Keep up with Raphael here:
www.myspace.com/sainiraphael
Email: raphaelsaini [at] hotmail.it
Drummer since the age of 14, I play now for Chaoswave, We are Building Ruins and CFA. I was born in Sao Paulo but I live in Italy. I studied with great drummers like Dino Verdade, Dinho Goncalves, Nana Aragao, Giorgio Del Rio, Daniele Russo and with many professional metal drummers like: Aquiles Priester (Hangar, ex Angra), Fernando Schaefer, Amilcar Cristofaro (Torture Squad), Ricardo Confessori (Angra), Jean Dolabella (Sepultura) and I still continue my training and education nowadays.
My Brazilian origin gave me the opportunity to study in schools like the Souza Lima where, in December 2005 I was nominated student of the month, and the Bateras Beat, the biggest Drum School of Brazil. Facing different cultures and studying abroad with high level and open-minded musicians made made me feel that I had to do something to promote the music that I loved so much. This is why I began to write for the biggest Italian drum magazine called Batteria e Percussioni (former Percussioni) in order to interview many big metal drummers and deal with modern metal subjects (Blast beats, double bass). For the same purpose I began to carry out workshops of modern metal all over Italy, having the chance to show my studies and my teaching approach. Thanks to my workshops in which I discussed “new” topic I was able to be endorser of: Meinl, Hansenfutz, Axis (first Italian drummer on their website), Powerclick, Staff Drum, Drumcraft, Evan (Bode srl) and Urban Boards.
In 2006 I was on the most important drum magazine of the world (Modern Drummer)and on Drum Magazine on the emerging drummers section. In 2007 I spent one week in Greece to study with George Kollias (Nile). In July 2009 I had the chance to play with Daniele "Barny" Bagni (bass player of LITFIBA a very famous Italian band) and PAUL GILBERT during a Masterclass with Gilbert at the Music Rooms in North Sardinia (Olbia). Still in July me and my band (Chaoswave) were interviewed by a national TV program (Universication, LA7). In September 2009 me and my band Chaoswave were the opening act during the tour of Evergrey, which gave us the chance to play all over Europe in just one month. Still in 2009 I started a collaboration with the school Free Stroke (Florence), where, by the way, worked with great drummers like: Ellade Bandini, Agostino Marangolo. Since then I run there a drum course called Real Metal. This Year(2010) I started another collaboration with the GM Drumschool (Turin), “Extreme Metal Doctorate Course” is the name of my course. GM Drumschool made me work with others great drummers like: Marco Minnemann and Sergio Bellotti.
Moreover, I record session drums for Sanisickation, Mutilated Soul, Misbelieving and many more (see my discography on the left). I did 6 European tour with Chaoswave during which We played in Belgium, France, Holland, Denmark, Romany, Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, Hungary and Croatia playing next to famous band like: Opeth, Tarjia (Nightwish), Konkhra, Illdisposed, Hatesphere, Mnemic and many more. I organise my workshop by myself and I am always available for drum lessons, workshops and professional touring all over the world.
For information please contact: raphaelsaini[at]hotmail.it
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Raphael Saini Interview:
SDM: How old were you when you started playing?
Raphael: I Started playing at 14… but I started playing and practicing seriously at the age of 19 guided by a good teacher that helped me a lot.
SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Raphael: I live in Cagliari, Sardegna; this is a wonderful place for vacations but not for musical studies: there are not drum corps near where I live…I played in some school bands music like Punk rock and Hard rock…
SDM: Who are your top 5 influences?
Raphael: Joe Morello, Pete Sandoval(The king of all kings!!!!), Dave Lombardo, Fernando Schaefer, Aquiles Priester
SDM: Assuming that influences doesn't mean favorites, who are yourfavorites?
Raphael: Pete Sandoval, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jason Bowld (this guy has skills!), Flo Mounier, George Kollias(I'm saving money to go to Greece to study with this guy!) and many many many many more!
SDM: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation
Raphael: only 5??? mmmmmmmmm……… Pain of Salvation: the perfect element; lamb of god : sacrament; Morbid Angel : domination ; Dim Mark – knives of Ice ; Stuck Mojo "Rising" ……but I 'm really listening to a bunch of stuff all the time!
SDM: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?
Raphael: I can't remember it because I am really a perfectionist so I think I'm always doing a mediocre Job even if I know that I 'm too severe with myself….but being unsatisfied makes you want to practice more and push yourself…
SDM: Do you have a favorite brand of drums?
Raphael: In the "high" levels there are really a lot of very very good band of drums I really don't have a favorite BUT I must say that BAUER drums are the ones that impressed me for their amazing sound…. they're not so easy to find outside Brasil, but those drums are excellent.
SDM: Which Meinl cymbal is your favorite?
Raphael: It depends… for metal music I love the Soundcaster custom crashes and Chinas, but also the Byzance series (for softer styles of music) are great, definately MEINL knows how to make wonderful cymbals, I've been in love with the soundcaster custom crashes since I touched them!
SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Raphael: Find a teacher who can help you to improve faster and can teach you how to play relaxed, read music etc etc… maybe it's not so easy to find GOOD teacher but once you find it…you know that he is the one!
SDM: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?
Raphael: Dave Lombardo with Slayer some years ago at God of metal… it was incredible!!!!
SDM: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
Raphael: I can't imagine my life without drums….. really I'm trying to imagine it….but I can't, sorry!
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