In a revealing Roundtable discussion, three of the most influential drummers—Gina Schock of The Go-Go’s, Janet Weiss of Quasi and Sleater-Kinney, and Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint—shared their experiences and insights about drumming.
The discussion highlighted how each drummer brings a unique approach to the kit, despite their different musical backgrounds. Schock, Weiss, and Mozgawa came together via Zoom to reminisce about their onstage experiences, discuss the future of drumming, and express their admiration for emerging talents like Nandi Bushell and The Linda Lindas.
All three drummers agree on the irreplaceable energy drumming brings to music. Weiss emphasizes, “Energy is something the music craves. I just try to make the music explosive and exciting.”
Mozgawa praises Weiss’s contribution, saying, “You just can’t help but be iconic, Janet.”
Schock adds, “It’s power, man. You sit behind there and we are in such control of everything. We’re the foundation of everything. Everything has to sit on top of us… We set the pace. We gotta be good, or else everybody’s gonna be like shit.”