Listen to an interview with Simon on Nick Allbrook's podcast "Run To Paradise" that explores shifting focus from speed and distance to form and experience, as well as intersections between barefoot running and drumming
'Tymbal Echoes', featuring Hinano Fujisaki on tenor saxophone and myself on drums and Lyra 8
This project emerged from thoughts about mesmeric experiences such as listening to cicadas and gurgling creeks or sitting in front of a campfire. I find these sensory experiences that are rapid changing and highly granular sonically or visually a great source of inspiration when asking myself drumming questions. Over the past year or so I’ve been thinking about these themes whilst creating new drumming materials that have ever-shifting levels of granularity and overlapping knottiness (in conjunction with the granular possibilities of the Lyra 8). It was a great pleasure to explore these thoughts themes and materials with Hinano for this recording.
My first solo drumming recording, released back in 2010.
In the early 2000s I was thinking about the distinct flavours of drumset performance found in places such as Jamaica, Nigeria, New Orleans, New York, Brazil, Europe, Cameroon ect.. and I was wondering what a drummer living in Asia Pacific/Australia would play if regional approaches were the primary influence. I was also interested in the numerous influences feeding in to American drumset performance (Cuban, Brazilian, Caribbean) and how those places are geographically close to each other.
Throughout my 20s and early 30s I was very fortunate to be touring constantly with bands from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, and the broader Asia Pacific region, and those experiences, collaborations, mentorships and friendships greatly shaped how I think about the drumset.
These experiences and friendships led to periods of intense study, collaboration and creative experimentation/development resulting in material found on "Driftwood".
Whilst "Driftwood" was mainly shaped by studies and collaborations in Korea, all other releases on this website feature rhythmic shapes, stickings, and conceptual spaces that were generated from orginal processes and systems developed in the years from 2012 to present, and mostly dictated by physical and psychological aspects of barefoot running.