- Jimith Sirinandana on securing an international endorsement
“I remember one time, I went to fill in for a drummer in a gig at a restaurant in Colombo. I was playing the cajon, we finished the set, and when it was time to go home, the band leader took me aside, and said ‘here’s something for your trouble’, and he passed me just Rs. 500!”
Jimith Sirinandana recounted this memory from his early days as a drummer during a conversation we were having about paid gigs, and how much money ends up being spent on transport. Well, Rs. 500 may not have covered his tuk fare home that night, but Jimith took his drumming a whole lot further – today, he’s become one of the most recognised drummers in the country; on a first-name basis with most, if not all, of our top artists as well as some international names. Most recently, he scored a long-term contract with global giant Paiste Cymbals, becoming an ambassador for a top-notch international manufacturer of metal percussion instruments.
Even before the pandemic struck, it was a tough task for local artists to be noticed in the global market – with the lack of support and infrastructure our artists face, a drummer might see more success as a kottu-bass instead of putting in the years of effort required to build a brand that can stand out internationally. But building a brand is what Jimith did, playing gigs, doing session recordings, teaching drum lessons, and managing himself as an artist.
The work obviously paid off – Jimith said he’s the second drummer in the country to bag a long-term contract like what he’s done with Paiste Cymbals – and it seems like he enjoys doing the work entirely by himself. “Why not get a manager?” I asked him. “So you’ve got someone to help work on things like promotion and bookings?” “I like managing myself,” he shrugged. “I’m still learning a lot, but this way I’m free to do things the way I like; to be true to myself. I come up with the ideas and just try them out, and most of all, keep working.”
Now, if you’ve some interest in the local music scene, you’ve likely heard Jimith behind his drum kit – whether laying down the groove during his time with the popular band Magic Box Mixup; bringing some traditional rhythm to back popular local artists on the Dell Studio programme; stirring up some wild fusion beats with his gifted contemporaries at the Bera Fest drum festival; or maybe shedding a beat on one of the creative videos he likes to share online. But if you haven’t – then it’s about time you get familiar with him.
Jimith noted that he started out with traditional Sri Lankan drums, thanks to his family influence, but as he grew older – and got his hands on his first drum kit – he began exploring the gospel chops, ghost notes, and funky rhythms that he now uses to add flair to his beats and catch the crowd’s interest.
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Jimith and Eric Moore at Bera Fest 2017[/caption]
That crowd gradually grew to include some of our top local names, including Mahesh Denipitiya, Rookantha Goonathilake, and Shihan Mihiranga; but it didn’t stop there. At the Bera Fest 2017, a drum festival organised by percussion group Naadro, Jimith met his personal idol, Eric Moore, who was also impressed by his groove.
Speaking of his groove, Jimith said he likes to keep things neat and clean when playing live, while waiting for the space to break out with something extra. With a Porcupine Tree record playing in the background, he pointed out how the drummer doesn’t constantly need to display his technique. “Less is more, yes. But first you need to know ‘more’, before you realise the value of ‘less’. After you go wild on the drums and get all those techniques sorted, then only you’ll naturally understand the value of giving space and using those techniques at the right places.”
More recently, Jimith was given the space to use his techniques by singer and composer Hariharan to record a fusion track, which they hope to release in the coming weeks. Jimith has also been working on a record with renowned bassist Mohini Dey and other international collaborators for another fusion record, this time centred around Sri Lankan drums, which you’ll want to keep an eye out for on his YouTube channel.
This channel, incidentally, is how Jimith began gaining traction globally. “A lot of the exposure started with this drum cover I uploaded on YouTube, of the song Rosanna by Toto. It became very popular at the time, with a lot of international views, and I built quite a fan base from there itself,” he recalled, adding that he’s been able to focus on the channel again over the past year. “After the Covid-19 situation started, I had more time to focus on my social media, so I started putting out interesting content, like collaborations with some really creative artists, and some out-of-the-box stuff of my own, which people really enjoy.”
But Jimith is no longer only looking to build fans. “I’m now working closely with the Academy of Percussion, a drumming school, to teach aspiring drummers through regular lessons, workshops, and drum clinics for those who need to brush up on techniques. The Academy also maintains ‘The Bera Store’, where they sell both traditional and modern drums – and now it is the original dealer and distributor for Paiste Cymbals in Sri Lanka,” he added with a grin.
The Academy also has other larger plans in place, he said, although these have been delayed somewhat due to the pandemic. “We’re working with the Government on a plan to hold a series of drum clinics at schools throughout Sri Lanka. It would be like a month-long tour, where we go to schools around the island to teach school kids about drums, especially traditional drums. Hopefully they get some good ideas about the art and can be inspired to do something creative.”
How this pans out will depend on the situation in the country, but Jimith said he looks forward to being able to make a cultural impact among the country’s youth, and will continue his drum lessons online. Either way, Jimith is one to watch, whether for his upcoming projects with local and international artists, or for the creative shorts he drops every now and then, so make sure you stay tuned to his social channels to see what comes out next.
Facebook: @jimiths
Instagram: @jimith.s
YouTube: Jimmy Drummist