shot-button
Subscription Subscription
Home > Lifestyle News > Culture News > Article > The fire of drums

The fire of drums

Updated on: 22 April,2017 11:45 AM IST  | 
Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya |

Ahead of their India tour, a pioneer industrial percussion act from South Africa discuss their instrument, energy and actor Salman Khan

The fire of drums


"Not everybody likes or understands a drum solo, so I like to bring in effects and sounds to keep their interest," the late John Bonham, drummer of the iconic Rock group Led Zeppelin had once stated. Drums can be aggressive, mellow as well as muted. 1st Project -- a leading percussion act from South Africa comprising four drummers -- will reveal the nuances of the instrument on their India tour, starting today.


Rehearsed chaos
Theodorus Hermanus Rosslee, Sybrand Johannes Van Dyk, Joshua Sanuel Zachus and Andrew John Lingwood want to change people’s perceptions about drums. "It is a combination of organised chaos and rhythm. Our sound is aggressive percussion," says Rosslee, 27. Despite line-up changes, the band has toured over 25 countries in their 16-year career. They don’t divide the kit (snare, hi-hats, crash, ride, bass drum, toms) in their concerts. "All of us play everything. On stage, each person is assigned a station and we keep switching positions, which leads to newer tunes," he adds. Sigasa, one of their popular tunes, is a blend of drums and bongo.


Body percussion
Another facet of the concerts is their chiselled physique. The boys love showing off their packs. "There is no connection between drums and wearing a shirt. But being shirtless, we can also experiment with our bodies to match the art," shares Johannes, 23, referring to body percussion, where musicians beat a part of their body to create sounds.

They believe it is necessary for a drummer to be fit. "You need to have stamina to last at least 45 minutes on stage. The craft demands energy," they add. Due to the power in their sound, they can’t rehearse at each other’s homes. "We always book a studio. We shouldn’t disturb neighbours," reasons Johannes.

Like most South Africans, they are ardent cricket fans. "We love supporting the Proteas but we also admire the Indian cricket team, and especially, Sachin Tendulkar. We loved watching him bat," reveals Rosslee.

Two years ago, the band had made a brief visit to India for one gig at IIT Bombay. "The response was fantastic. It is one of the reasons why we were eager to come back. We have also heard a lot about Indian spices and food and we would like to take some home," say the drummers. "One of our dreams is to perform in a Salman Khan film. He loves being shirtless too."

On Tonight, 11.30 pm
At Playboy Club, Birla Centurion, Gate 2, PB Marg, Worli.
Call 40781811
Entry Rs 3,000

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK