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The Growlersworld Interviews  

INDEX

The Growlersworld Interviews is an ongoing quest, bringing you closer to successful and creative people in all walks of life.

Rawle Austin presents...

A conversation with Ciara Lavers - Drumming up a Global Presence

Ciara Lavers is an incredibly talented drummer who is making waves throughout the music industry. I spoke with her to find out what makes her tick.

Rawle Austin: Could you briefly introduce yourself to Growlersworld.com readers?

Ciara lavers: My name is Ciara Lavers, I am one of triplets and live in Wallington, Surrey.

I have been playing drums for about seven years and in that time have been in over a dozen bands.

Currently I play for the band BUG and another group called Judy Fights Back.

 

RA: How long have you been drumming and how did you get into it?

CL: I have been playing for about seven years and wanted to play ever since I was a young girl and got into music.

I loved Michael Jackson and his rhythmic songs that made almost everyone want to dance.

Through dance I found that I loved the beats of songs and wanted to create them. It was only til I was 16 that I was allowed to play drums - my folks finally gave in!

RA: Why did it appeal to you?

CL: The ability to create a beat and groove so people could dance and enjoy appealed to me.

The freedom and creative elements also appealed to me.

I wanted also to be a great show-woman and felt I could do this through drumming.

RA: How often do you practice?

  

CL: It varies. I have band practices on average twice a week plus gigs and so I practice about twice a week on my own.

RA: How do you keep yourself motivated?

CL: By going to gigs and watching drummers either at live drum clinics or on videos/dvds. Listening to great bands always reminds me that I need to keep pushing myself.

RA: What bands have you played in to date?

CL: [In date order]

1999 - 2000: ConTRast - Rock
1999 - 2000: Fragile - Rock/punk covers
2001 - 2002: So Young - Corrs tribute (pop)
2001 - 2002: BaTTereD - Thrash metal
2001 - 2002: Black Metal acm
2001 - 2002: Catalyst - Progressive rock
2002 - 2003: Covergrrls - Rock covers
2002 - 2003: Amorphous - Progressive rock
2002 - 2005: Set In Stone - Energetic rock
2002 - 2004: Even Stars - Progressive rock
2003 - 2003: The LAMA band - Pop and rock covers
2003 - 2003: The Audio Journal - Progressive rock
2003 - 2003: Mantra - Heavy metal

  

2004 - 2005: The Vicious Head Society - Progressive rock
2005 - 2006: The Foxes - Folk/rock
2004 - 2006: Cherry Bomb - Pop/rock
2006 + : BUG
2006 + : Judy Fights Back

RA: How would you describe a typical gig experience? Performing in front of a crowd.

CL: Magical, exciting, exhilerating. I love playing live... The worst parts are the build ups to the show, waiting around and the soundcheck etc.

The aftermath is always tiring too - with packing up the drum kit and getting home.

However, its always worth it, to be playing great music and interacting with the audience - the reason why I love to play live.

  

RA: How would you describe Progressive (Prog) Rock to someone who knows nothing about it?

CL: I think the term Prog Rock has kind of lost its meaning throughout the years.

To me, Prog rock can range from anything from the 60s/70s such as Emerson Lake and Palmer, Rush, Led Zepplin to the more modern bands of Tool, Dream Theater and Planet X.

To be progressive rock is about using odd time signatures and playing rock music that is a bit off the wall - and so therefore other artists such as Queen and Kate Bush I would included in the genre too.

However the genre of today seems to be very blurred.

RA: Who are your top three favourite bands and why?

CL: Planet X - I love the technical mastery and overall musicianship of this band.

Their songs are mind blowing and I always come away from gigs truely inspired to be the best I can.

Dream Theater - I love their use of odd time and the cheesey vocals, their earlier albums are my favourite. Another band that pushes the envelope.

  

The Police - I don't own any albums at the moment but I had the greatest hits and also listen to a lot of Sting.

The Police are great because they were so ahead of their time and the songs are so original and you can't help but sing along.

And Stewart Copeland was such an innovator.

RA: Who is your favourite drummer of all time and why?

CL: Hmmmm tough one! Can I say two?

Firstly Buddy Ric, I used to watch old videos of him and his big band and the showmanship blew me away.

He had phenomenal speed and musicality in his fills - a genius who apparently couldn't read music!

Truely awesome.

  

The second is Virgil Donati, I admire his technical ability and, like Buddy, the showmanship.

I love stick tricks and a drummer who can amaze the audience and he definitely does this each time I see him play.

His double pedal skills are amazing and also his song writing ability is outstanding. A true pro musician if ever I saw one.

RA: Who most inspires you in the Prog Rock scene, past or present, and why?

CL: Again, Donati, Dream Theater, Planet x , Enchant, also musicians such as Steve Vai.

Their level of musicianship seems to be that much higher than anything you'd hear on the radio and that's why I have so much appreciation for them.

It takes a long time to get good and even longer to be outstanding. These guys constantly push themselves and I admire that.

 

RA: What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a drummer and is just starting out?

CL: Dream big! Practice when you can and keep going UNTIL you get where you want to be. Far too many drummers quit because they havent found the right band, etc.

Stay with it and play what makes you happy - the rewards are huge!

RA: When you're not drumming, how do you like to spend your spare time?

CL: I'm writing a drumming book at the moment and also I enjoy reading alot also. I go to gigs when I can and also like to keep fit and run whenever I can.

I bake too (which is new for me) so if you're round and its Sunday expect home made cookies/cake.

I am also looking to start learning Japanese in the near future.

  

RA: And finally, any parting words you'd like to leave us with?

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Remember your childhood dreams and follow them. Anything in life is possible if you put your mind to it.

Check out Ciara's website for her latest news!

Also, check out Ciara's bands;

She-Beats - www.myspace.com/theshebeats

BUG - www.myspace.com/bugband

Cherry Bomb - www.myspace.com/cherrybombfan

and Judy Fights Back - www.myspace.com/judyfightsback

 

Eric Quartey - Aspiring to an Entrepreneurial Destiny>

<George Okwir - Dancing his way to Greatness and Hoop Dreams

 

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