Among the highlights of the excellent Drumfest events during the summer was the chance to see two very different Roland V-Drum users hit the stage with all-electronic set-ups. Johnny Rabb and Omar Hakim may share little in terms of the styles of music they play (on the surface at least), but the sight of the two of them tearing it up – on a TD-12K/HD-1 and TD-20K respectively – was enough to stir the interest of even the most die-hard traditionalist. Johnny’s ultra-modern, skittering d’n’b/dance-oriented performance saw him tweaking sounds in real-time while displaying his jaw-dropping technique (freehand patterns included), while Omar cut loose with typically high-powered funk grooves driving some of his own material. PowerOn put the two innovators in a room together post-performance to get their views on their shared V-Drum Drumfest experience…

It’s quite a bill assembled here today (Benny Greb, Jo Jo Mayer and Jason Bowld also appeared on the bill) – what has it been like to be a part of Drumfest 2007?
Johnny Rabb: “It’s been an incredible experience to be here among such great players. There’s a real diversity of talent and it’s been a joy to watch, and to see how different drummers approach different things.”

Omar Hakim: “I’ve really enjoyed it. And one of the most exciting and important things for me is to be able to come out and do these types of clinics with the V-Drums and to show people that these are now real, viable instruments in their own right.”

Can you describe how V-Drums fit into your regular work schedule when you’re not doing clinic-type events like this one?
Omar Hakim: “I still do a lot of sessions on acousticdrums, but I’m often asked to come in with the V-Drums and record where a producer wants a real hip-hopsounding beat but with that human feel. It’s so much easier for a drummer to go in with one of the TD kits than it is for someone to try and program somethingandrecreate the nuances of feel and swing that a drummernaturally does. I’ve been involved in using electronicdrums for a long timeand it’s exciting to seethem being accepted by people – drummers, artists,engineers and producers – and being used to their full advantage now. And there’s so much good stuff out there, I still feel like I’m just scratching the surface. Like with the SPD-S pad – I really don’t know that piece of equipment, andin fact I’ve just booked my SPD-Smasterclass with Johnny for when we get home!”.

You’re intimately acquainted with all of the V-Drum range Johnny – is the SPD-S something you’re particularly keen on?
Johnny Rabb: “I do really love the SPD-S pad. There’s something about its simplicity and the hands-on nature of the unit that I really enjoy. I like to be involved in creating things from the ground up as much as possible. So where samples are concerned, I like to do things with parts that I’ve played into the SPD-S. I’ll play, forexample, a sustained chord on a synthesizer and sample it, then chop it into sections and use those tocreate rhythmic patterns or whatever. I like the feeling of working with parts that I’ve created from scratch like that.”

Aside from the chance to show people what the V-Drums can do, how do you approach clinics like this? What do you want visitors to take away with them?
Omar Hakim: “Most importantly, that thechallenge is not the technical side of things. The challenge is be able to tap into that creative energy inside of you and communicate something to an audience. It’s a case of attempting to harness your heart, with its emotions, with a physical expression on an instrument. That’s the challenge and that’s what drives me as a musician every day. The technical stuffyou can learn. It’s important, of course, to be capable of playing to a levelwhere you have as few limits as possible, but that’s not the complete focus.”

The two of you have known each other for some time. What are your opinions of each other’s playing and approach?
Johnny Rabb: “I remember growing up listening to Omar. He was a real inspiration. I still recall the first time I really felt the way he could play a groove, that it was something special and deep. It was really a revelation.And of course he’s done so much in his career, so much great work with some of the greatest artists imaginable.”

Omar Hakim: “What Johnny does is very interesting, both in terms of his musicianship, and in terms of his ability to conceive of products that allow him to express himself musically. I mean, it’s one thing to be a great musician, but to be a musician who has the brain actually to be able to create the tools with which he’s working like Johnny has, that’s really something.”

Johnny, you’ve been involved with Roland V-Drums for a long time and know them as well as anyone – what are your thoughts on the way the electronic drum sector has developed to this point?
Johnny Rabb: “I’m very excited by where electronic drums are at the moment, but even more excited by where we’ll be in the next five or ten years. If you think back to what was happening a decade ago, we were nowhere near where we are now. The sophistication and specification of equipment now, well, we couldn’t have dreamed of it. So who knows what we’ll be able to do in the coming years? I can’t wait to see what happens.”