Name: Jonathan Roseleth
Country: Belgium
Status: Performer and Educator
Favorite Sticks: Kukulkan in 5B
Current Band: VVYNN
When did you start playing the drums and why?
When I was around 15 years old I wrote songs and played guitar in a band. We rehearsed in the basement of my parents' house. Luckily for me, the drummer left his drumset in the rehearsal space.
By seeing that gigantic instrument with all the shiny cymbals every day, it hypnotized me to give it a go.
At first, I didn’t have a clue on how to approach the drumset until my nephew – also a drum teacher - came over and taught me some cool basics.
I would say that this moment changed my life as it made me want to become a drummer.
What is your favorite type of music to play on the drums?
In my band VVYNN, I try to mix grunge, progressive and odd meters in my drumming.
As a teacher and educator, I really want to know how to play a lot of genres, therefore I really like to play a lot of different types of music styles.
But if I really have to choose one style I really love and enjoy the most, it would be Afro-Cuban styles (bembé, cascara, baião).
What is your single favorite band/artist and why?
This is a really tough one!
In rock music, I love the drumming of Chris Guanlao of Silversun Pickups. He has an amazingly energetic and original style of drumming.
In contemporary jazz, I love Anton Eger’s (Phronesis – Morten Schantz – Marius Neset) playing style. His way of interchanging rates is phenomenal!
Also in contemporary jazz: Rob Turner (GoGo Penguin). He’s a machine! It’s like he plays programmed drum parts like Aphex Twin and Squarepusher but organically in a jazz trio.
Why did you choose Vikory?
The main reason for choosing Vikory is because it’s such a fresh company!
When I saw the campaign on Indiegogo I immediately fell in love with the designs and wanted a pair as soon as possible.
Any special anecdote about you as a drummer?
There is one memory that always puts a smile on my face: when I was around 15/16 years old I used to play music for hours and hours non-stop.
On one particular day, I think it was a bit too much and too loud for my father. He came rushing down the stairs, ran to the drumset and kicked the bass drum like a football player takes a penalty.
He then left the room without saying a word…
So now, when I explain the drumset to a new student I tell them to "kick the drum like a football player".
What’s your favorite Vikory model and why?
My favorite Vikory model is the Kukulkan.
I’m a big fan of mythologies, so the story behind the name and colors (Kukulkan is the Mayan name for Quetzalcoatl: the feathered Aztec snake deity) intrigued me so much that I knew these would be my new favorite drumsticks.
Thanks, Jonathan and welcome to the Vikory family!
