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Jojo is a player who has unbelievable technique, which often left many in the audience stunned into silence. To get the best insight into this, it is highly recommended that you check out his new DVD - Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer, which is currently Hudson Music’s number one selling DVD.
After being introduced by Drumtech founder Francis Seriau, Jojo hit the stage to a deafening applause to play a few Nerve tracks, and deliver a talk about the history of contemporary drumming, the evolution of technology, and its use in today’s music, and also answered questions for members of the audience over the course of two hours. He even threw in a magic trick at the request of an audience member.
This master class proved to be unique, and highly inspirational. If people in the audience weren’t too keen on electronic music, I’m sure this clinic will have changed a lot of peoples views on it. |
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Jojo Mayer Interview
Az Khan: Hey Jojo, Thanks a lot for taking the time to do this interview. My first question has to be how long have been playing for?
Jojo Mayer: 43 Years
AK: 43 Years? Wow. How old were you when you started playing?
JM: 2
AK: What got you into drumming to begin with?
JM: Well my dad is a musician, he’s a bass player. I always heard music around the house you know, and I was fortunate enough to hear a lot of good music. Everything from Frank Sinatra to The Beatles to Hendrix and James Brown. My parents played the records, and I just drummed along with it.
AK: What artists would you say have inspired you to play the style of music that you play today?
JM: Well you know, my biggest hero up to this day is probably still Tony Williams because his contribution was extremely drastic. Also guys like Omar Hakim - I love his stuff with Weather Report, Vinnie of course - those guys. Also the usual suspects like Bonham, Gadd, Peter Erskine, Elvin, and Ringo. There’s also a couple of interesting drummers today like Joey Baron.
AK: So you’ve decided to bring your clinic over to Drumtech today. What convinced you to do so?
JM: Well we’ve been talking about this and making it happen for a while. Jerome from Sabian had the time and I happened to be in Europe doing a series of clinics, so we thought now was the time to make it happen.
AK: What is your personal opinion on schools like Drumtech?
JM: It really depends on the teachers and the environment of the schools and if it’s a load of crap or not. Learning to play the instrument and technically, schools are very good for that. But then once you’ve finished with school, then you face reality. So I think if you’ve been to a good school, that school will prepare you for that reality.
AK: This question is one a few students at the school have asked. Do you have any tips for surviving on tour?
JM: Surviving on tour….The most important thing is sleep, get enough of it. Take care of your body because when your body stops, you stop. Don’t go overboard with partying, I mean I appreciate a good party, but I always keep in mind how many days are ahead of me, so sometimes its better to just chill out and go to bed a little earlier than you’d like to. Good food is important, and it’s also very important to have a good vibe with your fellow band members. That makes the difference between feeling like you’re on a holiday trip with your friends, or being on a boot camp of hell.
AK: Do you have any advice for aspiring Drummers trying to break into the industry?
JM: Well the most important thing is attitude and having the right one. Be confident, and what I mean by confident I don’t mean be cocky. Just know what you can do, but also be aware of what you can’t do. Have an open mind, and above all trying to be a musician, and know why you’re out there and what you’re trying to do.
AK: Speaking of your band Nerve, having seen a couple of live sets of yours, how much of it is a set piece and how much of it is improvised?
JM: Most of it is improvised. When we play we don’t write a set list or anything. We just go up there and play.
AK: Oh that’s awesome. This is a question about drummers and chops. How do you feel about drummers who like to show off their chops in a competitive way as opposed to a music approach?
JM: Well, there’s room for everything but I’m not impressed with it. I mean, if you want to be an athlete, you should be an athlete because when you’re an athlete and you run the fastest you’re bound to make millions. But when you’re a drummer and you’re the fastest, it’s shit. You just end up playing clinics to impress fellow drum contenders. I think it’s a very solitary thing and you don’t ever get to enjoy the benefit of what music can give you and give to the people.
AK: Do you feel in your opinion that the use of electronics is killing off live musicians:
JM: No, not at all. Computers and samplers are just tools, and it’s humans that use those machines. If you have something to say it doesn’t matter if you use like a guitar, a drum kit, or a computer to say it, that’s the bottom line.
AK: I’ve been asked to ask you this by a teacher at the schools. Why did you develop your technique to the level it’s at right now, and do you continue to develop it to this day?
JM: I always look for tools and possibilities to express myself more immediate and easily. I don’t want to get hung up with technical things that make me become prohibited from doing what I actually want to do, and that’s play music.
AK: Oh Alright. The interviews almost come to an end and I just got one more question to ask you. According to the guys at Sabian, besides being an accomplished musician, you are also somewhat of an accomplished magician. Would you ever consider hosting a magicians master class of some sort?
JM: Not really, because there are other guys who have more to say about it. For me it’s a hobby, and I enjoy it, and I don’t want to repeat the mistake of turning one hobby into a profession. I already did that once becoming a musician *laughs*.
AK: Hahahaha, really good hobby though I must say. Thanks a lot for doing this interview Jojo.
JM: Thank you. |
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