Jul 11, 2023
Introducing Nikolay Danev: A Drummer That Needs No Introduction to the World of Rhythms and Beats. His innate attraction to drums and his upbringing in a family of musicians ignited a lifelong passion for rhythm.
From an early age, he immersed himself in diverse music styles, embracing the pulse of Folk, the intensity of Metal, and the intricacies of Jazz, culminating in a captivating journey that now harmoniously blends acoustic mastery with the electrifying world of electronic music.
Get ready to be inspired by the rhythmic genius of Nikolay Danev as he takes us on a transformative musical odyssey.
As a drummer, what initially drew you to the instrument, and how has your rhythmic style evolved over the years?
According to me, the attraction to drums is innate. According to my parents, who are also musicians, I used to try playing with makeshift materials like spoons and pots. In preschool, they even sent me with two drums so that if I broke the skin on one, they could replace it with the other. I received a drum set at the age of 3. I started with folk music, which I played with my parents. In fact, they taught me the basics of playing in a group. At the age of 12, I had my first concert with my own band. We played Trash Metal, inspired by Slayer, Metallica, and Sepultura. Along the way, I also went through lighter metal styles with bands like Accept and Halloween. In the following years, the styles became heavier, until I reached Death Metal and Grind Core.
In 1995, I finished school and entered the military service for a year and a half. That detachment from reality allowed me to completely change direction, and it was then that I started listening to and playing Jazz. Subsequently, I went through various bands and music styles. I share these stories not by chance. Going through all these different music styles and studying them gives me a broad perspective on music as a whole. It gives me the resource to combine all this knowledge and form my own style of musical expression, which continues to evolve and take shape to this day.
Can you describe a memorable collaboration where you combined your drumming skills with electronic music, and how does it influence your creative process?
My first experience, of course, was with Drum & Bass music, back in 1997. By that time, I had already started playing music as a DJ in a club. In electronic music, sampled beats from acoustic drums were mainly used. The main difference in electronic music is the sampling, which may seem elementary at first glance but is incredibly challenging to execute. It requires an in-depth understanding of the subject matter and immense concentration.
What advice would you give to young drummers who are interested in combining electronic music with live performance? Are there any resources or techniques that have been helpful on your own journey?
My advice to young musicians is to listen to a wide range of music and study it in detail. For me, all this accumulated knowledge I've gained by listening to and attempting to interpret various music styles has been the most valuable.
Are there any specific styles within electronic music that particularly resonate with you as a drummer? How do you incorporate your rhythmic style into these genres?
As a drummer, I naturally have a strong affinity for Drum & Bass and Jungle music. But at the moment, I am particularly drawn to Minimal, Electro, and Tech House. In general, the concept of minimalism somehow reshaped my perspective on everything. These styles have actually changed my way of playing acoustic music. Of course, there is a two-way influence. Acoustic percussion instruments or rhythmic figures characteristic of them always appear in my electronic tracks but are replaced with electronic sounds.