Big Fat Five: Richard Spaven

This week on Drummers on Drumming, we’re revisiting a conversation with Richard Spaven, originally recorded in early 2021.

Richard has worked with artists including José James, Flying Lotus, Gang Starr, The Cinematic Orchestra, and Jameszoo. His solo work blends acoustic drums with the feel and texture of hip-hop, drum and bass, dubstep, and electronic music.

In this episode:

Teaching with honesty and helping students find their own voice

Treating dynamics as another layer of coordination

Creating programmed precision on an acoustic drum kit

Keeping complex grooves soulful and easy to feel

How the Amen break changed modern music

Living inside a music scene instead of simply studying it online

Learning from electronic beats without separating machines from musicians

Why smaller, higher-pitched kick drums can leave more space for the bass

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