Greetings! My name is Michal Andrzejczyk. I’m a drummer from a north-east small city in Poland – Szczytno. I’ve been playing drums for 13 years now, so it’s more than half of my life. I’ve been a drummer and member of the Polish death metal band Vader for almost two years. Moreover, I play with the death metal band Insidius and the black metal band Varmia, both from Poland. Live to make some noise on drums and play some shows.
Michael’s Links:
YouTube:
https://youtube.com/channel/UC_i6ehhXtuhJYc85NcXx42w
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/michal.andrzejczyk_drummer
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michal.andrzejczyk.drummer
Michal Andrzejczyk Interview:
SDM: How old were you when you started playing?
Michal: Drums have been close to me since the beginning of my life. My uncle played in a hardcore band; his drums were always in my basement. He taught me some simple beats when I was very young. My real interest in drums started when I was 12 years old. It was in 2011/2012 and then the influence of metal music began. At the same time, I started playing in my first band, Deithwen. We started playing some concerts in local pubs, etc.
SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Michal: No, never. I played metal with bands from the very beginning. They were never school bands or drum corps.
SDM: Who are your top 5 metal influences?
Michal: Drummers who had the biggest influence on me from the very beginning:
Dave Lombardo
Krimh
James Stewart
Daray
Mario Duplantier
SDM: Who are some of your other favorites?
Michal: My current favorite metal drummers are:
Docent
James Stewart
Gene Hoglan
Jamie Saint Merat
Max Kolesne
SDM: Let us know 5 bands in your current personal rotation.
Michal: There’s a lot of it, and it’s changing all the time, so I’ll write a few of the metal ones I’ve been listening to most recently:
Death
Mercyfuf Fate
Mastodon
Vader
Watain
Photo By: Ilona Matuszewska Photography
SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Michal: Nothing special. A simple warm-up on the pad with basic rudiments to get you comfortable. Sometimes, I play “dry” with guitarists or by myself a few songs with the pad and feet on the floor. I do basic full-body stretching.
SDM: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have affected your playing.
Michal: Yes. I use notes to read rudiments and fill and play with them. I learned notes almost from the beginning of playing, but I only use them to practice. I don’t play a song with notes. I’ve never practiced it because I have no need to, and I prefer to learn songs by ear because it exercises them the most. I think knowing notes has had a big influence on me because it has given me access to a lot of materials and exercises.
SDM: Can you tell us about the gear you use?
Michal:
Drum pedals: I use custom-made Polish tanks – Czarcie Kopyto drum pedals. They are fast and heavy-duty. I have been using them for almost 10 years, and nothing has ever happened to them, which means they are almost immortal.
Drumset: I’ve been using the Sakae Almighty Maple drum set for years.
(2) x 22″ KIck
10″ Tom
12″ Tom
16″ Floor
18″ Floor
Cymbals: All my cymbals are made by Sabian:
AAX X-Plosion Crash 17″
AAX X-Plosion Fast Crash 19″
AAX Heavy Crash 20″
AA Holy China 17″
AA Holy China 19″
AA Mini Holy China 12″
AAX Splash 10″
HH Power Bell Ride 22″
AAX Heavy Ride 20″
AAX Medium Hi-hat 14″
Drumheads: Aquarian Response II Clear and Perormance II Clear for toms and Coated for snare and Superkick II tor bass drum.
Electronics: Roland TM-2 drum module with FootBlaster triggers.
Yamaha MG06 mixer
Cymatic Audio LP 16 sampler
Polish custom cables by FatCables
Drumsticks: Wincent Rock for metal music and Wincent 5B for other genres
Photo By: Photo Gig Art PI
SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to younger drummers, it would be…
Michal: Play with your heart. Never forget to have fun. Exercise as often as possible, but remember to be comfortable and not to overdo it. Listen to your body, as it will tell you when you need to take a break.
SDM: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Michal: It’s hard to say. I’ve seen so many great drummers and live bands in my life, so I don’t know what to say. I think I can write a few who impressed me the most:
Blood Incantation
Gojira
Judas Priest
Watain
and many others…
SDM: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?
Michal: I like to travel and discover new places. Walk in the woods, go to lakes and seas. Play guitar and bass.
