Age: 30
Resides: San Francisco, CA
Current Band: SISTAS IN THE PIT

ieela Grant was a late bloomer—she was 25 years old when she started formally playing drums. In elementary school, she played the flute through middle school, but every time she had a substitute teacher, the class would switch instruments and she would always jump on the drums. In high school, Ieela played the tuba—this was her introduction to the rhythm section.

After school, ieela moved to New York City to find herself. She met a lot of people in the film industry, got a job as a Production Assistant, and worked on a feature film and a couple of videos. She ended up in a recording studio one day with a group (A.S.K. ME) that she had befriended. It was an exciting experience for her to watch a song come together.

After listening to sixteen hours of the same song, ieela decided to give herself a grand tour of the studio. She wandered in and out of several empty live recording rooms, stopping at one room with a grand piano, electric bass, and an old drum kit. She went and sat down at the kit. Before she could do anything, a greasy old man (whom she now considers to be her greasy old angel) walked in and bellowed, "Do you play?" He was shouting as though one of them had a hearing problem. ieela replied with a quiet, "No."

When ieela I got up, her greasy angel sat down and brought that beat up old drum kit to life. He hit everything. ieela watched the dust fly away and wood chips jump off the sticks. Something inside of her literally woke up—she felt alive. When he was done, he handed her the sticks and told her to go for it. ieela sat down and the kit looked old and broken again. She began to play and was fascinated by the fact that she had no coordination—absolutely no limb independence at all. She became determined to learn to play the drums and thanks her greasy old angel for inspiring her.

DG: How did you learn to play?
IG: I got my first pair of sticks and started hitting everything. Pots, pans, books, pillows, chairs, counter tops, and the couch were my personal favorites. The couch was my first drum kit. I could get a lot of cool bass and low tom sounds out of it. I would start a beat or fill and see how fast I could go. I would drive my mom crazy. She would tell me to try reading the books instead of hitting them.

DG: What was your first kit?
IG: My first kit was given to me by another drummer girl. It was actually her first drum kit that was just sitting in her mom’s basement. So she decided to give it to me. It was a four-piece with pearl white drum shells. We could’nt figure out what make it was. But I shined her up good and I was so happy. Didn’t know how to play or even set her up. But she was shinning. I remember I didn’t have a bass pedal for a long time, so I would kick the kick for real. I ended up trading that kit in for an aquamarine Ludwig 5-piece Elite Rocker.

DG: What kind of kit do you play on now?
IG: I am currently playing the same kit. But I broke the middle tom-tom arm and have not had any luck in replacing it, so my kit is a 4-piece now.

DG: Which way do you play—left-or right-handed?
IG: Right handed. But I do practice playing open with my left hand leading to stay balanced. I was told once that a drummer would only be as strong as his/her weaker hand so I try to focus on my left hand as much as I can.

DG: What style of drums/percussion do you play?
IG: SISTAS IN THE PIT is a rock band so I play with a heavy rock drive, but I definitely have to throw in the funk grooves every now and then. As far as percussion, I have studied West African, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian rhythms.

DG: Have you ever taken lessons? If so, where? Would you recommend lessons to others?
IG: Yes. I am currently studying with the great Mr. Chuck Brown out in San Rafael. He is all about technique and tension release. He alone has produced an army of great drummers. I am very proud to be his student. It took me two years of persistently calling him every week before I started lessons with him. His waiting list is insane and he only takes serious students. Yes, I would recommend others to take lessons. I think it is very important to get as much information as you can. I have some drummer friends who can not play any more because they spent so many years playing with some bad habits. Now they have tendonitis/carpel tunnel/hand surgeries and it is simply too painful to play anymore.

DG: Who are your current influences?
IG: Locally my favorite drummer girl is Daria Johnson. She’s the kick butt drummer for the band London Street. She is definitely one of San Francisco’s treats. Recently I had the honor of meeting the New York-based drummer Allison Miller. Her jazz drumming is amazing. I got to see her play at the Connecticut Yankee in San Francisco for the first time and I could not take my eyes off of her. She was playing with Jessica Lurie (sax), Julie Wolf (accordion), and Jon Evans (upright bass). I was blown away. Other jazz drummers I like are Cindy Blackman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Tony Williams, Jack Dejohnette, Elvin Jones, Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, Brian Blade. Funk drummers I admire include Dennis Chambers, Bernard Purdie, Stanton Moore, Billy Martin, Idris Muhammad, Zigaboo. In the rock domain, I love Danny Carey, the drummer for Tool. Other big influences have been John Bonham, Lars Ulrich, Ginger Baker, Kieth Moon, Terry Bozzio and Steve Smith.

DG: What are your favorite sticks?
IG: My favorite sticks happen to be PRO-MARK (5A) Japan Oak. These sticks are perfect for our rock set. When I practice, I like to use a larger/heavier stick. I prefer the SD2 BOLERO or the SD9 Driver by VIC FIRTH. Wood tips only! Not that nylon tips don’t rock…wood tips just feel better.

DG: How do you carry all your equipment?
IG: Fortunately my bass player, the real Kofy Brown helps me out. She has a large SUV, so I load up in her vehicle and we roll together. On occasion, I have taken a cab to and from a gig with my gear. At this time, I am a drummer without a car—this is not the ideal situation. Being a professional musician, you need to be responsible for your own equipment. Soon I will have my ride situation under control. (If anyone out there reading this would like to donate a working car/truck to the “This Drummer Needs a Ride!” Foundation, please contact ieela Grant at ieela_grant@yahoo.com.)

DG: Do you get intimidated when you go in a drum store?
IG: Not at all. I used to go into Guitar Center all the time. I would just hang out and try and learn something. There was always a guy wanting to show off his chops. I ended up getting a job there in the drum department where I learned a lot.

DG: Do you play by ear and intuition, or do you focus on mastering the music.
IG: I play music by ear and intuition with a focus. Music to me is energy, feeling, passion, power, emotion. It's a giving space of organized sound coming from truth and experience. As far as mastering the music, I try and stay true to myself and let the sound come out of me. By practicing and rehearsing, we are able to develop a vocabulary and when it is time to give our show, the music speaks for itself. At this age, I am not a master of anything.

DG: Name your favorite drummer and describe his/her best qualities.
IG: I have such a hard time with this question because there are so many drummers that I have so much respect for. I will say that on August 9th, 2000, I saw Cindy Blackman at Yoshi’s with her jazz quartet. It was her “Works on Canvas” tour. The drum kit was to the right of the stage at an angle in front. I got front row seats, literally right at her feet. Cindy’s foot was like a cannon, hitting every target. The triplet feel she produced on her ride cymbal just blew me away. Basic rock and roll rhythms were all I could play at that time so I was lost in a state of awe. Her every limb was telling a different story. After every song, I jumped up and gave her a standing ovation. I was so excited I couldn’t help myself. At that time, I had never really seen a woman drummer live. So she is definitely one of the many great drummers I hold close to my heart.

DG: What do you believe the drummer’s role in the band is?
IG: I believe the drummer’s role in a band is to be the consistent keeper of a time during a period of time, in order to express your sound or music. I believe that the difference between life and death…is rhythm. So for me the drummer’s role is essentially to be the heart. Keeping it alive and going strong is our job. The heart beat!

DG: What if any, is the difference between playing with a male as opposed to female musicians?
IG: Women tend to be more emotional beings by nature, so I must admit my experience with these ladies (my sistas) has been extremely emotional, more of a spiritual life journey than a jam session. Not to say I can't have that with male musicians. It just hasn’t been my experience, and quite honestly, because my goal has always been so specific— to start a rock band with other black women—I may have limited myself in a way, but I knew what I wanted. I also knew what I wasn’t getting from MTV and the radio, and that was black women in rock bands. I still have the ad that I put in the paper. When I started to look for my dream band, the ad read: B.P.P. (Black Pussy Project). You had to be black, born a female (no disrespect to the trans-gender population), play an instrument and/or vocals, had to be raw, could not have a problem with the word “PUSSY” and you had to want to seriously play rock.

DG: What was your best come back to an ignorant comment about your drumming (like, “Wow, I didn’t know girls could drum…)?
IG: Every situation is different, but the general response is, “We can do everything and anything that the boys can do if not better! We can do anything we put our mind to.” Think about it. Every thing around you exists because someone somewhere had a thought or an idea. Since you asked me, I will tell you, this world continues to exist because of the female thinkers. This one guy after a gig said to me, “Wow, you play like a guy.” I laughed and asked him what he meant by that. It was obvious he felt silly when he realized he could not answer my question, so we both laughed. I gave him a hug.

DG: When a man asks you if you need help carrying your drums, what do you say?
IG: I usually say “I got it, thank you.” But sometimes when that gig is on the 2nd or 3rd floor, no elevator, I appreciate all the help I can get. Ladies, unfortunately there are some shady, unkind people out there, so watch your gear at all times, before and after your gig. I had my double bass pedal Iron Cobra stolen once. It still hurts.

DG: Do you think being a woman in a male-dominated profession has been a help, a hindrance, or neither? Why?
IG: It has definitely helped as far as my band the SISTAS IN THE PIT—we being Black women in rock and roll is just not something you see everyday. Jello Biafra (the former Dead Kennedy’s front man) came to one of our shows and let us know, in his research he could not find one single existing all-black female rock band. That just goes to show how important this project is. So it has definitely been a huge plus. Being a woman is always a plus in my book!

DG: Was there ever anything that kept you from playing?
IG: A few neighbors complained but we worked out a schedule. Hopefully nothing will ever get in the way.

DG: How long were you playing before you knew this was the thing for you?
IG: I honestly believe the drums called me that day in the studio in New York. The day I got my first pair of sticks, I felt like I had found my voice. I just needed to learn how to speak and figure out what I wanted to say. When I got my own drum kit in 2000, I knew [that drumming was for me]. I would fall asleep staring at her. I slept with my sticks under my pillow. When I woke up, I would begin the bashing and banging until it began to sound like music. Having her set up in my bedroom made me so happy. I knew right away it was serious.

DG: How long were you playing before you played a gig?
IG: I had been playing a year and a half before the SISTAS got together. We rehearsed for six months before our first gig. So two years.

DG: Do you have any drum tuning tips?
IG: I go by what I think sounds and feels good. I usually start with the snare drum, take it each lug at a time. I tighten the screws by hand until they won’t move. Then I use a drum key starting at one point and then jumping to the opposite lug. Working my way around the drum, I repeat this until all the lugs are tightened. Then I hit the drum with my finger or a stick to see if the pitch is even at each lug. Once I get it to the desired tone, I then work my way down from the highest tom to the lowest tom.

DG: How did you improve your speed?
IG: I practice regularly with a metronome. I record my speed on certain rudiments. Keeping a log is very important. That way I can monitor my progress and then be able to challenge myself.

DG: Do you have a day job? If so, what is it?
IG: I teach drums. I am also a bartender at San Francisco’s oldest (erected in 1907) and most respected live entertainment venue—the Great American Music Hall is absolutely stunning.

DG: What resources do you recommend?
IG: Stores: Sam Adato’s Drum Shop, Haight Ashbury Music Center, Guitar Center.
Books: Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone, Syncopation by Ted Reed, Building Blocks To Rock by Dawn Richardson, The Funky Primer by Charles Dowd.
Magazines: DRUM!, Modern Drummer, Rolling Stone.

DG: What was the greatest compliment you’ve been given about your drumming?
IG: So far the greatest compliments come from my students. The student’s that do their homework and practice make me proud. Also Steven Perkins, the amazing drummer for Jane’s Addiction, came up to me the other night after we opened for his other band Bunyan and said, “You touched my soul tonight!” That was very cool coming from a drum pro! The great Mike Watt/Punk Icon wore on stage a SISTAS IN THE PIT t-shirt and put our sticker on his bass. That was a huge compliment! Thanks guys, you ROCK!

DG: What are your aspirations as a drummer?
IG: Right now my goal is to be one of the greats. I want to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I want to rock the world. I want to inspire young girls to get out there and follow their dreams. I know for a fact that dreams do come true. I want to be the best I can possibly be. I have a lot of work to do.

DG: Do you have any touring stories to tell us?
IG: Touring has been so much fun. I got to meet India Arie in Switzerland. What I like about touring is meeting new people, tasting their food, learning about their culture and history. Communicating when there is a language barrier. Late night sit-ins with local bands. A little racial tension, here and there. It is all very exiting. I am happy to say I haven’t any horror stories thus far.

DG: Share one positive and one negative drum experience you’ve had.
IG: The worst experience was this street festival I played in. I happened to be playing in two bands. The first band went on at 3 pm and the second band went on at 6:30. I had to be at the stage for set up at 9:30 am. To make a long story short, I had forgotten to eat and nourish my body with all the chaos and excitement going on. By the end of the first song of the second set, I was completely out of gas. Not good. I prayed through the whole gig. Don’t forget to eat. In terms of positives, drumming has changed my whole life. I feel like I understand my place in this world. Everything seems to be falling into place these days. That’s pretty positive.

DG: When and how did SISTAS IN THE PIT form?
IG: I have always wanted to be in a rock and roll band with some sistas. Some friends of mine used to get together every Tuesday for our “PHAT Tuesday” dinner party. This weekly gathering was in support of the ladies—total girl power party. No boys allowed. It became real popular. Weekends were starting to become boring—it was all about the Tuesday. I encouraged some of the girls to bring their instruments so we could jam before the party started. So out of those wild sessions, I was really drawn to my friend Anita Lofton’s guitar sound. I felt a strong connection to her. I could feel what she was trying to say. But the other players were kind of in the way. I wanted more. I told her we should get a serious band together. She was down, so we went in search of other members. I went to clubs and karaoke bars and put ads in the local newspapers. Of sixteen, one actually showed up for the audition. She wasn’t what we were looking for. I had auditioned a few others and nothing. Anita ended up joining another band and started gigging. I kept practicing and believing in my dream. Anita quit her band due to some drama. She claimed that she didn’t want to be in a band…it was too much and she was just going to D.J…blah, blah, blah! Finally, Anita came to her senses. She called me up one perfect day and said she might have found us a bass player. Her name was Kofy Brown. We set up a date to play together and the rest, my friend, is HERstory.

DG: Tell us about your experience opening for Macy Gray.
IG: That was an extremely exciting gig for me. I am a huge fan of Macy. It couldn’t have been more perfect. It was at the stunning Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California. In our dressing room, I put our sticker on the mirror right under the Los Lonely Boys sticker. They had recently played there. Macy Gray’s band took up our whole sound check, so we just had time literally to set up. We waited backstage with butterflies in our bellies until they introduced us. It felt like such a grand entrance. We played our hearts out. Macy Gray rocked the house under the Saratoga stars. Her band was solid. I had a great time.

DG: How did your Switzerland tour come about?
IG: Kofy Brown hooked that up with her European connections. She has toured overseas several times with her band, The Kofy Brown Band. She felt the SISTAS IN THE PIT were ready for international exposure, and she was right. She invited us to go with her on the “Love Warrior Tour.”

DG: On your next tour, you’re opening for Living Colour? Where is that going to take you?
IG: I would like to clarify, we were going to open for Living Colour. It was only one show but unfortunately the original date got changed and we were unable to make the new date work due to prior commitments. So that never happened, but I am currently working on a proposal for a “Black Rock and Roll Expo” tour. If all goes well, the opportunity to play with them will arise again in the near future.

DG: Are you involved in any other projects at the moment?
IG: Yes, I do have a couple of side projects I am currently working on but the main focus is the SISTAS IN THE PIT.

DG: Any recording contracts on the horizon?
IG: We (S.I.T.P.) have independently released our first album, “The Missing Piece”. We have had a few offers but currently we are choosing to remain independent.

DG: If people want to buy your latest CD, where can they find it?
IG: In the Bay Area, you an get it at Amoeba Records, Street Light Records, or Tower Records. You can also get it online at cdbaby.com and www.sistasinthepit.com.

DG: What would you be doing if you weren’t a drummer?
IG: I would be a lead singer.

THANK YOU DRUMMERGIRL FOR BEING AN INSPIRATION!!!

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