Moreland Leader (Australia)
January 31, 2005 Monday
The beat of love goes on
by Rick Edwards
IVAN Khatchoyan’s love affair with drums started as a five-year-old
and is as strong as ever 30 years later.
The Fawkner man is drumming in one of Melbourne’s hottest groove,
jazz and hip hop bands True Live and is enjoying every minute.
“We just started out jamming but once we got all the players we have
now, we thought we have something good here,” Khatchoyan said.
“We have chemistry and, being the drummer, that’s what I vibe on . .
. it’s top priority for me.
“If I don’t enjoy musically what someone is doing or them personally,
it’s do-able but it’s not ideal.”
Khatchoyan, who hails from an Armenian background, nominated Stewart
Copeland (ex-Police) and Jack De Johnette (ex-Miles Davis group) as
his favourite drummers.
“I tend to crank it I really like high-energy fun,” he said.
“I am pretty energetic and creative. I am always learning I’m happy
to keep learning.”
Apart from playing drums, 34-year-old Khatchoyan is a music teacher
and producer.
“I tend to produce at home during the day and do gigs at night,” he
said.
“I love producing just as much as playing drums.”
True Live’s debut album is expected to be released mid-2005.
Khatchoyan said the band’s brand of hip hop differed from the style
coming from the US.
“It’s got elements of it but they are not obvious . . . we try to
make it as booty as possible so you can move to it and dance,” he
said. “It’s kind of mixing it up with good musicality, a bit more on
the jazz side.”
* True Live plays the Melbourne Afrobeats Festival, a free all-day
event at Birrarung Marr on Saturday, February 5.