Aaron Spears On Why Drummers Need To Focus On Groove First

‘Everyone is so fascinated by chops and speed,’ says the American musician who has worked with the likes of James Brown and Chaka Khan

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Catching up with Aaron Spears was as delightful as it could get. As much as the American drummer loves tearing it up on stage with his formidable skills — whether it’s with Usher and James Brown at the 47th Annual Grammys — in real life, he’s soft-spoken, down-to-earth and exudes a sort of positivity that rubs off on you instantly.

In November, Spears was in India for the first time to conduct two drum clinics, one each in Mumbai and New Delhi. He said, “Drums is supposed to be a thing of fun, you’re supposed to enjoy it and we have to get back to having a good time and not putting too much pressure on ourselves.”

Read excerpts from our interview with the Washington-bred artist:

What do you remember about meeting James Brown and performing with him alongside Usher at the Grammys in 2005?