A few weeks ago, I had a chance to chat with Mike Meadows from the group porterdavis. Mike has a varied background:Á‚ he studied music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston where he fell in love with hand percussion and the rhythms from India, Africa and also Arabic grooves. He’s been to Ghana twice to absorb the music and wider culture and, partly because of his travels and the desire to produce a versatile drum that can be used in a variety of settings, he created his own unique drum called “The Black Swan.”
Because I’m a drummer, I wanted to interview Mike about “The Black Swan,” drumming in general, and the way in which his influences (from rock to world beats) have woven their way into the music he makes with his band, porterdavis — and his own solo work.Á‚ The conversation was wide ranging and it touched on a number of topics that include his early childhood, drumming influences, the glories of street performing, the use and misuse of more exotic beats in Americana music, and the ongoing education of an accomplished musician. So, load up your iPod, Zune, laptop or whatever the hell you use to play audio, and get ready for a Popdose interview with Mike Meadows.
The Popdose Interview-Mike Meadows (Download) 26:18
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