“Find a way to rid of everything, then shapes will fade from drivel to a dream.” ‘Sundays’ is out today! Ive been practicing the idea of minimalism for some time now, both in life and in music. Especially in drumming. On this record I feel like I reach for minimalism to the max, which kinda is, limited surfaces and similar tones...while letting the song and message take precedence. But that’s always been the goal tho, right? I feel like I (and maybe we, idk) get caught up in sounds and textures and ideas before we begin to react to the song and the feeling in the room. Those aforementioned things are all so cool and important! Believe you me, I love chasing that shit. But I’ve started to adapt this sense of playing that is derived almost purely from reaction. Muted sounds that arise in response to the song at play. That way whatever you are using to perform the music I.e on drums: sticks, brushes, twigs, whatever, gets the sound across without it being that thing. I’ve also began to love embracing backline situations and bringing nothing but an open mind (and maybe some gaff tape.) Kick drum hits are all different dynamics, snare and hi hat hits are before and behind the beat, they live and they breath! They feel and sound like drums but they have an identity that exists and belongs within the song’s context. Through stripping away and limiting we can learn to be better listeners. That’s all I’ve ever wanted and this album helped provide me with that growth. I like to imagine the drums being in black and white (along with the song - as from @jordanlehning ‘s brain), like in mono, and each sound and attack in a different depth of the picture/movie/whatever you’re imagining while listening. That’s enough of my brain, take a listen for yourself and see what you gather! Thanks @andrew_combs @jordanlehning for having me. Also I took no pictures during any of this recording except the last two: 1) Jordan’s son, Harry’s recipe for soup and 2) Andrew singing into a piano with a weight on the sustain pedal and an amp going into the soundboard. None of those sounds were used. “Simplify the mind, then take aim at the moon.” -AC ✌🏻-db