if they ’ re improvising like a jazz singer . Also , Afro Cuban or West African ensembles where it might just be drums and vocals ; that expression is something that really inspires me .
But really anything I look at and analyze [ can influence me ]. I ’ ll look at the trees and find inspiration there . As funny as that may sound , there ’ s something about the flow of nature that I think speaks to everyone and I ’ d like to speak at that same frequency . When I look at the natural world , I ’ m seeing things that evolved without influence . The natural world is affected by decisions people make , and other things , but if you let it be and let it do what it does there ’ s so much beauty –
comes to songwriting . Some famous drummers and musicians I look up to are Travis Barker , Dave Grohl , Neil Peart , Johannes Eckerström , Chris Miller , Brian Viglione , John Alfredsson , and the many bands and friends I ’ ve played on stage with over the years .
My dear friend A . J Halcrow ( who recently lost his battle against cancer ) helped my parents get my first drum kit and was always my go-to for tips , tuning , tricks , and advice . He made a huge impact on my music / drummer life and I wouldn ’ t be playing if it weren ’ t for him .
Horizon . My mind was blown . I bought the album online and couldn ’ t stop listening . It ’ s as if they took what Linkin Park started and brought it to another level . Matt Nicholls is an outstanding performer and brings so much to the band . The album of theirs I ’ m most into is Amo .
D ’ Oliveira : During the pandemic , I was able to focus on practicing an ancient Indian tradition of singing / sound meditation called Dhrupad , which involves waking up extremely early before the rising sun . For the first hour you sing a single note continuously to a drone , trying to have perfectly consistent tuning and focus . Though
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even at the molecular level . There ’ s an awareness without needing an excess of knowledge , and what that does , for me , is tell me to trust my gut feeling , look deep , and support that first instinct . For instance , when a drum is playing , there ’ s something about it that draws people . I have two kids and when a drum plays , they start moving and dancing . They might feel the same pulse from another instrument , but rhythm is a core thing and something that moves people deeply .
Charnelle Menow : My father , Hector Menow Jr ., is my main inspiration . As a musician I also look up to Foo Fighters , Blink 182 , CKY , and Yelawolf , and I could name many others when it
CM : Has your practice regimen changed during the pandemic ? Are you focusing on any specific techniques , technology , instruments , or music and artists you might not have otherwise ?
Burrows : I haven ’ t upped or changed my practice regimen during the pandemic . Helping others has taken priority . I feel no shame saying that drumming had to take a backseat this year due to the current situation . But after the spring and summer went by with not much to do but work online , I decided I needed to devote at least an hour a day to jogging and fitness . One day I heard a track from the local rock station by the band Bring Me the it might sound simplistic , it ’ s extremely challenging and it has resulted in heightened sensitivity and a musical focus I never had before at this level .
Humphrey : My practice regimen has stayed relatively the same , but that still means I ’ m playing a lot less . On the road , you play damn near every day . When you ’ re at home there ’ s a lot of other things that have to be done before getting to the practice room , but I ’ m still in there . And I ’ m happy to have an interface with four inputs so I can focus on recording to a click a little tighter , experimenting with mic setups , and getting better with mixing . I ’ ve also been trying to listen to both obscure and popular artists . I
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