Pots & Pans

By Casey Muze

I often get asked how long I have been drumming. The answer is quite simple. But requires a story that I love to tell. See, when I was 2 years old did something that a lot of 2-year-olds did. I pulled my mom’s pots and pans out of the cabinets and started beating around. My mom did something in return that celebrated the possible independence of a gift that I am pretty sure only she recognized. She allowed me the understanding, “with boundaries of course” that I could pull the same pots/pans out and beat around. My mom being the educator and celebrator of all things that exist in spatial adaptation knew that this was my gift. If she tells this story. She makes onomatopeias of the rhythm that was played by me at the age of two.

At the age of three, I remember setting in the passenger seat of my parent’s vehicles, raising my hands in the air as I would glide my fingers back and forth as if there was music that existed there. Actual tracks. Like a DAW was in the air. Maybe some Phil Collins drums and the bass line from “I only want to be with you” by Barry White laced the backing track together as the tempos would marry and sweet syncopation of communication. Then I would imagine a sweet vocal sample as a repetitive hook that I borrowed from an EPMD sample. Some keys from a Stevie Wonder record. Now it is good. I would file the session in a way till tomorrow and begin work on another. I did this often.

These sessions would continue at the pots and pans as I was never satisfied with how the drums sounded. Its ok. Il just make another version. This time I’ll feature Tupac or Kriss Kross. Maybe a different Barry. Like a Manilow. Yea, But slow the tempo a bit. I have always had a celebrated, unique perspective on music. Thank God and thank my mom for understanding the Godly gifts!

By Casey Muze