Julia Geaman - Nott - Interview July 2021

My name is Julia Geaman, and the first band I joined was called Alchemy Chamber in 2012. It was really experimental with a Cello and Sax. I really enjoyed playing in that band, it was so weird. We released ‘Subtle Movements From Within’ in 2018. I also joined Revenger in 2015 and released ‘A New Mythology’ in 2018 as well. I’ve played and toured with Massive Scar Era and recorded with Tribunal. My current band is a Doomy Death metal project called Nott. I am going into the studio this September to record drum tracks and am very excited to play live soon.

Julia Geaman Interview:

SDM: How old were you when you started playing?

Julia: I was 16

SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?

Julia: No, I remember listening to a lot more punk in high school than I do now like Pennywise and NOFX. I think I heard a fast drum roll at some point and spontaneously decided I wanted to try and do that. I just walked to the music store that was about a 2 hr walk and told myself if I can play a beat, I’ll sign up for lessons. I don’t remember what I did at the store but it felt right and I just signed myself up.

SDM: Who are your top 5 metal influences?

Julia: I learned a lot of Megadeth in high school so Nick Menza was probably the first drummer I really tried to sound like. I also remember trying to memorize Meshuggah rhythms and only getting so far so Tomas Haake was a cyborg to me and I was really into it. Gene Hoglan and Sean Reinert were also at the top for me, I would spend hours trying to learn just one fill off Symbolic or Human. But Flo Mounier was the first drummer I saw play a blast beat live. It was at a clinic shortly after I started playing drums and seeing him play just a few feet in front of me blew me away. I didn’t learn any Cryptopsy songs because it seemed so beyond what I could do but it changed the way I listened to music.

SDM: Who are some of your other favorites?

Julia: Some of my favorite drummers are the ones that play big drums and hit hard. Dave Turncrantz and Nick Yakyshyn are incredible. Jess Gowrie, Tyler Coburn, Dave Stickney. I admire so many drummers for so many reasons. George Kollias and Jon Rice are not human. I also really like fusion or pop drummers like Anika Nilles and Jeff Porcaro or watching old videos of Elvin Jones or Jo Jones because it’s so outside of what I play.

SDM: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation

Julia:

Stare Into Death And Be Still- Ulcerate

Nadir- Black Tongue

Any Russian Circle Album, usually Memorial or Guidance

Satele Unite Ale Balcanilor- Subcarpati

Joep Beving- Solipsism

SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?

Julia: I stretch a lot. I’ll use heavier practice sticks and go through a couple of patterns to a click; like groupings of 2,3 and 4 8th notes. I try to start about 30 or 40 mins before I go up, drink water, breath, wait. I also tap my feet heel down on the floor, I rarely bring a foot practice pad. It’s a lot of anticipation.

SDM: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have affected your playing?

Julia: Only rhythm theory. I know basic pitched theory but I never really use it. I actually really like rhythm theory and I like teaching it if the student is interested. Other than being able to use tabs and learn a part really quickly, I think knowing rhythm theory has helped me understand how to permutate or move an idea to a different beat which helped me hear that the same rhythm can sound totally different if you put it in a different place. It’s helped me a lot with creativity and generally feeling like I know exactly what I’m playing because I can count it.

SDM: Can you tell us about the gear you use?

Julia:

I have an awesome Yamaha Absolute Maple Hybrid Kit :

24, 18, 16, and 13″ drums.

Yamaha Stage Concert Steel Snare 14″ x 6.5″

Sabian Cymbals:

22″ AAX Metal Ride

2 19″ AAX X-Plosion Crashes

19″ AAX Extreme Chinese

14″ Hi Freq Hi-Hats

Yamaha Chain Drive Double Kick Pedals

Tm2 Trigger Module

RT30HR Trigger

Shure 215 Earphones

I also use a Yamaha EAD 10 to record demos and videos.

SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…

Julia: I don’t know if I have any great advice because I just tried to do what I could. I was pretty shy but I liked to write music and perform. I think if you’re a bit more of an introvert like me, try to learn ways that you are comfortable promoting yourself. You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing but if you experiment enough, you can find your niche and hopefully find the right people that you work with well. And practice consistently, film yourself jamming or practicing, you’ll notice where you tend to rush or slow down lol.

SDM: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?

Julia: For me, it’s a bit of a tie between Nile at El Corazon in Seattle in 2016 and Russian Circles at The Orpheum Theatre in 2017. The Nile show was amazing because I was right up by the stage and it was packed. I was pretty drunk but I remember the insane wall of sound that was somehow so precise too. I had vivid dreams about that show for a few days after. And Russian Circles at The Orpheum was just the perfect venue for them. It suits their vibe so well and they are one of my favorites to see live.

SDM: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?

Julia: What do you mean? That is all I do.

I guess I do other things. I really like to draw, I used to do a lot of pen or pencil drawings and I try to keep that up. I mostly like making or eating food with friends and being outside. I go for walks or hikes all the time. I just like hanging out, I’ll make the occasional thing like I made a hoop drum with deerskin or I’ll sew something.