When did you start drumming and why?

Unlike most drummers, I didn’t start playing drums as a child. I started playing drums when I was about 14, living in Amiens. An old friend of my father’s, Thierry Chauvet-Peillex, a professional drummer who has played for many artists (Dee Dee Bridgewater, Patricia Kaas, Patrick Bruel, Eddy Mitchell…), gave me one of his old drums: a magnificent Premier Genista. I’ve never stopped playing drums since.

I’ve always played with other musicians, having been part of over 15 bands in Amiens, Lille and Lyon. I graduated from Progressive Drum School in 2018, and returned to Amiens in 2019 to create Progressive Music School Amiens. I’m currently drummer in four bands: Man On, Alaska, Fleur de Sel and Zest’off.

What’s your favourite drumming style?

At first, I only played rock, as I was a big fan of Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After joining the Progressive Drum School, I developed my curiosity and worked in an electro-pop band, a funk band and a jazz quartet. So I play a lot of different musical styles, even if I have a slight preference for jazz and groovy, mellow music.

What’s your favorite band/artist and why?

Red Hot Chili Peppers. I’m an unconditional fan.

I also like all the creative artists who don’t hesitate to play with electronic sounds, like Asaf Avidan, Moderat… and I really like powerful voices like Adèle, H.E.R. or the French Kimberose.

Why did you choose Vikory?

First of all, and like many others I think: for her look. This incredible look. I’d never seen such beautiful chopsticks. I bought a pair and… fell in love.

They’re incredible. It’s not just a beautiful pair of chopsticks. It’s the perfect balance of looks and quality we’ve come to expect. They’re perfectly balanced and far more robust than any other pair of sticks I’ve ever played with.

Any special stories about you as a drummer?

The truth is, I’m color-blind. When I was recording the FLIPPER album with my old band Line Kipit, we worked on the cover for over three months. It was a superb design, all in purple. My drums were blue, electric blue, and I was sure that the album cover and mine were the same color.

So when we started our tour in Belgium, I was really happy to see my drums match the album cover, but when I told the singer that, he looked at me and said: “Man, did you really work on that cover for months without knowing it was purple and not blue? It was one of my biggest laughs of the tour!

What’s your favourite Vikory model and why?

Definitely the Kukulkan model. I’m color-blind, but I know that pink is my favorite color. I don’t know if I really see it as it should be, but I’m in love with it.

Thank you Maxime and welcome to the Vikory family!