02/05/2008 – Interview with TYSTNADEN

I go to know about TYSTNADEN when I had to review their album "Sham Of Perfection" in 2006. I then also had an interview with the sympathetic vocalist Laura. So from then on I tried to keep an eye on their evolution, new tunes, etc... and when seeing a short video of Alberto doing a drumsolo and also the recordings of the new album, I tried to keep it in mind to ask him some relevant questions, but it wasn't until I came up with this Drum Special that I found this the perfect opportunity. He might not be the best or most famous drummer around, but he's got experience and that's what matters most here.

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

I started to play drums in October 1996 when my cousin bought his first guitar. Before playing a real drum, we assembled a drum with lots of trash cans, buckets and other odds and ends. I remembered that I passed all my weekends playing! So after one month I decided to buy a real drum and to start studying it seriously!

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

I took lessons for 6 years in the musical school of my city. I have a lot of good memories of that period. Drumming was my new life - I couldn't wait to get home after school to start playing. I made as much noise I could!!

03. Who are your influences (other drummers)?

My first love was (and still remains one of my favourite drummers) Mike Portony (DREAM THEATER). The first time I listened to it I thought: It's impossible to play drum in that way! I bought all his videos, VHS, Dvds. I really like him, because he has HIS own style, HIS own sound.. he's unique and moreover, he's also a great song and lyrics composer and a good singer. Another drummer that I like very very much is Carter Beauford (DAVE MATTHEWS BAND). His touch and his style are simply unreachable. But probably the best drummer for me is actually Thomas Lang with his striking and grand technique, I think he can eat all the other drummers that pass before him!!! I always thought that to become the greatest drummer, one must play in a great band or with great artists. Some of the biggest drummers in the world play horrible music, and I can't listen to them (but don't ask for some examples..I don't want to offend anyone).

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

My first drum was a Pearl Export chrome, wonderful to see, but with an horrible sound. The biggest problem was to assemble it. I didn't know the exact position of all the parts.

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

Just another one. After the Pearl one, I bought a Sonor Sonic Plus. I adore my drum, over the years I bought a lot of other pieces, adding them to the original set and every time that I play, a big smile appears on my face. This year my little drum has its tenth birthday and I will buy a new floor tom and a new wonderful airbrush bass drum skin.

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

All the skins actually are Remo Power Stroke. I have a DW snare drum 14x3.5" (I really like It) with a Remo Ambassador skin. I have some cymbals models: I actually use Charlestone, ride and one crash Zyldijan K series, another Crash is a Zildjian Z custom Dark Crash, I have 2 China (Ufiip Class Series and Sabian HH), 3 splash (8",10",12" Sabian AAX, Zyldjian K Series) I usually use Vic Firth SD9 or 5A sticks.

07. Are you endorsed by certain brands?

Actually I'm not endorsed by anyone. Hope to find a stick endorser, because I have big problems with sticks, I spend too much money on them.

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

I think this is fundamental. Especially during my live sessions, I noticed that my performance is determined by the drumsound. During the recording sessions everything is easier.

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

It depends on the context. Usually in the live context all the parts use standard microphone. I don't have anything against the use of triggers, but I prefer sound that is obtained with good microphones.

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

Today you can buy a good standard drum without spending much money, so the difference for me is all in the choice of the cymbals and in the right sound effects. For example, I think that also in Metal music it's nice to listen to a cowbell or a strange cymbal. In the last cd of my band we tried to insert in a pure Gothic song a Latin-American rhythm. With the right percussion sound and with the contrast of a Metal snare and bass drum the result was really really good!!

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

I think that a professional kit could cost about 5000 Euro (about 7500 USD).

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

Usually I play the drums 2 to 3 times a week. In the last year I've maintained my standard abilities without improving my technique. I know that it could be discouraging, but at the moment I haven't the time to improve my style.

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

This is my biggest limit: I always played Heavy Metal. Sometimes I think that I could try to play something else but...why?? The truth is that despite listening to a lot of different music styles, I really like playing Metal.

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

Yes, certainly! I want to tell to all the young drummers to study as much as they can. I think drums are quite simple to learn and after 2 years you could become a good drummer. Don't waste time trying to just learn!

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?

I'm not famous, so I could skip over that question. Thank you for your attention. Hope I haven't written too many stupid things.

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