“I love all of it. The soreness, the carrot fingers, mat burn, the ego-destroying ass kickings, just when you think you’re getting somewhere. I’m hooked. I know I will never be young again. I am well aware that I’m only getting slower, more fragile over time. That I will probably never live to see black belt or win any competitions. But I’m pretty sure I will suck a little bit less every month. That while I will never master this skill, will at least, hopefully, get better and better at it. And every once in a great while, I will sweep some young upper belt, or maybe even catch one in a triangle. And that makes me happy.”

– Anthony Bourdain –

(speaking on his love of Brazilian Jiu Jistu)

“Four Answers for José Medeles”
by Brendan Buckley

-WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG DRUMMER?

Practice often. Create, create, create. Combine persistence with passion. Learn empathy.

-WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TRAITS YOU ADMIRE IN A DRUMMER?

I admire a drummer who can put his or her ego aside to become a team-oriented player.
I admire a drummer who embodies consistency (in time, feel, professionalism).
I admire a drummer who blends creativity with stability.

-WHAT SHOULD A DRUMMER ASK THEMSELVES BEFORE THE MUSIC STARTS?

Am I comfortable? Am I prepared? Am I ready to create art?

-NAME ONE VIRTUE A DRUMMER SHOULD POSSESS IN YOUR OPINION.

Control. An elite drummer should possess control of time, dynamics, arrangement, breathing, body-mechanics, emotion, syncopation, subdivision, expression, communication.

Favorite Albums of 2020

— Deftones: Ohms
— Charli XCX: How I’m Feeling Now
— Perfume Genius: Set My Heart On Fire Immediately
— Atwater Punx: EP
— Run The Jewels: RTJ4
— Tame Impala: The Slow Rush
— The Soft Pink: Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?
— John Scofield: Swallow Tales
— Four Tet: Sixteen Oceans
— Soccer Mommy: Color Theory
— Joe Wong: Nite Creatures
— Nubya Garcia: Source

Favorite Films of 2020 (… I didn’t see much)

— Greyhound
— The Social Dilemma
— Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
— Class Action Park
— Hamilton
— Onward
— * The Mandalorian

“Girl Like Me”

Black Eyed Peas with Shakira

I co-wrote this song with Shakira, Albert Menendez, and Tim Mitchell as a batch of material during the “She Wolf” and “Sale El Sol” recording sessions. Over 10 years later, this song gained new life thanks to the up-to-date production of the Black Eyed Peas.