Feature / One Question Interviews / What's That Noise?
OvO

March 20, 2020

OvO
OvO

Bruno Dorella (OvO - drums,)

SPB: Walk our readers through your self-described “minimal drum kit.” How did you arrive at your sizes of what to include (or not include)?

Dorella: There are different reasons why I choose to play without kick drum. First, when I started playing drums in a band I didn't really know how to play. I was a guitar player with a good groove, but that was it. I didn't own a drum kit, nor did I have money or space in my flat to get one. But people kept saying I was talented, so I took a couple of lessons and I started to take it seriously. But I felt I was a quite standard drummer. Not the best, not very original, just a normal drummer. I wanted my own sound. Plus, I'm right-handed and left-footed. I was influenced by the most tribalistic parts of Neurosis, and a big fan of the Babes In Toyland drummer; I was looking for that wild approach. And finally I stepped into Teenage Jesus and the Jerks. Boom. Stand-up drums. All the wild, tribal sound you need. In fact, there are just three sounds you really need. Boom (kick or floor tom). Cha (snare). Tsss (cymbals). So I started with snare/floor tom/ride cymbal, only. Then I integrated a hi hat (which forced me to sit down, and this is good for my back) and Roland SPDSX pads. A drum set should just be what you need it to be. Looking for your own set is a lot of fun, a sort of signature."

— words by the SPB team • March 20, 2020

Photo by Erica Schneider

OvO
OvO

Series: What's That Noise?

One-question interviews with artists where we find out about the gear and equipment they use to achieve their sound.

More from this series

Related features

Six Below Zero

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • January 22, 2025

Matthew Brammer (Six Below Zero) SPB: Can you walk us through your studio or recording set-up to get a glimpse of how a one-man band works for Six Below Zero? Brammer: Since I don't play live anymore, I'm pretty much 100% "in the box" these days. Especially since a lot … Read more

Distants

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • May 23, 2024

Steve Brewer (Distants) SPB: Did you choose your name before the band members were located in different cities? Brweer: Yes. Everyone who was in the band when it started lived in Chicago. When I joined the band in 2019, Zach and I would carpool the distants from Michigan to Chicago … Read more

Faulty Cognitions

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • April 1, 2024

Chris Mason (Faulty Cognitions) SPB: Was the mic’ing of your kit for the recording of Somehow, Here We Are fairly straight forward, or were there some techniques or experiments used to capture the sound? Mason: We didn't do anything too fancy. I do remember that we didn't mic the toms … Read more

Stephen Hamm Theremin Man

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • March 4, 2024

Stephen Hamm Theremin Man shows off his theremin magic. Read more

Middle-Aged Queers

One Question Interviews / What's That Noise? • January 31, 2024

Josh Levine (Middle-Aged Queers) SPB: Tell us about the day you bought your current (primary) bass and why you chose it. Levine: I bought my current primary bass in the ‘90s at Univibe Music (RIP) in Oakland. It’s a DanElectro Longhorn, ‘90s reissue. I thought it was black. I played … Read more

Related news

Krist Novoselic Running For County Clerk

Posted in Music News on June 11, 2009

Related reviews

Provoke / Tempo 38

Split
Independent (2007)

This is going to be the last split CD I ever review for Scene Point Blank. Okay, this is going to be the last split CD I ever review of two unknown bands that I review for this site. Sorry, split CDs are becoming the bane of my existence as I try and think of something to say about two … Read more

More from this section

Shane Embury

One Question Interviews • April 23, 2025

Shane Embury (Napalm Death, solo) What is it like playing a solo set as an opener for "the Napalm Death" crowd (as compared to a solo set with an unfamiliar audience)? Playing the Dark Sky Burial set, I feel at times is a daunting task but the reception so far … Read more

Dave Eats Mud

One Question Interviews • April 22, 2025

Andrew (Dave Eats Mud - drums) SPB: What’s your favorite ‘90s deep cut in the 3 formats: punk, pop, TV series? Andrew: So many good ‘90s punk deep cuts to choose from, but I'll go with 88 Fingers Louie's "Something I Don't Know" off their album Behind Bars. ‘90s pop … Read more

Allegedly Records

One Question Interviews • April 21, 2025

Bree (Allegedly Records) SPB:Do you accept demos? What is the most surprising demo you’ve received? Bree: We do accept demos! Since Amy is on the west coast and I'm on the east coast, this is a great way for us to listen to bands in other areas of the country … Read more