Speaker A

What's funny is I actually.

Speaker A

Because I'm taking piano lessons, I actually knew what you were saying and it felt good.

Speaker B

Okay, start.

Speaker A

I know.

Speaker A

Root position.

Speaker B

Next up.

Speaker B

You're.

Speaker B

Can you.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker B

You're on your way, man.

Speaker A

Hopefully.

Speaker B

So.

Speaker B

Yeah, go ahead.

Speaker B

Super fan.

Speaker C

I.

Speaker C

I'm even afraid to ask this because I'm sure you get asked all the time, but what.

Speaker C

What limitations have you had, both with just physically drums being stupid heavy and just people not taking you probably seriously in the beginning?

Speaker D

Yeah.

Speaker C

So can you tell us about.

Speaker C

The thing is, I'm sure every interview has this question, but it is.

Speaker C

I want to know.

Speaker C

I want to understand, because as a drummer, I know the attitude drummers have had and just musicians in general, I find.

Speaker D

Yeah.

Speaker C

How did you combat that?

Speaker D

So you're sugar coating the question.

Speaker A

I mean, just like, it's not his style.

Speaker D

It's okay.

Speaker D

Yeah.

Speaker B

I mean, there's also other females who are probably listening who are coming up.

Speaker B

So this is.

Speaker B

This is good stuff.

Speaker D

I'll say a lot of things.

Speaker D

So I'll say a lot of things.

Speaker D

Like, so growing up, for me, especially, like, when I was on tour and stuff like that, when I walked in the room, everyone's like, oh, the singer's here.

Speaker D

Or when I walked to the drums, like, nobody paid any attention to me.

Speaker D

And until I started playing a groove and I'm like, do I have to, like, purposely prove myself every single time?

Speaker B

Frustrating.

Speaker D

Very frustrating.

Speaker D

So that became a thing.

Speaker D

And then people started saying, we didn't expect you to play like that.

Speaker D

You're amazing.

Speaker D

And I'm like, like, like, thank you.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker C

But, like, yeah, it's a bit, you.

Speaker A

Know, I totally understand.

Speaker D

And re.

Speaker D

Have you guys heard of drumeo?

Speaker B

Yeah.

Speaker D

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker D

So I don't, like, a lot of work with drumeo.

Speaker D

And back in November, I did.

Speaker D

I played Thriller and drumeo's like, talk about something that's very near and dear to your heart.

Speaker D

So I'm like, all right, cool.

Speaker D

Like, I want to talk about gender inequality.

Speaker D

And this was the first time I really, like, talked about something that was not political, but maybe some people could, like, argue against for sure.

Speaker D

I didn't know how it would have been received.

Speaker D

I was like, okay, no one's even going to pay any attention.

Speaker D

Oh, my God.

Speaker D

The chaos that that video caused online.

Speaker D

Oh, my God.

Speaker D

Like, I couldn't sleep for two nights.

Speaker D

Like, I would say 60% of people were like, yes, gender inequality exists.

Speaker D

And then 40% was like, we talking about men face the same thing.

Speaker D

And I don't want to go here, but I do.

Speaker D

So, like, for example.

Speaker D

Yeah, okay, I'll do it.

Speaker B

Lace up your boots.

Speaker D

Let's go, let's go.

Speaker D

So, you know, like, black.

Speaker D

Black lives matter.

Speaker D

And when people said all lives matter, it's like, I'm not comparing, but I'm saying the effect that you feel when.

Speaker D

When you're facing something and someone says, but we face it, too, but it's like, it's different.

Speaker D

Hello?

Speaker D

So that's what was happening.

Speaker D

And then I got to a point where I'm like, you know what?

Speaker D

Like, I don't have to owe anybody an explanation.

Speaker D

So then after that point, I'm just like, I'm just going to keep speaking my mind after that.

Speaker D

So anyway, like, people don't understand, and it's a hard thing all the time.

Speaker D

Even, like, feeling sometimes unsafe.

Speaker D

The simplest thing is, like, walking around at nighttime.

Speaker A

Right.

Speaker D

I always tell, like.

Speaker D

Like the guys around me, like, wait for me.

Speaker A

Right.

Speaker D

You know, So I always tell them they should know.

Speaker D

So whatever.

Speaker D

Guys are listening right now.

Speaker D

Like, when you see, like, a lady, just, like, wait for her and make sure she goes to her car safely and stuff like that.

Speaker A

And you be safe.

Speaker A

Don't be a creep, too.

Speaker D

Yeah, yeah, don't.

Speaker D

And there's been, like, creeps around me, too.

Speaker D

And you gotta like, yeah.

Speaker D

Oh, my.

Speaker D

That's a whole other thing.

Speaker C

And if you're walking alone at night and you see a woman or anybody who seems vulnerable coming towards you cross the street, do them a favor.

Speaker D

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker A

Run ice cream and run.

Speaker C

Run away.

Speaker C

But, you know, one thing that, you know, hunting for educational videos and all that.

Speaker C

One thing that did always bother me is that the.

Speaker C

The videos of female drummers that the algorithm favored were not necessarily very skilled.

Speaker A

I know where you're going with this.

Speaker D

Yeah.

Speaker C

And I'm just like, there's no way that there aren't female drummers that kick ass and you have to really look for them.

Speaker C

And what are your thoughts on that?

Speaker C

Because it's obviously a veneer of what the world's actually like on my Instagram.

Speaker A

That's interesting.

Speaker C

Yes.

Speaker C

Blame the algorithm.

Speaker D

I swear, honey, this is what I think.

Speaker D

Like, every human being who's a drummer is good and bad, but what society does today is because women can look cute.

Speaker D

You know, they can look sexy online or whatever, and then they get labeled as, oh, women who show their belly.

Speaker A

Right.

Speaker D

Oh, so that means all women who are cute, they play bad.

Speaker D

And I think it's just labels, for sure.

Speaker D

And when I see these Labels.

Speaker D

I see it across the board, even in terms of race, gender.

Speaker D

Every.

Speaker D

Every.

Speaker D

So I think, like, that's an issue because it's like, even sometimes when I, you know, want to look a little cute and play a little bit of drums, you know, like, sometimes I get comments like, oh, she's just getting raised because she's a girl.

Speaker D

And it's like, then that means, like, then all the work that I've done now that gets taken away from me.

Speaker D

So it's like, I feel like either way you look at it, it's like we're losing.

Speaker A

Right?

Speaker D

But not.

Speaker D

I don't want to like, play this victim party.

Speaker D

I mean, like, it's getting better.

Speaker D

I feel like we're at such a good place now.

Speaker D

And like, Sheila E.

Speaker D

She's been so supportive of me.

Speaker D

I played like on a song with her.

Speaker C

So why am I surprised that, you know, she, of course, you know, she, of course.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker D

But like, people like K, everyone's just like moving everything forward.

Speaker D

So it's.

Speaker D

It's getting better.

Speaker D

I believe it is.

Speaker A

Every episode of the DNA Airwaves is recorded and produced at the mpl.

Speaker A

The NPL is a collection of film, music and audio post production suites located in the GTA.

Speaker A

Please visit the-mpl that's maplewithoutthevowels.com to learn how they can help you with your next film or audio production.

Speaker C

Do you read comments?

Speaker C

Do you read all the comments or have you stopped at this point?

Speaker A

Yeah, it must be overwhelming.

Speaker D

It's hard.

Speaker D

I think I'm stopping now.

Speaker D

As of this moment, as of right now.

Speaker D

It's hurtful, like, especially.

Speaker D

Yeah.

Speaker D

And like, since the pandemic started, like, and I did that Thriller video where I got a lot of negative comments, I'm like, I have nothing to lose.

Speaker D

Let me just freaking be me.

Speaker D

Just go for it.

Speaker D

And even like the merch that I launched, I don't know if you guys got a chance to check it out.

Speaker A

You know, Got your face on.

Speaker D

Oh my.

Speaker D

I was gonna wear that today, actually.

Speaker D

Let me wear these red ones that look good on camera.

Speaker D

But it's just like trying to be my stuff.

Speaker D

And some people are like, she's on acid, she's on drugs.

Speaker D

She needs.

Speaker D

She needs a psychiatrist.

Speaker A

People that don't know you, it's just ridiculous.

Speaker D

But it's okay.

Speaker D

I like it because it's like, you know, we're all.

Speaker D

Okay not to get a little philosophical, like, we're all children of God, right?

Speaker D

Like, we're all beautiful.

Speaker D

And why do we have to be one specific way to be accepted in society.

Speaker D

So I'm just trying to, like, break those boundaries.

Speaker B

That's it.

Speaker A

But do you find that reading the comments had an effect on you?

Speaker D

Yeah, because it made me question what I'm doing and if I'm good enough or if I'm right or wrong.

Speaker A

And you think still reading it is okay?

Speaker A

Like, instead of just avoiding it, I think.

Speaker D

I don't know.

Speaker D

I think you can't avoid it.

Speaker D

Because sometimes what if you see it?

Speaker D

Like, if you open.

Speaker D

I open my phone, I'll be like, oh, negative comment.

Speaker B

Right.

Speaker D

So if I try to dodge something or avoid it, I'm resisting it rather than.

Speaker D

Yeah.

Speaker D

And then it kind of just like, it stays there and it lingers there.

Speaker D

So, oh, that person thinks that I suck or whatever.

Speaker D

That's their opinion.

Speaker D

But, you know, I love what I do, and I don't need, like, somebody's validation, you know, especially through that.

Speaker B

You've already more than proven yourself.

Speaker B

Continue to do that every day.

Speaker D

Appreciate that.

Speaker B

You're outplaying, outperforming almost everybody.

Speaker B

Right.

Speaker B

So listen, if you guys have something negative to say to Sarah, email us.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

And we'll deal with you.

Speaker B

Deal with you.

Speaker B

Hey, man, I hung out with Jay Martin on It's Crazy, man.

Speaker D

Man, that's funny.

Speaker B

You got this, Sarah.

Speaker D

Thank you.

Speaker B

What's the best email or phone call that you've ever received?

Speaker D

Oh, I think about that.

Speaker B

Second to the podcast.

Speaker D

Yeah.

Speaker D

I was gonna say that this is number one.

Speaker A

That was assumed.

Speaker D

Yeah, that's okay.

Speaker D

That's obvious.

Speaker D

Number two, I have to.

Speaker D

Oh, my God.

Speaker D

The best phone call.

Speaker C

Ms.

Speaker C

Cleo.

Speaker A

You might be too young.

Speaker C

You might be too young for Ms.

Speaker C

Cleo.

Speaker C

Wow.

Speaker D

Ms.

Speaker D

Cleo.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker A

Who's Ms.

Speaker A

Cleo?

Speaker C

There was a.

Speaker A

She was a Jamaica fake Jamaican psychic.

Speaker C

And she'd like on TV in Toronto.

Speaker C

It was local.

Speaker A

Yeah.

Speaker C

People would call in and ask.

Speaker B

She must be on YouTube.

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker C

For like, their fortune.

Speaker C

And she would.

Speaker C

Yeah.

Speaker C

And she wasn't Jamaican.

Speaker A

No.

Speaker A

That accent was horrific.

Speaker B

Maybe you could do a Drum video to Ms.

Speaker B

Cleo.

Speaker D

Okay, I'm gonna do that now.

Speaker C

We can chop it up.

Speaker C

We can figure it out.

Speaker D

Maybe we can do it today.

Speaker D

Let's do it serious.

Speaker D

Okay.

Speaker D

You find the video and we'll do it today.

Speaker D

Done.

Speaker C

All right.

Speaker A

Who's been the fa.

Speaker A

Your most favorite artist to play with?

Speaker B

Oh.

Speaker D

Oh.

Speaker A

I guess that might put you in a bad situation or some of your favorite.

Speaker A

Name some.

Speaker B

You have to name one too many, man.

Speaker B

I can imagine.

Speaker D

Oh, man.

Speaker D

I should have come prepared.

Speaker A

I know.

Speaker B

Oh, you played with Rich Brown, too?

Speaker B

What?

Speaker B

You did with Rich Brown.

Speaker D

Okay, you know what?

Speaker D

Okay, let me say.

Speaker D

So when I played with Rich Brown and Mark Leteri, who's from Snarky Puppy, okay.

Speaker D

We played at Hugh's room two years ago now, and it was, like, one of my favorite gigs that I've ever done because, like, Mark sent us the music.

Speaker D

Obviously, we had no rehearsal.

Speaker D

We just, like, did sound check and we played.

Speaker D

But it was kind of like, know the music and do your thing.

Speaker D

And I felt like us three were so locked into the moment.

Speaker D

It felt like amazing.

Speaker A

Nice.

Speaker D

Magic.

Speaker D

Oh, actually, wait.

Speaker D

Oh, another one.

Speaker D

Okay, now things are popping up.

Speaker D

Okay, so at the Colbert show, I played with Tegan.

Speaker D

Stephen Colbert show.

Speaker B

Oh, okay.

Speaker D

That was, like, one year ago or something, and that was with Tegan.

Speaker D

I know I'm losing track of time, but.

Speaker D

No, recently was Seth Meyers.

Speaker D

You're probably thinking about that maybe.

Speaker C

No, I'm thinking of Colbert.

Speaker B

Okay.

Speaker D

Yeah.

Speaker C

I'm just.

Speaker C

I stopped understanding time at this point.

Speaker D

But that was a lot of fun because I was with, like, the Canadian, like, sensations, Tegan and Sarah.

Speaker D

It's, like, kind of rock pop.

Speaker D

And so what was so cool was that, you know, we went into the setup, and they're like, you know, Sarah, there was, like, a stylist.

Speaker D

I'm like, yeah, Tegan and Sarah over there.

Speaker D

And I'm like, oh, they want to, like, put something on me.

Speaker D

I'm like, oh, cool.

Speaker D

They care.

Speaker D

I'm like, okay.

Speaker D

And then they started setting up the stage, and I'm thinking, like, you know, I'll be put in the corner under, like, black curtains or something.

Speaker D

Yeah.

Speaker D

You know, and then after they started, like, moving the drum riser forward, and I'm like, oh, this is fancy.

Speaker D

Then I could.

Speaker D

Then when I watched it back, like, I'm like, center stage and, like, get the camera on me.

Speaker D

And, like, John Baptiste is, like, right there watching me.

Speaker D

And, like, that was, like, crazy.

Speaker D

That was one of my favorite performances, too.

Speaker A

That's amazing.

Speaker D

It's crazy.

Speaker C

I must be really kind of irritating to start getting notoriety like this.

Speaker C

And then the pandemic happens.

Speaker D

Yeah, you know what?

Speaker B

But still virtual, right?

Speaker C

You're still blowing up, but you really started to blow up, like, touring and everything.

Speaker D

But you know what?

Speaker D

I'm so.

Speaker D

You're right.

Speaker D

And, like, what I'm so grateful for is that, like, I feel like I've changed my perspective.

Speaker D

Like, I feel like when I come out of the Pandemic, I'm not going to be what I used to be in terms of mindset.

Speaker D

So I'll tell you why I don't think many should.

Speaker A

I like that.

Speaker A

Yeah, that's great.

Speaker D

Oh, yeah.

Speaker D

Like, so for me, before the pandemic, it was just go, go.

Speaker D

And I was going to go on tour for two months.

Speaker D

Like, we were in L.

Speaker D

A.

Speaker D

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we were.

Speaker D

No, no, we were in L.

Speaker D

A.

Speaker D

Yeah, we were on, like, day two of rehearsal, and then I had to come home.

Speaker D

And I'm actually grateful that I didn't go on the tour because then I realized that I don't just want to be a musician anymore.

Speaker D

I feel like I've always had a dream of, like, being at the front of the stage since I was a kid.

Speaker D

Like, I was, like.

Speaker D

I was the host of different shows.

Speaker D

I did plays here.

Speaker D

I love, like, comedy, talking to people, and I loved being an artist, and I feel like I have that in me.

Speaker D

So I'm like, let's start developing that side.

Speaker D

So I feel like as soon as the pandemic's over, I'm working on music, but it's like jazzy music.

Speaker D

Nerd E.

Speaker D

Okay.

Speaker D

Drum heavy, E.

Speaker D

But, like, like, you know, my mom, who's, like, tone deaf, can be like, oh, this is nice, you know, so like, kind of appeals to everybody.

Speaker D

So when I come out of the pandemic, I want to, you know, become more of an artist and also play music as a musician, but with, like, selective.

Speaker A

Right.

Speaker D

You know?

Speaker D

Yeah.

Speaker A

So singing heavy, are you going to sing?

Speaker D

Sing?

Speaker D

Yeah, But I'm not, like, you know, like, no, like, Jasmine Sullivan or anything.

Speaker D

I mean, like, I'll just sing, like, a hook here and there.