Arnau Martí - Noctem/Agathos - Exclusive Interview

Noctem and Agathos drummer, Arnau Martí, was born in Valencia, Spain. He started at the age of 5 in the conservatory with classical percussion and was introduced in the drums until he really started to seriously study the drums at the age of 14. That’s when he started practicing with extreme metal drums and he received classes from teachers such as Alfred Barenjena, Jeff Jerolamon… Since then he played in several different bands until he entered Noctem in 2015 and with which he has recorded the albums “Haeresis” and “The Black Concecration” (touring Russia, China, Europe, and Mexico) and later formed Agathos, in addition to other bands as session and live drummer and is currently also a member of the band Rebel Souls.

Arnau Martí Interview ~ by Jet

SDM: How old were you when you started playing drums and what drew you to this instrument?

I really started at the conservatory studying classical percussion from the age of 5 but it wasn’t until I was about 14 that I started to study drums more seriously. The reason why I started playing was that I always liked everything related to music and especially percussion.

SDM: Who were some of your early influences?

When I started to pay attention to the most “extreme” music I was really impressed by Joey Jordison (I think like many of my generation) but I feel that I was also very influenced when I started following other drummers like Dave Lombardo or Pete Sandoval and I still admire them.

SDM: What drummer is your favorite to listen to?

Currently, I think one of the drummers that impresses me the most inside the extreme metal scene is James Stewart. I find incredible the intensity of his blast beats as the groove and the originality he brings to the table.

SDM: What was the first live show that you attended where the drummer really blew you away… how old were you?

It really was with a band called “Trocotombix”. Daniel Ayala (current drummer of Guilles) really impressed me, both for his speed and his sound. Since then he was also a reference for me.

SDM: Did you start right off with a double bass kit or did you switch from a single kick to a double and what was the transition like for you?

I started with a single pedal and it wasn’t until I was about 14 years old that I switched to a double pedal.

SDM: How did you develop your style of drumming? What grips do you use and what foot technique(s) and how do those techniques work to enhance your performance?

So far I have used for hands simple blows of fingers and add a little wrist to increase the intensity. I’m currently practicing open/close to and for feet, I use a swivel and I m changing to straight heel up. Regarding the double strokes I have not used them so far except for combinations with hands or variations of skank with “slide” but not for long figures.

SDM: What can you say about your drum teachers?

I have learned from the conservatory with several teachers and within the metal also with teachers like Alfred Berenjena, Adrian Perales … and currently, I’m studying Jazz. I think it can help a lot to progress faster if you have a good teacher who can guide you.

SDM: Do you think you can hear cultural influences in drummers depending on where they are from in the world?

In extreme metal, I think it’s not easy to identify that difference …. there may be certain patterns that vary within a style more typical of one country or another but in the end, I think it has more to do with the drummer than the origin.

SDM: What is your practice routine and how do you develop speed and endurance? Are there certain exercises you incorporate into your routine?

My practice routine always varies depending on if I have to prepare a setlist if I have a close recording, tours …. but lately, I usually devote about 4 hours (approximately) to Metal adding all kinds of simple strokes exercises with feet and hands and other 4 or more to study jazz.

SDM: As a drummer what are some of the things that are most challenging to you as far as playing goes?

For me, one of the hardest things about extreme metal is creating your own style identity. One of the errors that many of us make is not getting out of the free blast beat.

SDM: You are playing in the metal bands Noctem and Agathos. What is the metal scene like in Spain and how have your experiences with these bands been so far?

In Spain, I think there is a very good scene of extreme metal bands although there are not so many bands that turn a lot outside the country but I really think there is a good level. To me personally being in Noctem and Agathos has allowed me to tour and know many parts of the world in addition to the experience it has given me as a musician, I think it has been a great help.

SDM: Noctem has a new album coming out. Tell us about your part in the writing and recording processes.

Really in Noctem as far as composition turns everything around the guitars that Eco composes, that is the seal of the group that is maintained in all the albums. Then each one of us contributes with our part to that basis. In this album, I have tried not to overload too many fills in many parts because the album, in general, is quite raw but in terms of speed has risen quite compared to the previous album in which I also participated (Haeresis). The recording process has taken place at Millenia Studios (Valencia, Spain) and in terms of sound, I tried not to abuse triggers and so on so it will be a fairly natural sound.

SDM: What is the most difficult part of touring for a drummer do you think?

For me the only bad thing I can have maybe is to build the assembly, warmup, etc. but I see nothing else that is bad.

SDM: Are there any other styles of drumming you enjoy playing and why?

Currently, I love to play jazz because for me it’s the part that I lack in some aspects of metal. In metal, everything goes much straighter and in Jazz, I have more space to interact with other musicians.

SDM: For you personally what is the best part about being a drummer?

I just play the drums because I couldn’t cover more instruments but I would love to play them all!

SDM: What pedals and triggers do you use and why do you prefer them?

Currently, I play with the Axis “Alfred Berenjena” with the FootBlaster triggers and the Roland TM 2 module. With this combination, I play quite comfortable but I don’t rule out in the future to change to another pedal a little heavier.

SDM: What advice would you give to people just beginning playing drums in the metal arena?

A lot of perseverance and not get stuck only in the Metal genre. I think that for me these would be two important factors.

SDM: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us and all the best to you!