Riccardo La Foresta: drumming without drumming

The Italian sound artist & percussionist details the origin and methodology of the Drummophone and the process behind his sonic collaboration with emptyset's James Ginzburg.

Today, the Spotlight shines On Modena, Italy-based sound artist and percussionist Riccardo La Foresta.

Riccardo has spent the last several years exploring the Drummophone—an array of bass drums that create sound by being confronted with compressed air and which, in turn, produce complex acoustic drones. By combining the Drummophone with other electro-acoustic devices and changes in the air pressure in the room where it is set up, a generative system results, one that can create endless possibilities in sound.

In this engaging conversation, we discussed Riccardo’s musical journey, his experimentation in percussion, and his exploration of new techniques and approaches to drumming. We also got into the evolution of drums and percussion instruments, the influence of acoustics on composition, and the potential for drumming education in conservatory settings.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Riccardo La Foresta & James Ginzburg’s album Six and Forty-Six)

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Riccardo La Foresta at riccardolaforesta.com
• Purchase Riccardo La Foresta & James Ginzburg’s Six and Forty-Six on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow Riccardo La Foresta on Instagram and YouTube
• Riccardo La Foresta: playing drums without playing (video)
• Drummophone’s Manifesto
• The Experimental Underbelly of Italian Electronic Music
• Festival: NODE, digital art & music festival in Modena
• Brad Wilk | Drummer, Rage Against The Machine
• Flight of the Bumblebee on percussion (DoubleBeats)
• La Monte Young: ‘I’m only interested in putting out masterpieces’
• Does the world need another drum solo?
• Sonica Festival
• emptyset + James Ginzburg
• Riccardo La Foresta: ‘Curating has taught me how to share’

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