Declan Rankin Jardin - Drumming in the clouds

Declan Rankin Jardin is a drummer in Montreal. I caught up with him at a café in Saint-Henri and asked him about his life in music.

What's the first musical instrument you remember playing?

Piano

What are the instruments you prefer to play now?

Drums. I can't get music out any better way!

What kind of music do you like to play?

Hip hop, because of the stories

What's the role of the drummer in a group?

The drummer is the pulse. He keeps the pace. But it also depends on the song. In hip hop, the drummer is the canvas. But in jazz the drummer is the background, adding texture and effects. The best part of drumming is when you can sing and drum.

What's the place of music in the world?

Music is the clouds of the world. It's everywhere but it's hard to reach.

Who are the musicians you like to perform with?

Alex McLean on keyboards and Étienne Lapierre on saxophone

Where do you get gigs?

At Maisons de la culture, art openings, the Mount Stephen Club before it closed

Who are the musicians you like to listen to?

The Roots, 88 Gigs Worth, J Dilla, Nate Dogg, Michael Jackson

What are your musical projects for 2012?

I'm going to start a hip hop festival with Alex McLean. You can check us out at Art Mouvement.