Apparently it’s national hug a drummer day.
No, really.
It’s also St Andrew’s Day, the 30th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s Thriller release and Gary Lineker’s, Lorraine Kelly and John Bishop’s birthday. Oh, and Mark Twain’s too.
But what with ‘drum’ being 50% of our main love, and none of team Drum&BassArenaBlog being Scottish, we thought we’d reach out and hug a drummer. So let’s all embrace Seattle-based sticks man KJ Sawka, Pendulum Live’s erstwhile tub-thumper, and get an insight into what he believes is the best drumming ever laid down on a D&B track…
KJ, please introduce yourself to readers…
“Hi! I’m KJ Sawka. I produce EDM and play EDM drums. I play drums in Pendulum live and Conspirator, a brand new group you will hear about very soon. I also produce solo as KJ Sawka.”
How long have you been playing drums for?
“About 25 years.”
How does playing drums for live electronic music differ from your more classic live set-up drumming?
“EDM drumming involves loop based beats. Very consistent and specific hi-hat, kick and snare patterns. I use drum triggers to fire off produced drum sounds you can’t get out of just an acoustic drum set. Other bands I play in like rock and jazz are more traditional in the drum department.”
What have you got out release-wise at the mo?
“Repeating Cycles is my single that came out last month on Simplify Recordings out of Seattle. It has Swiss singer LaMeduza on the vocals. It’s been a long time coming! It’s got some great remixes from my friend Samples and up and comer Kezwik and the great Stiletto both out of LA. It’s my first Drumstep release since and my first solo release since joining Pendulum. It feels good to release under Kj Sawka again.”
What are you crowning memories from the Pendulum world tour?
“The massiveness of Glastonbury is in my memory of all time! The first time being up on a 6 foot drum riser feeling like I was about to fall off while playing 174bpm slamming dnb was intense!”
How do your incorporate your drum knowledge when producing the studio?
“Well many of my tracks start with my drumming. Start with the groove then add all the other elements. I have my Sawka Drum Vault. It’s my go-to drum library that I pull all my original drums from. I’m really big on getting the right drum sound. I was really shit at drum recording and mixing for many years and finally in the last 5 years I feel good about what I do with them.”
What’s your advice to anyone who’s thinking of taking up drums and incorporating them into electronic music?
“Listen to as much electronic music as you possibly can. Produce your tracks as best you can. Practice the drums eight hours a day. Once you think you have something good, throw it away and start again. Buy all the latest mixes in the style you are trying to create. Produce eight hours a day and pick up the drum practicing to 10 hours per day. Get honest feedback from people in the community. Not your friends or family; they’re gonna tell you it’s great regardless because they love you. Play as many underground parties as you can!”
Please give us three of your favourite drum heavy D&B tracks and tell me why you’ve picked them…
Noisia – Stigma
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8oRUQhDxU0
“The groove is so good. Very syncopated which I love.”
Black Sun Empire – Stasis
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw-Q00mfqwM
“Classic tune for me. The synths and kick match so well. I am a very big fan of this tech style with the synth on the kicks. I used to do this all the time with triggering synths from the kick.”
E-Z Rollers – Believe [Photek Remix]
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlcrXUjX0gE
“This drumming is what killed me when I was 18. I wanted to play this style so bad I practiced all day, every day to get these beats. Everything about this beat is the sickest thing ever. Hands down!”