I’m very lucky to work with some pretty awesome men and woman. I just mentioned a few artists in reply to the previous question. I guess I’m inspired by those who create things that move people. I had the privilege to watch Jimmy Barnes and his band at the Red Hot Summer Tour in Cairns a few weeks ago. What a story teller! His band was incredible, and Jackie Barnes is an absolute monster on the kit. David Jones is probably one of my favourite drummers in the whole world. He always approaches the music with such creativity and endless happiness. He reminds us all constantly that it is a privilege to be able to make music, and the little joys it brings to this little planet of ours. 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? Whatever musical project I’m involved in I like to be as authentic as I can be to that genre. If it’s a rock gig, I try to play in the style of the drummers who made that recording what it is. Roger Taylor’s driving snare and bass drum with ever so slightly opened Hi - Hats springs to mind whenever we play Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now. At the moment with the Rock/Pop Band at work I’m learning techniques in recording and playing a hybrid kit with sample pads and a half electronic kit set up. I know a lot of drummers are not fans of electronic sounds, but with popular music and technology today there’s no reason why we can’t learn to be more adaptable. I think I mentioned before about those gigs I got to do with Don Radar while at University. His story’s of playing with Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, through to Maynard Furgason and Ray Charles really transfixed my fascination with music history, how we need to honour it, and how we are apart of where it is going into the future. Particularly while playing with the Army Big Band this rings true as you can either choose to include the nuances of the different genres and eras and artists, or you could simply blanket them under one banner and the music would sound the same. In a single show we may go from a Basie tune, to Glen Miller’s ‘In the Mood’, to a Gordon Goodwin Big Band number, to Frank Sinatra. All within the Big Band genre but all very different for a drummer in touch, tone, technique and placement in time. A slow Basie swing has a different has a particular held back flick to the ride cymbal, and Glen Miller swing has that iconic open and closed Hi-hat focus with 4 on the floor. This is again different to Bernie Driesel is a driving pulse and small group like snare chatter in Gordon Goodwin tunes. Without those aspects I guess it would be like ‘In The Air Tonight’ without the Phil Colins iconic drum fill. Another aspect that must also be considered as important is the fact that at the end of the day, you are also not those players. What made them play like that on the original records comes down to their own personal story and background. We can emulate them but we can never be them. And that goes the same for you too. You have your own story to tell and your own path to walk. So, in answer to your question, whenever I play a gig I try to always honour the music and pay homage to the original drummer by listening, transcribing and learning what and how they played, but also have the consciousness to play things with my own spin. That might mean I play a fill with different sticking or voiced slightly differently as long as the nuances are there. Aside from playing stylistically or with covers, when I’m playing my own stuff I’ll play whatever feels natural. And if that means that the styles and techniques I’ve learnt through studying different players and styles is there, well, their influence is apart of my musical story too and I that’s one thing I love about music. Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? Last year I was unfortunate to slip over and land on my left hand at the wrong angle. I needed re-constructive surgery on my little finger which required a 6 month recovery period. During this time I was forced to re-think my approach to playing. Warm ups are extremely important. I’m a fan and an active participant in rudimental drumming. Before a rehearsal or individual practice I can normally be found with a practice pad playing a piece called By the Numbers by Scott Jamison with a metronome set each run through in a different tempo. The first being 60bpm, second being 90 bpm, the third the fastest I can physically go without sounding uneven or out of time. I’ll then take that to the kit and play rudiments around the kit, including the feet, again, all done to a metronome. 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? Not too much at this point in time, but it is slowly starting in increase in Instagram. I like to leave Facebook as more of a private thing for now. Covid 19 has changed a number of things as we all know. I was fortunate enough to be apart of some very cool recording projects for work. One of which included a recording of the tune ‘Solid Rock’ by Goanna. The story behind the project was that originally we were supposed to be heading up to remote communities on the Cape York Peninsula. However, Covid put a stop to those plans. You can read more about the project in the Facebook post connected to the link below. https://www.facebook.com/414146695398665/videos/266867691273179 Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? Yes, being a musician in the Australian Army I’m very lucky to be in a job where it primarily consists of playing music all day/every day. Yes, there is the fitness side of the job as you are in fact a soldier, however, being paid to keep fit and living a heathy lifestyle isn’t such a bad thing. My day at present at my current unit typically consists of 45mins Physical training (PT) in the morning. This may involve, but is not limited to running, sit ups, push ups, gym, or whatever the person running the session has planned. PT is normally followed by 3 hours of Big Band before lunch. Smaller groups such as the Rock/Pop band, Pep band, Jazz Group, duo or acoustic groups for 2 hours or so in the afternoon. After that is normally personal practice until close of business. Depending on what gig is coming up that group may have more focus. but at any time of the day there is always some group going of or there is sectional or personal practice. If there is something I’d really like to work on I typically come in earlier in the morning before PT, or stay after hours to practice. This is something that is very much encouraged, especially if there is a hectic rehearsal schedule in the lead up to a big show or tour. Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? In 2017 I had the opportunity to Basal in Switzerland and play for the Basal Tattoo as a member of the Australian Army Band contingent. If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? Keep going! Your hard work, passion and drive will all pay off, but be patient with and kind to yourself along the way. You’ll face hurdles, but that won’t stop you. Ups and downs are apart of life. Just be the very best you that you can be. Instagram: natgray92  Name
Naomi ‘Naz’ Tan Where are you based? I’m currently living in Melbourne but am originally from Perth. How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? I started getting lessons when I was 14. I saw someone playing the drums and thought: ‘That’s cool, I wanna try it!’ Initially my parents weren’t keen, but I bugged them for a year and they eventually gave in. Do you play any other instruments? I dabble in piano, bass and guitar - but am terrible at all of them! What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? At the moment I’m the kit drummer in the Air Force Band. I also play snare drum in their Ceremonial and Parade Band and sometimes am involved in their percussion section in the Concert Band. What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? When I have time to freelance outside of my main job, I have been lucky enough to dep in the Jazzlab Orcheztra and Paris Cat Big Band. I have also been fortunate enough to play with some awesome band leaders - Esther Li (piano) and Cheryl Durongpisitkul (saxophone) - and their groups. Last year I got to play with D2Drumline at the MCG - that was pretty cool. Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? I haven’t written anything for a long time. But I would like to eventually write some more music. What are your thoughts on collaboration in music and in the projects you’re involved in or the projects you run? I think collaborating with people is a great way of connecting with other musicians. I think it can really stretch your creative muscles and it’s also fun working with people who are interested and invested in the same thing. I wish I had more time to collaborate with people! Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? I’ve been revisiting a lot of Hiatus Kaiyote lately. Hiromi and Esperanza are always on my playlist. Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? I have a lot of favourites when it comes to drummers! Some of my main influences have been Tony Williams, Bill Stewart, Ari Hoenig and Larnell Lewis just to name a few. Lately I have been following a lot of Anika Nilles and Sarah Thawer. I have also been a long time fan of Australian drummer Andrew Fisenden. With regards to other musicians, I love watching and listening to Hiromi. 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 mainly hired as a jazz drummer - but I enjoy playing all genres of music. In terms of the unique perspective/sound that I bring - I’m not sure! But I know that my priority as a drummer is to be reliable and consistent in providing a good time feel. Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? My warm ups and practice routines change regularly. At the moment an exercise I start off with is the table of time at about 60bpm. I find it just helps me to get into the right mindset for practice and it’s not too strenuous. I’ve also been doing a really quick pre-gig warm up exercise from Annika Nilles which involves 16th notes on each hand then a 32nd note single stroke roll into a 16th note paradiddle. It feels really good and does a great job at warming up the hands before a gig. 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 think social media can play a huge part in promotion. I don’t do as much of it as I should. Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? I feel fortunate to be making a living from music. The Air Force Band is my main gig and it takes up most of my time so I don’t get to freelance outside as much as I used to. Previous to landing the job, my work would have consisted of teaching and freelancing. Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? I have been to France and Gallipoli to provide music for the Dawn Service on Anzac Day. Other than that, I’ve been to the Middle East, Malaysia and most states in Australia. If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? Practice, do the best you can and trust that the work you put in will pay off. Be open to advice but be true to who you are in your musical journey and trust yourself. Be kind to yourself - mistakes are part of the journey too. Website facebook.com/naomitanmusic Name
Miranda Where are you based? Melbourne How long have you been playing drums? And what initially drew you to the instrument? It was by accident that I ever started playing. I had been learning piano for several years when a friend asked me to play drums for her in year 12… ‘If you can play keys- you can play drums!’. Have been playing ever since. What bands/projects/collaborations are you involved in right now? I currently play in Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice and with Al Matcott. What else have you previously been involved in (bands/shows/projects etc)? There have been countless bands over the years; I am the stereotypical drummer in too many bands on the edge of a nervous breakdown. I think over Covid I had a good opportunity to sit back and see what life was like without rehearsals or a show every night of the week... At its peak, I was playing in 6 gigging bands at once. Outlandish. Do you write music or develop your own shows? What are they about/how have they come about? Within the bands we write our own music, each band varies of course; some bring in a just- about-complete song, other’s just an idea... There’s a lot of bouncing ideas off each other early on in the process- and I suppose at the fine-tuning stages too. I'll usually sit on a few drum ideas and let them mix and mash in my head for a while before I bring it to the band or feel like I’ve put something ‘together’ for a song. Who are you listening to/whose music are you enjoying right now? I usually froth over 1 or 2 bands until I exhaust myself with them, currently it‘s Clamm on high rotation. Baxter Dury and Michael Beach have been getting some solid pays too. Do you have any favourite drummers? Or other musicians who inspire you? why? I am pretty lucky to know a lot of people who play music around Melbourne. They all inspire me and I am endlessly in admiration of their talent. Maybe a handful of years ago I was a little more focused on drummers specifically, and I’m sure I would have rolled off several drummers who I thought were the very best. If a musician can use minimal means for unrelenting intensity that’s inspiring enough for me. 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? Dr Sure’s and Al Matcott are both very different musically, but both sort of… rock? I think being relatively untrained drum-wise, I keep a pretty open mind when it comes to what drums can do in a space. I like to give things space, keep things ethereal amongst chaos. Or sometimes it’s just chaos. Raw sounds and interplay between everyone makes every gig very different from the next. Do you have a particular warm up or practice routine? Or favourite exercises? Fireball gets you pretty toasty. 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 have never been a fan of promo photos or pushing big PR campaigns and would rather save the dollars (and the stress), so I’m pretty lucky that I’m not in charge of this area with the bands! Social media existence is fairly important though, need to get the shows out there somehow, all that hot content. Facebook is alright for events- do people use Facebook for anything else? Word of mouth will always be the most rewarding way in which you will be promoted. Do you make a living from music? What different types of work does this comprise? That will be the day! I’m a full-timer working in the disability/forensic space. Where’s the coolest place that music has taken you? Would have to be Berlin, back in the wholesome days of Strangers From Now On. We had a lot of wonderful shows which I will always remember. If you could give your younger drumming self some advice what would it be? Shop online. Website: Dr Sures Unusual Practise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeD2zz1_ACk https://drsuresunusualpractice.bandcamp.com/music Al Mattcott https://www.facebook.com/almatcott4ever/ gramz: _mirandagrace |
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