Roni Kaspi discovered the drums at the age of seven in a music room at school, where she could try playing on her own time. Now, at the age of 24, she has just released her debut album and moved to Los Angeles.
What’s Happening?
I’m good! It’s been a crazy year of releasing and touring my music for the first time, which was really cool and fulfilling! I’ve also just moved to Los Angeles, which is very exciting, I love it here and already releasing new music soon.
Since we don’t know you and your own music yet in Finland, please tell how did you find your way into music and drums?
I found my way into music and drums in a very ‘random’ way, none of my family members is a musician. But my parents are both music lovers, so I grew up with a lot of music in the background. I picked up the drums for some reason when I was 7. I had a music room in my school, and it was sometimes open and free, so I started just going there on my own (while skipping classes of course ;-)), and I was jamming on the drums by myself. At some point I even set up a mic and sang and played drums.
Then I formed a band with my two friends back then, all of us were 7 years old or so, and we did a ‘show’ to which we invited our friend and parents. And at that moment my parents saw me on drums and decided to send me to a drum teacher. I was down for that. Then I kept on playing, mostly pop and rock music, until I got into a jazz department in Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts, and there I really dug into all sorts of music and I kind of realized that music is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life.
You have been playing for four years with bassist Avishai Cohen, who found you through Instagram. I suppose these years have been very important to you, opening up a new professional world? Did the collaboration feel good straight away or did you have to find your way into it?
Yes, these years and experiences touring with Avishai have been life changing for sure. I learned so much, both musically and personally. It was really fun for both of us to play together from the first session we did. It did take though a couple of months before I actually had a tour with him. Well, it was peak COVID times as well. I’m so so grateful for Avishai and all the stuff I learned from him. I’m so happy that I can call him a very good friend.
In May, you released your debut “minialbum”, a six-track EP Poni – drawing on a diverse range of influences from alt-pop to world music and electronica. Is Poni also the sum total of everything you have ever heard so far, loved so far?
Yes, I did release my first ever EP last May! I think PONI is a journal of my musical journey of the last couple of years. I really love the songs on there, but now I feel kind of far from them, as I’m writing new music all the time and the new one is a bit different. It’s still this mix of different genres, but it’s different. Excited for you all to listen to it soon.
What’s going to happen?
So as mentioned before, I just moved to LA. I’m going to base myself here while still touring a bit, and I’m already finding my way into the scene here. It’s so interesting and fun, since it’s a new place for me, and even tho I already know a lot of people that are here, there are still so many new faces and new adventures to hit! I’m very excited to be settling in a bit, and to be able to work on my craft and new music.
Roni Kaspi Trio
Friday 1.11.2024 at 01.00, Klubi
