< PreviousModern Drummer June 2021 38 My daddy said he knew I had rhythm before I could walk. He has videos of me bouncing in perfect timing with the Teletubbies theme tune. I guess my mummy and daddy knew I really liked drums, because I would not stop playing them. Do any of your friends have the same passion for music as you do? Is there a “Nandi Crew” that talks about playing music, music gear, and artists that everyone should check out? Not really. I never talk about what I am doing with my friends at school. Most of my friends are into pop music. When I tell them my favorite band is Slipknot, they don’t know who they are. Also, COVID has made it difficult to jam with friends. How old were you when you started formal lessons? I started taking drum lessons at six years old. I have the best drum teacher in the world—Ashley Howard. I am now on Grade Eight drums in Rockschool, and I am going to move onto the jazz grades soon. When I am about to take an exam, I like to get it perfect. The best part is learning something new that’s really difficult, and then smashing it. Do you practice rudiments? I practice everything. I have recently really got into double-bass pedals. That’s what I love about metal music—all the bass notes and the energy. Did you learn guitar and bass from listening to records, or did you take lessons on those instruments, as well? When I started, I watched YouTube videos, slowed them down, and copied the notes and chords. I have learned a lot from YouTube. I do have a guitar teacher now, as well. How often do you practice drums? Guitar? Bass? Vocals? Drums are always my go-to instrument. Then, its bass, guitar, keyboard, and singing. I have only recently started to sing. It really depends on what song I want to learn. So, which instrument is the most fun to play: Drums, guitar, or bass? Easy. Drums. I love all of my instruments, but I really, really love my drums. Regarding drumming, are your rehearsals usually formal practice sessions to work on a particular technique, or do you prefer to just sit down and play? The epic Dave Grohl/Nandi Bushell drum battle.June 2021 Modern Drummer 39 It depends. If I am practicing my Rockschool grades, I sit down and go through the book. If I am practicing for a cover—or writing a song—I mess around with tracks minus the drums. Are there any specific books, YouTube videos, and/or teachers that have been critical to your growth as a drummer? Absolutely! When I first started drumming, my daddy would play me Drumeo videos on basic beats and easy fills. The first fill I ever learned was from Stephen Taylor. I remember the fill as I thought he said it, which was “Splat, boom, Debbie, boom.” Then, I started watching Casey Cooper’s YouTube channel. He had this video where he was drumming with fire. It was epic. I have loved watching his covers ever since. I learned a lot about how I like to perform from him. He really goes for it, and he has fun—like me. There’s also my teacher Ashley Howard, who helps me through my Rockschool grades. My parents always encourage me to be who I want to be, perform how I want to perform, and listen to the music I want to listen to. And, of course, players like Dave Grohl, Questlove, Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, Flea, and Lenny Kravitz have all given me so much love and support, which makes me want to keep playing and having fun. What’s it like when someone such as Dave Grohl or Lenny Kravitz takes an interest in your career? Well, it’s pretty cool. I think the more I learn about Dave and Lenny, the more awesome it becomes. I feel really lucky. I do work hard, but so do lots of other amazingly talented kids and adults. I know my time with them was a privilege. Many musicians dream of having Andrea Southam Modern Drummer June 2021 40 the opportunities that I’ve had to meet and play with these artists. I just want people to know that I know how lucky I am. Can you get a little deeper into your experiences with some of your famous fans? Lenny Kravitz was so kind and encouraging. Meeting Lenny was like meeting a friend and jamming with them. The first time I heard someone say, “love and respect,” it was Lenny. I say that all the time now. Mr. Grohl taught me that anything is possible. He also helped me see how much fun there is in making people feel happy. Mr. Morello and his family are so awesome. I still can’t believe we have written a kick-ass song together to help raise awareness for climate change. Tom helped me realize that my social platform is a privilege, and that I must use my voice to help others who don’t have a voice—like the earth! But without Questlove none of the experiences I have had would have happened. He found me on Instagram playing the “Funky Drummer” beat on a kit that was too big for me, and he reached out to gift me one of his Ludwig Pocket Kits. Having a kit that fit me made a big difference in my playing. I got to meet him at the Blackheath Festival in London. He even wrote “Practice, Practice, Practice” on my sticks. All of these friends are just normal people like you and me, and they are really nice. They didn’t have to help me, jam with me, battle with me, or write music with me. They did it because they are kind, Bushell’s Movie Studio Bushell’s father, John, typically manages the recording and video productions with Nandi, and, sometimes, her brother, Thomas. Video lighting is seldom used, and the setup is rather simple. Video Recording Device iPhone 12 Pro Max. Microphones General kit/toms: Four Roland mics. Overheads: Two Shure SM57. Kick Drum: Shure Beta 52A Software Tools Adobe Premiere Pro (video editing) and Apple Logic Pro (audio). John BushellJune 2021 Modern Drummer 41 loving people. When you meet or correspond with a celebrated musician, what types of things do you ask them for your own growth and education? Mainly, I want to jam with them. I want to jam with as many awesome musicians as possible. Is there any musician you haven’t yet met that you’d love to jam with? Millions! I would love to jam with Ringo Starr, as he was the drummer that started everything for me. And, thanks to Questlove, I am endorsed by Ludwig—the same brand of drums I saw Ringo play. I would love to have a hardcore metal battle with Jay Weinberg. He is crazy good. Oh, and also Billie Eilish. What about now? Are you collaborating with anyone at moment? I have recently written a song to raise awareness for climate change with Tom Morello and his nine-year-old son, Roman. We had an awesome time writing together. Tom, Roman, and I would send video messages and ideas to each other over email. I wrote the drum part, the lyrics, and the vocal melodies, while Tom and Roman created the guitar and bass parts. I hope people love our song, and that we get to play it together in person some day. Do you have to sort through tons of fan messages every day? What’s that like? My parents manage my social media accounts. If there is a message they think is important, they will show it to me, and I will respond. I do go on social media, but I only comment on posts with my parents. I know social media can be a dangerous place, so I need to be safe. I have had lots of talks from mummy and daddy about the amazing but extremely dangerous place the Internet is. You have been gifted some pretty cool gear by high-profile artists and manufacturers. How does that usually go down? Well, I had a lot of fun jamming with Lenny Kravitz at the O2 Arena in London. I got to play on a Ludwig Legacy Mahogany kit, and it was the best kit I had ever played. When I became the first-ever Ludwig Junior Ambassador, they asked what kit I would like, and I said, “The one I jammed on with Lenny!” They made a smaller one to fit me. I love my kit! Then, a few years ago, Anderson .Paak shared a video of me jamming to “Use Me” by Bill Withers on Instagram. Sarah Hagan— who worked with Zildjian at the time—reached out and asked if I would like some sweet Zildjian cymbals. I said, “Yes, Please.” I am also endorsed by Fender. I have a beautiful custom Stratocaster. I have been really lucky to also have received guitars from Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Lenny Kravitz, and Ellen DeGeneres. A lot of talented young people post YouTube videos, but your ability to catch the ears/eyes of established musicians and rock celebrities is truly astounding. What’s your secret? I think people like my videos because I make them smile, and my playing makes them feel happy. I feel happy if they are happy! I think me and my daddy are a good team. He teaches me about good bands and good music. He is a software engineer, so he also knows a lot about the Internet and social media. He talks a lot about hashtags and boring stuff like that [laughs]. I think the most important thing is that if it makes me, my brother Thomas, and my mummy and daddy smile, it’s going to make other people smile, too. It’s really amazing to know we can make people feel happy—even if it’s just for a few minutes. We have been making these fun videos for years—even when nobody was watching them. It’s just that now people are. Nothing has really changed for us. We have fun. You generate so much personality and excitement when you film your videos. When you compare your millions of views to the views of some other excellent drummers, it’s obvious that a “performance look” might be part of the entertainment. How important is visual impact to garnering massive social views? I don’t know. I’m going to pass this question to my daddy. John Bushell. Hey MD readers, the numbers are not something Nandi really comprehends yet. Nandi is unique in so many ways— just like you—but what I believe people love about Nandi is her authenticity. When we make videos, Nandi performs how she feels. She is not embarrassed or overthinking about what will get views. The best takes are usually her first ones in which she Tom Morello gave Bushell one of his signature Fender Stratocasters.Modern Drummer June 2021 42 does what comes natural to her. I started sharing videos of Nandi playing the drums, because they made my wife and I smile. Her passion was heartwarming. I can’t give anyone advice on how to capture lightning in a bottle as I don’t make the lightning. I am just extremely lucky to be there to capture it. Also, we have never paid for social advertising. If you make content that people want to see, it will get seen. How do your parents factor into your YouTube productions? It’s me and Daddy. He does the lights, the sound, the editing, and the posting. He is teaching me and Thomas how to do it, as well. Thomas really likes directing, and so do I. Do you feel any pressure to make your videos spot on? Do you ever re-do parts or entire performances because you feel you weren’t at your best during a specific take? I try not to feel pressure, but, of course, I want to do a good job. I practice during the week to get my parts perfect, so I don’t have to redo parts when we film. If a take does not feel good and make us all smile, we generally don’t post it. Are you obsessed with perfection, or are you the type of musician who prizes feel and vibe over precision? I like to get things right. But I also really like to rock out. I think it’s good to try and aim for perfection, but making people feel good John BushellJune 2021 Modern Drummer 43 and have fun is what I like about performing. I mean, punk and rock music are not all about perfection. It’s about sticking it to the man and being yourself. I notice that you sometimes set up your ride and crash cymbals to your right, rather than positioned all around the kit. Is there a performance or ergonomic reason for that? I don’t really know. I feel like I am still experimenting. Sometimes, my daddy will move them into a position that looks good on camera, and I just work with it. How do you like to tune your toms? Do you prefer low-end resonance, a sharp attack, or some other sound? I like my kit to sound like a rock or metal kit. You like to play barefoot. Do you feel you have more control over the footpedal that way? My mummy and daddy won’t let me wear shoes in the house—unless they are new and have never been outside. Trainers and socks are too slippery, so barefoot it is. I sometimes get blisters on my feet from playing so much, but my feet are getting tough. Just like my hands. I don’t get blisters as much anymore. Do you prefer keeping your kick-drum grooves simple, or do you like the rat-a-tat style that many double-bass drummers deploy? Right now, I like the double pedal, and doing triples on bass drums. But it really depends on what the song needs. I like high-energy songs, but I also know the best drummers are the ones that play for the song and not for themselves. What’s your opinion of click tracks? I play with click tracks when recording my own songs, because it makes it easier to match up the other instruments and trigger effects. But when I am doing covers, I have to learn the song based on the original drummer’s natural groove. When I covered the Who’s “My Generation,” it was really tricky, because Keith Moon did not use a click track, and he sped up and up and up. It made the song exciting, but it’s much more difficult to cover because of the tempo changes. What typically inspires your fills? Do you plan them out, or create them spontaneously? If I am writing a song, I jam over it a lot until I hear something good. I try to write the beats and fills to make the song sound awesome, but not to show off. But I still add awesome fills in, too [laughs]. What aspects of drumming do you feel you’ve mastered at this point in time, and what elements do you feel you still need to work on? I think I have mastered rock, but not metal yet. I just know the more I play, the better I will get, and the more fun I’ll have. Everything I have been taught, I can do. I want to learn more about jazz. I think pop music is generally a bit boring. The beats don’t excite me, and the lyrics are always about boyfriends and girlfriends. It’s just not very cool. But if it makes people happy, then I am happy for them. Do you ever emulate parts from any specific drummers you’ve studied when doing a cover? I like John Bonham’s bass triplets. I also really love the song “Unsainted” by Slipknot. I just love all the fills and the speed. There really are too many awesome parts in so many songs. I love the “Bernard Purdie Shuffle.” That groove has been in loads of songs. I A surprise from Muse gui- tarist Matt Bellamy—his signature Cort guitar.Modern Drummer June 2021 44 also like the beat on Clyde Stubblefield’s “Funky Drummer.” Then, there are all those great fills Dave Grohl created in Nirvana. I really love that Dave—just like Lenny Kravitz, Prince, and Stevie Wonder—can play all instruments and write all of the parts to their songs. I want to be able to write and perform all parts to my songs, too. Do you tend to practice along with recordings of certain drummers? Right now, I am really into metal, and Jay Weinberg [Slipknot] is my favorite metal drummer. I watch a lot of YouTube drum covers, so many of my influences are influencers themselves—people like Casey Cooper, Mini Fairhurst, Kristina Rybalchenko, Meytal Cohen, Sina, and Kristina Schiano. Who do you feel are the best drummers today? There are too many! Every time I learn a new cover, I get a new favorite. In addition to the drummers I’ve already mentioned, there’s Travis Barker, Nate Smith, Brad Wilk [Rage Against the Machine], Matt Helders [Arctic Monkeys], Ben Thatcher [Royal Blood], Mat Nicholls [Bring Me the Horizon], Chad Smith [Red Hot Chili Peppers], and Dom Howard [Muse], and Questlove. Then, there’s Jas Kayser, Cindy Blackman, Sheila E., The Pocket Queen [Taylor Gordon], Sarah Thawer, Bianca Richardson, Raja Meissner, and my friend Yoyoka Soma. As you’ve performed a number of classic- rock covers, what do you feel are the basic differences between the drummers of the ‘60s and ‘70s and today? A lot of new pop music I hear today sounds fake and simple—except for Billie Eilish. The beats are all a bit robotic. I never hear beats like John Bonham, Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, or Neil Peart in modern-pop music on the radio. I want to incorporate all the beats from the rock gods in the music I make. How is your typical day spent between school, homework, home chores, musical practice, and video production? I go to school from 8 am until 4 pm. On Mondays, I have a drum lesson at 4:30 pm for an hour. Then, I can skateboard and play until bedtime at around 8:30 pm. During the week, I practice for an hour or more after school, and then I play with my brother. We like playing computer games and running around. I also like watching cartoons. Teen Titans is my favorite. On Fridays, we have movie night—which I love. Saturday, we bake in the morning and listen to music together. I usually pick a song I want to learn, and I’ll practice for an hour or so if we are not going out somewhere. Sunday, we usually chill in the mornings, and I’ll film a video after lunch. My daddy sets everything up, so it never really takes too long to film. We never film anything unless I feel ready. Then, I just relax for the rest of the day. I like to do creative things. Sometimes I bake, or paint, or write music. It depends on the weather. I like being busy. I am never bored. Do you feel you are missing out on anything when you focus so much time on learning, practicing, performing, and filming music? Not at all. I love music. Every week, I have a one-hour drum lesson, and a one-hour guitar and bass lesson. I practice every day for one hour—sometimes more, and sometimes less. If I am relaxing watching television, I usually either have my guitar to noodle on or my practice pads, so it never really feels like practice. Over the weekends, we only spend an hour or so making videos. Everything is set up, so I just jump on the kit and rock out. I do it because I love it, and the better I get, the more fun it is. I think being in lockdown really helped me get better, too. There was nowhere to go, so I just jammed all the time. What is the most valuable advice you have received to date? When learning something new, always count out loud, and try not to get frustrated. It’s almost impossible to get something right the first time, so give yourself a break. What do you believe are the most critical skills that will serve aspiring drummers today? Do it because you love it, don’t give up when it gets hard, and keep challenging yourself. If someone of any age was starting their drumming journey today, what would you recommend to them as being essential things to do? As Questlove said to me when I met him: “Practice, practice, practice.” But, most importantly, have fun. Rock out, pull faces, let go! Who cares what people think if it feels good smashing on the drums. Shout-Outs from the Community Bushell has an almost magical ability to inspire and engage not just everyday people and players with her videos, but also renowned artists. When she was the guest on a recent Modern Drummer podcast, those musicians wanted to join the party and say a few words about her. Charlie Benante, Anthrax “I wanted to say how much I enjoy your videos. I especially love the “Immigrant Song” video where you play all the instruments. I had a big smile on my face watching it. You have been a light in a very dark time. Maybe we could both do a video together, and thrash out!” Mario Duplantier, Gojira “I love watching you play drums. Keep rocking!” Ben Harper “You’re playing is incredible, and so inspiring. I look forward to seeing you live. And, hey, if you have a spare moment, I need a drum lesson.” Taylor Momsen “Your talent and your love of music is a total inspiration for so many people—including myself. Keep doing what you’re doing and keep on rocking.” Branden Steineckert, Rancid “Thank you for being my favorite part of Instagram. Keep killing it. Much love and respect.” Jay Weinberg, Slipknot “It’s awesome to watch you grow and develop as a drummer. I’ve seen the “Unsainted” video you’ve done, and it’s so incredible. Hopefully, we can meet someday soon and jam. You can maybe give me a couple of pointers?” Brad Wilk, Rage Against the Machine “Nandi you rock, you roll, you get funky, you get metal—you do it all. We love you, and we can’t wait to see what’s next. Keep it up girl!”23 exciting and exclusive interviews and jams with legendary artists and Chad being Chad. Drum Channel has 1000 Lesson Videos plus 400 Shows. Now available: “Modern Drummer Legends Chad Smith” special edition.Modern Drummer June 2021 46 YOYOKA By Michael Molenda W arning: Do not pit your productivity and public standing against that of 11-year-old YOYOKA, because unless you happen to be Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Richard Branson all rolled into one butt-kicking humanoid, you’re going to get yourself slaughtered. Here we go... YOYOKA started playing drums at two years old, performed her first live gig at four, and joined her family’s band, Kaneaiyoyoka, at five. She released her first CD while still in kindergarten. At eight years old, YOYOKA was the youngest weekly champ in the under-18 category of the international Hit Like A Girl drumming contest. When she filmed a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times,” it not only blew up with more than two-million YouTube views, but it was also picked up and promoted on NBC, NPR, Billboard, Rolling Stone, and other media. Soon, YOYOKA started making fans of major artists such as Robert Plant, Sheryl Crow, Chad Smith, Ian Paice, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer, Dave Grohl, and Brad Wilk. It was only a matter of time until world-famous artists started collaborating with YOYOKA as a guest performer, and she took the stage with Fall Out Boy in front of 20,000 at Japan’s Rising Sun Rock Festival. When Cyndi Lauper toured Japan, YOYOKA was her guest drummer for two songs at her Tokyo Orchard Hall performance. All of this public attention eventually prompted big corporations to seek out YOYOKA, and she was endorsed by Nike, Moncler, UNIQLO, Pearl, Vic Firth, Zildjian, DW, CYMPAD, and others. She was also invited to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2019, and in the same year, she became the youngest person to ever be named as one of Newsweek Japan’s “100 Japanese People Respected by the World.” And we haven’t even talked about the millions of views she continues to garner on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. While she obviously has some help and support from her parents—I mean, she is a pre-teen, after all—YOYOKA’s enthusiasm, artistry, work ethic, and utter joy of performing is what really appears to be driving her popularity. That’s a lesson a creator of any age should take to heart. Why did you choose Pearl drums? I’ve been using Pearl drums ever since I was a baby. For the drum set I currently use, I chose the material, size, and color for each part myself. You customized your set, so I’m assuming it’s your dream kit? A drum kit with a sleeping space would be a dream! How do you like to tune your toms? I like fat and low sounds, but I go with my instincts when it comes to tuning. I trust my ears to make a good sound. Who is the first drummer that inspired you to pick up the drumsticks and play? Nobody really. I was naturally drumming on my own. I don’t think I am influenced by any drummers. Well, who do you watch when you’re looking for motivation? Sometimes, I watch Chris Coleman and Nate Smith. They have talent that I don’t have, and I admire that. How do your parents support your love for making music? They have provided me with a great environment to practice music, and they always help me with recording, mixing, shooting, and editing my videos. I’ve been writing original songs with my family ever since I was five years old. I write songs and lyrics by myself, and I also play different kinds of instruments. My dad is teaching me how to record on Pro Tools. Did you ever take lessons? Basically, I am self-taught. But starting last year, I’ve been taking lessons from a teacher once a month. Do you practice technique and rudiments? Not really. I’ve always played freely. I like coming up with drum parts for original songs. My basic routine is that I practice 30 minutes every day. In the beginning, it’s me playing freely, then I practice a song I am working on, and finally I jam with my family. Actually, I think we spend more time talking than playing! June 2021 Modern Drummer 47 When you’re not performing covers, do you ever emulate any parts from specific drummers who are in the bands you’ve covered? Never! Do you have any drum performances that you particularly like? I love the drum sound for “Come Together” by the Beatles. I especially love how the toms sound. If someone of any age was starting their drumming journey today, what would you recommend to them as being essential things to do? I would want them to just enjoy playing, and to play freely in the beginning. I also think it’s more important to jam with someone, rather than playing along with a specific song. Oh, and work on your groove. You’ve become a sort of social-networking entrepreneur at such a young age. What is your typical day like? My basic routine is that I wake up at 7 am and go to school from 7:30 am until 3:30 pm, when I come home, eat snacks, and watch YouTube. I do homework and study English from 4 pm to 5 pm, and then I play soccer in my backyard. At 5:30 pm, I have dinner and watch Netflix. I always watch English- language shows as lessons. I play games on my iPad at 7 pm, practice drums or other instruments at 7:30 pm, and play cards with my family at 8 pm. Then, it’s bath time, and I’m in bed by 9:30 pm. What is your approach to producing video content? I try to keep it simple. I always stick to an uncut shoot. If I make a mistake, I start all over from the beginning. How many cameras do you use to film? Three. I have a Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5, a Panasonic HC-W580M, and a Zoom Q2n. Do you use video lights? No. What about your software tools? I use Apple Final Cut Pro for video editing, and Pro Tools for audio recording. How do you mic your drums for the audio track? We set up 12 microphones. For the bass drum, I have a AKG D112 positioned outside and an Audio-Technica ATM25 on the inside. I use three Shure SM57 or BETA 57A mics on the snare drum—top, bottom, and side. The hi-hat is miked with a Shure BETA 58A. I use Audix D2s for my rack toms and a Sennheiser e 902 for the floor tom. The overheads are two AKG C414 XLS mics, and I also place a Neumann U 87 Ai out in the room. [Editor’s Note: This is an extensive setup with some very nice microphones. The Neumann alone can cost more than $3,000.] What is the process for selecting the drum covers you present on your social channels? Do you study trends or ask your friends or family for counsel? No. I only do songs I want to do. Sometimes, my fans will recommend a song, and if I like it, I might try to do it. I listen to lots of songs on YouTube and iTunes and I search for what I like. That’s how I found “Good Times Bad Times.” YOYOKA’s Rig Drumset Pearl YOYOJA Custom: 20x22 kick drum, 8x10 and 8x12 rack toms, 16x16 floor tom, 6.5x14 Free Floating Brass snare. Footpedal DW DWCP5002TD4 Cymbals Zildjian 20" K Zildjian Ride Zildjian 18" K Zildjian Dark Crash Thin Zildjian 16" K Zildjian Dark Crash Thin Zildjian 14" A Zildjian New Beat Hi-Hats Zildjian 17" K Zildjian China Sticks Vic Firth, 8D Drumheads RemoNext >