To have a lasting impact on the local music industry, you need to attract and keep the attention on you.
Over the past few years, DROMMEDARIS DRUM DUO was able to master this art and now appeals to listeners of all ages.
The father-daughter-duo, who describe themselves as a “drum duo who sings EDM Trance covers and play on plastic water drums” was founded during lockdown after their plans to emigrate to Florida fell through.
“We used to own several music schools, where our students learned to play in sync through our drumming project,” they explain. “Just before lockdown, we sold the school and all our belongings to emigrate, which never happened. We had to do something to survive and tied a bunch of drums to a ladder and took a picture. The video of the first show went viral and we are still here.”
Since then, the pair – consisting of Hans Drommedaaris and Alika du Plessis – has done several big shows at, Sun City’s Valley of the Waves, the Poison Rally, Kloof holiday resort and a New Year’s concert at Omaramba holiday resort, to name but a few.
They have also had the privilege of sharing the stage and opening for the likes of Francois van Coke, Jack Parow, Synth Peter, Spoegwolf, Bok van Blerk, Steve and Armand Hofmeyr, Nádine, Elandré, Fatman and many more.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MUSIC
Hans Drom (as he is called) has been involved in the music industry since he was four and his mother taught him to play drums as part of their family band, the Soeveniers.
After school, he spent six years working in the correctional service and playing in the army band, where he learned to play more than forty instruments. He was also an Afrikaans comedy singer for more than twenty years and loves making people laugh.
Because he likes working with people, he started six music schools and trained more than 1 000 students throughout his career. He also broke and African record when he orchestrated 40 drum and 20 guitar players to play together in sync.
The 53-year-old musician enjoys metal, electronic and rock music and is inspired by artists like Fokofpolisiekar, Blacks Sabbath, Metallica, Def Leppard, David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Avicii, an more.
The music industry taught him to always be kind to his fellow-musicians. He currently lives at Omaramba holiday resort with his family and enjoys doing what he loves.
Alika du Plessis is only seventeen years old and has been playing drums since she was three. Her father also taught her to play various other instruments.
She grew up in Centurion and started giving drum and guitar lessons when she was 11.
After being bullied at school, she decided that home schooling would be a better fit for her, which also gave her the opportunity to focus on her music.
She is also passionate about makeup and is studying at KohL Makeup Academy this year. Furthermore, the talented star has also made her mark on social media with her makeup tutorials, and she wants to continue inspiring other women with her creativity.
Katy Perry, Minelli, Synth Peter, Francois van Coke, Spoegwolf, Dua Lipa and Selena Gomez are some of her favourite artists and she would love to collaborate with them someday.
She is authentic and does not allow other people’s opinions to have a negative impact on her life.
Although DROMMEDARIS DRUM DUO had to start from scratch after lockdown, they are excited about the prospect of setting up a new music studio, creating their own original music and touring locally and internationally.
“People come to our shows for unforgettable experience. We offer an energetic melodic drum concert with synchronized drum patterns and singing on plastic drums. It is unique, because no one else in South Africa is doing it and it is suitable for audiences of all ages,” they conclude.
