02/05/2008 – Interview with KALEDON

I got to know KALEDON a few years ago, when buying their first two albums and establishing contact with the band, and mainly guitarist Alex Mele. Things went very well and I sort of have been a witness of the band's growth and evolution. The interviews with Alex also helped to gather more insight in this Italian Power Metal band. David Folchitto is a fast drummer, but knows to keep it all under control. This Drum Special was therefore a great opportunity to ask him some questions regarding drums and drumming in general, also because it's always Alex who does the interviews when it concerns the band and music.

01. When did you start playing the drums and what triggered that desire?

I started to play in 1995, but one thing that nobody knows is that in the beginning my favourite instrument was the guitar. One day with my friends I held the sticks in my hands and I started "to do something" on METALLICA's "Creeping Death". The rest is history.

02. How did you learn to drum: on your own or by taking lessons?

In the beginning I started to play along with METALLICA, HELLOWEEN and MANOWAR records and of course playing a lot on my house sofa, because I can't play inside my house! Then during the years that followed I studied a lot with teachers, but not too much... just to improve my style and to learn different metal styles.

03. Who are your influences (other drummers)?

As I told you before, my inspirations were METALLICA and HELLOWEEN and of course German Power Metal of the 80s and 90s. My favourite drummers and inspirations are Dave Lombardo - when I heard him the first time, I couldn't believe that it is possible to play so fast. Other names are Jörg Michael, Dirk Bruinemberg (ELEGY) and Raymond Herrera (FEAR FACTORY). Of course, I get inspired by other drummers day by day.

04. When did you buy/get your first kit? Which brand/model was it?

I bought my first drumkit in 1999 from a friend of mine. It was without brand or something like that. I never knew the brand, the sound was marvellous! I gave the bass drum as a present to my cousin, who has started to play the drums since two years.

05. How many kits have you had over the years?

I've had only two drumkits so far. The second one, which I'm using nowadays, is a Pearl Master Custom that I bought from a friend of mine. I use this kit in the studio and live, but at this point I would like to buy another one, a Soprano (Italian brand).

06. Which kit(s) do you have now? (brand, model, skins, cymbals, hardware, ...)

2 double bass drums, 3 toms and 2 floor toms. 4 different snares (I like snares a lot and when I can I buy another one); my favourite one is a Ludwig Supraphonic from 1970. Evans skins and various cymbal brands, of which my favourites cymbals are A custom from Zildjian. I use Vic Firth sticks, and the Iron Cobra pedal from Tama, but I also use the Axis, depending on the situation. The hardware is from Pearl.

07. Are you endorsed by certain brands?

I am endorsed by Vic Firth, I have my own signature model with my signature and KALEDON's logo. I use the 5A model.

08. How important is it for you to have a realistic drumsound when recording or performing live?

Sounds are very important for a drummer, but also for every musician. Personally I like accoustic sounds a lot. I'm a metal drummer, therefore I also use triggers, but only in the studio for the double bass. In live situations I like real sounds.

09. Do you use triggers? Why (not)? If so, in which situations?

See number 8.

10. What makes a drumkit a good drumkit, in general or for the style you play? (material, setup, portability/movability, ...)

You can detect a good drumkit not only from the sound, but also if it is poured! Of course the materials are important as well.

11. How much money can a professional kit like you use in studios or on stage cost? (rough estimation, despite different setups)

A good kit could cost around 4000-6000 Euro, depending on the model, brand, metals, etc... Therefore the price will vary because of this.

12. How often do you practise? Do you then also try new things or just maintain what you're already capable of?

I practise one or two hours per day! Specially the most important things: paradiddles, flams and things like that without great velocities.. I try to cure the sound and of coure try to play with ease. I also try exercices for my hands and legs. Since I have many students, they too keep me in shape.

13. Do you stick to a certain style or can you play different styles?

I was and I am a Metal drummer, but the last few years I have started to listen to different music styles and I try to extract different solutions to be used in my kind of music. I think that the right thing for a musician is to hear lots of music and improve one's personal style.

14. Any advice you have for starting drummers? Or something you'd like to share in general?

For who would like to start with the drums - I tell the same thing to my students - I can tell that to study is very very important, but you should also play with pleasure. Without this it will be difficult to keep it up. I mean, just studying isn't cool.

15. For the 'famous'/very experienced drummers specifically:
a) Do you believe drums and drumming will evolve during the next five or ten years?
b) Do you believe instruments have reached a level where it will become stale or can it still be improved greatly?
c) What are the greatest weaknesses of drum kits now and what needs to be improved to reach a better sound or to facilitate the task of playing drums for you?

a) I think that technique has reached very high levels, unthinkable some years ago. Today drummers are all too fast, all too much about techniques, but at the same time a little cold in their styles. Probably the right thing to do is abandoning technique for feel. I think that this could be the real evolution.
b) The instrumental evolution definitely contributed in a great way to this technique improvement. During the coming years we'll still find better stuff and this will also improve the musician's style and feel.
c) Today you can't speak about drumkit weaknesses. There was a time when you had only two kinds of drumkits: maple or birch. Today it's different, you can find a lot of different types of drumkits, manufacturers, new kinds of wood, mixtures of wood, etc... Therefore it's impossible not to find a good drumkit.

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