Eric Lavansch - The Black Page Online Drum Magazine

Eric LavanschBy Rich SpoonerWhen you hear that my focus this month is a drummer who plays for an artistwith over 16 million album sales, completes 200-plus gigs a year andtravels all over the world to play, you’d be forgiven for thinking I wouldbe writing about one of the usual suspects you see gracing the pages ofdrum magazines all over the western world. However you would be wrongbecause this month I have a chance to catch up with a British drummerwho does all of the above with Thai artist Sek Loso. Without further ado,let’s see what’s going down with Eric Lavansch.

Eric, thanks for taking time out of your schedule to chat. You work with a massive artist in Thailand,but most of the people reading this may not be familiar with his or, indeed, your work.So tell us a bit about Sek Loso.Sek Loso is a solo rock artist, originally part of a three-piece rock group called Loso. After enjoyinghuge success with the band Loso they parted company in 2002, at the peak of theircareer, for reasons unknown to me. As the lead singer, guitarist and song writer, Sek went solounder the title Sek Loso. He released his first solo album in April 2003 and from then on hasescalated in popularity becoming a national music icon here in Thailand.So, you find yourself in a very lucky position. How did you go about getting that gig?Man, that was just pure luck and chance! After recording his first solo album Sek moved to theUK with his family to study English, take a break and search for a new backing band. Sek reallywanted western musicians, as he is a huge fan of western music and in particular the ability toimprovise and just jam. Sek’s dream was also to record an album in English to show his abilitiesand gain some international recognition.I spent over a year doing a day job and travelling to London everyday auditioning, rehearsing,gigging all at my own expense in the effort to get the break I wanted. One day whilstreading the NME (New Musical Express: English Music Magazine), I noticed a small ad readingsomething like “Established Asian artist requires drummer and bassist for upcoming tour.” Iapplied, auditioned in a really awful council-funded arts school opposite Holloway prison inLondon and was offered the gig the next day.That is an excellent story. It could have been anyone who had the chance of that gig! So, tellme, where did your personal drumming journey start? Are you schooled or self-taught?

Probably the same way most drummersstart, I guess. Driving the parentsmad tapping things until theyfinally caved and bought me my firstkit at 14. I already played classicalguitar and knew the value of lessons,so I got drum lessons at school froma jazz player named Brian Johnson.He really taught me a lot and I havea lot to be thankful for from his teachings.After school I went to universityto study Popular Music, as I felt adegree course would introduce meto new aspects and styles of music,as well as provide me with a usefulqualification should I not make a livingas a session player. Straight afteruniversity I worked on a cruise shipplaying drums. That was my first realregular paid gig.In regards to working in Thailand, doyou find the demands of working in avery different culture stressful?When I first moved here I found itquite tricky to begin with. The westis very stressful and high paced,where as here people work at theirown pace, have less stress as a resultand enjoy a far better quality oflife. Once you get out of the westernmindset of having to be early for everything to make a good impression and just relax, thenlife’s a dream here.It’s pretty well documented that there is a lot of music piracy in the Thai market. With that inmind, how does an artist make a good living if record sales are hit so hard by fake CDs, DVDs,file sharing, etc.?Nowadays it’s all down to touring and sponsorships really. We will do between 150 to 200shows in about 8 or 9 months of the year. Some are for sponsors and others are just festivals,pubs/club gigs. The music scene is very vibrant here. It’s fantastic. We can play in one club one

night and two nights later play in a differentclub just 500 yards down the road. We couldplay every night of the year if we wanted.That’s a pretty demanding schedule. How oftenare you away from home?I guess I am away about 10 months of theyear. Whenever we get a couple of weeks offI try and shoot back home, but the problemis that the schedules change so much. Oneweek there is one show in the diary and in afew hours it can change to five shows, recordingand a video. When we play in Europe Itend to fly back to the UK in between shows.I was recently just back in May and July, andI probably won’t get back now until the sametime next year.What are the best and worst parts of workingin Thailand?Definitely the food here is a big bonus! It’s justincredible. I love the way of life and the generalpublic’s admiration of music. It’s a reallybig part of peoples lives here. The concertsare always fantastic and the Thai people areso friendly, warm and accepting. I would saythe only downside is the traffic. It’s brutal.…Oh yeah, the golf’s great too! (laughs)You have played some huge concerts withSek. Any particular highlights you care to recount?One of the most memorable was being toldwe were doing a live TV show the very nextday. Nothing else was said. Anyways, I gotto the studio at 10am thinking typical smallstudio for a one song performance – wrong. Itwas an hour-long special dedicated to Sek topromote the new album. We were playing 8live songs with a live audience of 3000 anda viewing figure of just over 6 million! Nervesvisit eric at myspace.com/drummeruk

did set in, for sure. Always have to expect theunexpected here!!!Actually this happens quite a lot – expectinga small show or some kind and it turnsout to be huge! Bangkok Music Festival was agood one too. Sek said we weren’t going toplay it but the very next day (the day of theshow) called me to say we were! 100,000 inthe stadium and live on TV – real buzz. Playingthe clubs in the USA was a great time too.CBGB’s in particular as well as SXSW in Texas.Another very good memory was the Sundaywe played at Glastonbury in 2005, walkedoff stage, went to the station and travelledto Paddington to play at the Songs of ExperienceFestival at the Royal Festival Hall, organisedby Patti Smith with Jeff Beck, Fleaand others playing. That was quite a day!You get to work with a number of other artistsin Thailand and have recorded on several topchart hits. Care to tell us about them?I did an album for the Thai group Slot Machinesigned to Sony. Their drummer was havingtrouble keeping to the click, and they wereon a really short time frame for the recording.So, they asked the studio owner if he knewanyone who could do it. I had also recordedfor the studio owners band Knock the Knock,who are signed to Spicy Disc, he mentionedmy name, and I got the call. I was in the studioa week later and cut all 11 tracks in 2 days. Itwas a good session and the band were reallyhappening. Most of the stuff I have playedon has topped the charts here, so I am reallylucky to have been part of such great recordingsand songs.It’s all go, Eric. What’s next for you?Well, I just finished recording the next album,

due for release early next year, so that will keep us busy for a long time yet. I am just gonnakeep doing what I am and count my lucky stars I am fortunate enough to be doing it. It’s areal dream come true, and I have a lot to be grateful for. It’s been seven years now with Sek,with no sign of slowing down. I just want to add a big thank you to Mike at Baskey and Rogerat Paiste. Baskey really have some great ideas and products. The rugg luggs and kick stopshave made my techs life so much easier when setting up the kit. And my new Paiste cymbalsare just incredible, never played such great sounding cymbals before. Also, a big thank you toYai at Music Concept here in Bangkok. She has been great when it comes to getting cymbalsto me when required.Richard “Doc Spoons” Spooner is a British professionaldrummer and teacher, based out of Switzerland. Docproudly endorses Ludwig Drums, Paiste Cymbals, VaterDrumsticks, Baskey Drumruggs & Luggs, Hardcase Casesand Protection Racket Bags & Tour Luggage.Click here to visit Doc online atwww.docspoons.com

Taking Careof Yourself Pt.IIBy Chris DeRosaToday I wanted to continue to talk about drumminghealth. As previously stated in Part I there are threecomponents to this important balance.• Physical: eating right and exercising• Mental: taking time off to refresh and gain clarity• Spiritual: the need to think outside our problems andworld through meditation or prayerIn Part II, I wanted to specifically address the mentaland spiritual aspects.I keep a busy practice and performing schedule dayin and day out. Working at this pace especially in a busyplace like New York City can force one’s mind to becomeconstipated. I find trying to function with an unclearmind slows down my creative juices. Having a clearand unfettered mind can help us drummers to think outsideof the box and unleash our creative potential to itsfullest.

“It takes at least two weeks of life patternchange for your mind to truly benefit froma vacation.”I play with many original artists andbands, so coming up with new and interestingdrum parts, as well as form andfeel suggestions, is par for the course. Ineed my creativity to flow because asyou work and grow with an artist yourmusical investment also grows. I’m oftenasked to contribute to the writingand song ideas as well. I have severaltechniques or regimens I keep as partof my lifestyle that helps me to keep mymental clarity.I find that getting away from musicand even my regular lifestyle patternfor a period of time really helps me recharge.For example, right now, I’mwriting this on Tanjung Bira beach in Sulawesi,Indonesia. I don’t think I can getany farther from my life literally or figurativelythen this. I didn’t bring any sticksand have not touched my iPod in twoweeks! I try to take at least one trip/adventureper year for several weeks at atime to break out of my daily pattern. Apsychiatrist friend of mine said it takes atleast two weeks of life pattern changefor your mind to truly benefit from a vacation.When I travel I try to learn some wordsin a new language and explore the local/nativemusic from the region I visit.Often times I am able to pick-up uniquedrums and percussion instruments fromthese places as well. I cannot expresshow helpful these new experiences andinfluences are on my drumming style andcontributions back home.At times my schedule is way too busyor I am unwilling to go away again becauseI just returned from a tour. I don’tlike to be away from the city too much,especially since I have obligations to theartists I work with. When this happens Ifind that going to art openings, localgalleries, and museums, allows me tosee composition and color from a newperspective.The third thing I do and have donefor as long as I’ve played drums is photography (ChrisDerosa.net). When Iwas studying music performance at theUniversity of Miami I minored in photographyand even worked at Miami Hurricanecampus newspaper. It helped meto balance and broaden my creativeoutlet as well as to meet new peopleand see new things. To this day I getcalled to take pictures of bands andmusician friends as well as events andprint assignments.The third and last aspect of drumminghealth is spirituality.I think this is as important as any rudimentyou will ever practice. Knowinghow to speak is useless if you have nothingto say. I feel that the spiritual part ofthis trinity is the content. I repeat a simplemantra each day: “It’s not all aboutme.” Sounds simple to grasp but to put itinto practice really is a very hard thing to

Understanding the Styles: Blues by Ryan CarverThis month we continue on our stylistic journey into one of my favorites, the blues. The blues is the basisfor the many drummers we listen to today. Playing the blues can help you understand song forms andchord structures, whch is very important to understand. Dynamics are very important. Once again makesure you listen to the music you are trying to play. Have fun!Style Tips• Understand the song forms (12-bar, 16-bar, 32-bar)• Play with dynamics.• Keep triplet pulse in shuffles• Listen to classic blues artists.

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Chris BrienKowloon, Hong KongContact Info:chris@chrisbrien.comwww.chrisbrien.comRichard “Doc” SpoonerMuri bei Bern, SwitzerlandContact Info:www.thedrumworks.netinfo@thedrumworks.netSkype : doc-spoonsCHINASWITZERLANDUSAStefano AshbridgeLos Angeles, CaliforniaContact Info:stefanoashbridge@gmail.comwww.drumlessonsinLA.comJake BurtonNashville, TennesseeContact Info:burtonjc100@yahoo.comwww.jakeburtonmusic.comRyan CarverBrick, New JerseyContact Info:carverdrums@yahoo.comwww.carverdrums.comChris DeRosaNew York, New YorkContact Info:chris@chrisderosa.comwww.chrisderosa.comDom FamularoNew York, New YorkContact Info:www.domfamularo.comSean J. KennedyAmbler, PennsylvaniaContact Info:drummer@seanjkennedy.comwww.seanjkennedy.comClick here to go to www.dyrolrandall.com to get Dyrols latest DVD

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FINAL WORD“Life is aboutrhythm. Wevibrate, ourhearts arepumpingblood, we area rhythm machine,that’swhat we are.”Mickey Hart