#327 Axel Fagerberg- Percussionist, Inventor and More!
This week’s guest is Axel Fagerberg. Hailing from Strängnäs, Axel is a full-time freelance percussionist based in Stockholm. His career has consisted of shows with Seinabo Sey, Ledisi, Agnes, Bo Kaspers Orkester, Benjamin Ingrosso Lisa Ekdahl, Daniel Adams-Ray, Sabina Ddumba, Blacknuss, Cleo and others. He has enjoyed guest hits with Cory Henry, Judah & the Lion and Steve Angello.
Since 2014 he’s been a member of the Nobel Prize Banquet band. Running PERC. studios in Stockholm, he has recorded for artists including Neiked, Carola and Moonica Mac. He tracked percussion for the Tunna Blå Linjen, North Sea Connection, Slow, Harukana Receive, Kyoukai Senki and The Playlist soundtracks.
He was a factory preset programmer for the Nord Drum 2 & 3 and Klevgrands Borsta & Skaka while also being the sampled player for the latter two and Spotifys in-browser DAW Soundtrap.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Jason Trueting! A founding and current member of the influential quartet, Sō Percussion, composer/percussionist Jason Treuting has appeared in performance throughout the world, from the Barbican to Lincoln Center, to Carnegie Hall, DOM Moscow, Walt Disney Hall, and elsewhere. His compositions, widely noted for their compelling rhythmic language and evocative expressivity, have been performed by artists including Shara Nova, the JACK Quartet, TIGUE, Susan Marshall and Company, and others.
Additionally, Treuting explores and composes music in collaboration with artists including laptop artist/composer Cenk Ergun; guitarist Grey Mcmurray; and guitarist/composer Steve Mackey (their New Amsterdam album, Orpheus Unsung, has received widespread critical acclaim), among others.
Treuting’s original compositions include Amid the Noise, an evolving suite of musical explorations scored for a flexible range of instruments; this work has been performed widely by Sō Percussion, Matmos and other artists, at the Lincoln Center Festival, the Barbican, the Walker Arts Center, National Sawdust, and elsewhere. It has been presented by Fast Forward Austin, Kadence Arts Boston, Chatterbird, and others, and was recorded by Sō Percussion for release on Cantaloupe Records.
Treuting’s other works for Sō include contributions to Imaginary City, Where (we) Live and A Gun Show, works which appeared on the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival. Recent commissions for other ensembles have included Oblique Music for 4 plus (blank), a concerto for Sō Percussion and string orchestra for the League of Composers Orchestra; and most recently, Nine Numbers 4, a commission from the Composers Guild of New Jersey and performed in 2018 at Princeton University.
He received his Bachelors in Music and the Performer’s Certificate at the Eastman School of Music where he studied percussion with John Beck and drum set and improvisation with Steve Gadd, Ralph Alessi and Michael Cain. He received his Masters in Music along with an Artist Diploma from Yale University where he studied percussion with Robert Van Sice. Jason Treuting studied marimba with Keiko Abe in Japan, and gamelan with Pac I Nyoman Suadin in Bali.
Jason Treuting is co-director of the Sō Percussion Summer Institute, an annual intensive course on the campus of Princeton University for college-aged percussionists. He is also co-director of a new percussion program at the Bard College Conservatory of Music, and is a lecturer of music at Princeton University, where Sō Percussion is ensemble-in-residence. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey with his wife, the violist Beth Meyers, and their two daughters.
Happy Birthday to Randy Schrager! Randy was the touring and studio drummer for electro dance-pop band Scissor Sisters, known on stage as ‘Randy Real’. He can be heard on the band’s release Night Work and he toured the world with the band in support of the album. Randy has also toured and recorded with critically acclaimed New York rocker Jesse Malin and his band The St. Marks Social, playing drums on his release Love It To Life. When not on the road, Randy can be found playing and recording with a number of independent artists in the NYC area.
Happy Birthday to Rob Humphreys! New Mexican raised Los Angeles.
Some people call him Byrdie. Some people call him Bobby. Rob has played and recorded for artists like: Nikka Costa, Leonard Cohen, Karen O, Elle King, Jason Mraz, Billy Ray Cyrus and More. He just finished touring with Kacey Musgraves and he also loves to run and surf. He prefers oat milk over almond milk and espresso over cold brew.
Happy Birthday to the legend Steve Gadd!
Gig Alerts
You can attend Zildjian Cymbals’ 400th anniversary celebration at Tipitina’s in New Orleans during Jazz Fest. It will be on May 2nd from 3-5pm!
Some friends of the show will be performing, including: Taku Hirano, Pedro Segundo, and Joe Dyson.
There are some SoundCheck Clinics coming up for anyone interested in learning more about electronics for the marching arts and pageantry.
The Italian chapter of the Percussive Arts Society is having a percussion competition you can enter, which will take place between August 29th and September 3rd. You can enter on marimba, timpani, or as a composer.
Nate Smith and Mark Guiliana are performing a percussion duo concert on May 9th. Damon mentions a reference to the Buddy Rich/Max Roach duo album.
Damon and friend of the show, Eric Kalb, will be playing with Fuzz at the FTC Warehouse in Fairfield, CT on Cinco de Mayo.
Educational Spotlight
Day of Percussion events for the Percussive Arts Society coming up are:
Missouri - 4/15, Connecticut 4/22, and Tennessee 4/29. Also, previously mentioned Texas on 4/21 & 4/22
Two friends of the show in Tony Miceli and Jeremy Smith will be participating in the CT day of percussion.
Friend of the show, Terence F. Clark will be having a masterclass in Memphis April 14th.
The Percussive Arts Society has released a bunch of videos from this past PASIC.
Product Review
This week’s product review is the Reco Electro created by Axel.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording was chosen by Axel. It is “I Got Plenty” by Bonnie Rait, from the ‘Streetlights’ album. You can check out the personnel here. Birthday boy, Steve Gadd is on drums and Arthur Jenkins is on percussion.
Music News
Ahead of the release of their latest album, 72 Seasons, later this week, Metallica has announced a new competition for marching bands of all levels to cover the group’s classic songs. Up to $150,000 in prizes are up for grabs for the best covers, with the winners selected by Metallica themselves. -Article
The Recording Academy has officially extended the eligibility period for the forthcoming Grammy Awards by two weeks “after listening to concerns from some members of the music community.” -Article
Live Nation has partnered with PayPal to integrate new payment options into the Ticketmaster payment stack.
As part of this new partnership, fans will be able to pay with PayPal, PayPal Pay Later, and Venmo across the Ticketmaster platform. Additionally, PayPal Braintree will become Ticketmaster’s primary global payment processor. Part of the PayPal integration also includes the option to use one-time login, so fans can save information for future purchases. -Article
Axel Fagerberg Interview
The song leading into the interview is “Hurricane” by Diskopunk from the ‘Filthy Boogie’ album.
Axel marched the drum corps Strangnas, and competed in the DCE (Drum Corps Europe).
Damon brings up the 6 drummers for 1 apartment video. The percussionists in that video are also from the Sound of Noise movie.
Axel mentions Kroumata, the percussion ensemble from Sweden.
Sweden has a Minister of Culture which helps with the arts. That position is currently held by Parisa Liljestrand.
Damon mentions Be An Arts Hero.
Damon brings up two other Swedish musicians in Karl Martin Sandberg aka Max Martin and Ludwig Emil Tomas Göransson. Check out their discographies. Max’s and Ludwig’s. Here’s a break down Ludwig did with percussion instruments.
Axel talks about different types of Swedish Folk Music. Specifically the Polska.
Axel did some drum programming for Nord.
Axel talks about the impetus for his Reco Electro and WTF Percussion.
Damon mentions Pete Engelhart and Adam Morford.
Axel talks about conversations he had with (friend of the show) Marcelo Woloski.
Axel talks about using Abelton in his rig.
Damon brings up Ash Soan, and Axel mentions Brody Simpson and Dan Mayo.
Axel mentions the Meinl Drum Fest.
Axel talks about his tutelage in drumming. He attended the Falun Conservatory of Music.
After high school, Axel moved into jazz at Bollnäs community college.
Axel studied with Thomas Eby, of the band Calle Real.
The jazz club Axel mentions is called, Fasching.
Axel talks about the Swedish tambourine. Axel also mentions the Tamborello from Italy.
Shout-out to Björn Tollin and Petter Berndalen. "Melody on Drums 1" is the album Axel refers to.
Axel picks out the iconic recording. Damon and Axel talk about Ralph MacDonald and Arthur Jenkins.
Axel talks about some of the weather challenges in Sweden.
Axel talks about what he has going on.
Axel talks about his rig rundown.
Axel shouts out his teacher, Lars Östlund, from Culture School.
He mentions a new approach to endorsements and affiliate marketing.
You can follow Axel on Instagram and WTF Percussion.
The song leading out of the interview is “Snake Oil” by Diskopunk from the ‘Filthy Boogie’ album.
