Some memories from 2025 and some of the the amazing inspirational people I got to spend time with. Making an album, hanging with Grandma & Suzie, playing percussion. I also spent a lot of time scrolling and feeling bleak af about all the communities that are going through the worst life can be. I expect 2026 to be the same but even more extreme. Highs and lows, love and destruction. Wow what a time to be alive eh lol
I got new drums! In fact, I got my dream drums! 😍 Feeling extremely grateful to have this incredible pair so early on in my journey.
Ngā mihi @creativenz for granting me the funds to help afford this pro equipment and continue my very necessary tuition! Already this has been a massive boost to my confidence and access to develop my practice further 🧗💪
@moperc_official make the best drums. I’m totally obsessed. There is nothing else like learning on a perfectly hand-crafted instrument ❤️🔥
Lastly, thanks to my collaborators, my teacher and my mates for giving me opportunites to learn, play and talk endlessly about congas 😂
I will try get better at posting more videos of my development! And if you need a conga player… 🙋🪘🪘
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1 - Moperc Custom Cubanos Ash, Conga 11.75” & Tumba 12.5”
2 - These really thick raw hide heads hurt my hands at first but sound so pure it’s worth the pain lol
3 - Percussion setup for Na Noise, including Ableton Live with custom programmed drum machine tracks 🤓
4 - Na Noise rehearsal / me realising I need to p r a c t i c e 🙃
5 - first show with my Mopercs, actually a last min fill in for keyboard maestro, Joe Kaptien’s album release
Leonard Charles Group @ Neck Of The Woods
28 March 2024
Another exhilarating set of ripping tunes! Always a pleasure & level up to play with Tom, Chip and Jere 😎
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1 - Walk The Line by Leonard Charles & Dudley Perkins
2 - Ain’t It Funky Now by James Brown (with an Afrobeat/New Orleans shuffle spin)
Leonard Charles Group opening for WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc) @ The Hollywood Avondale, 13th March 2024
An absolute honour to play with my good friend Jeremy again and for the first time with the bros Tom and Chip! Ngā mihi e hoa mā 🙌
Here’s some videos of our set. This was my first show playing a proper set of tunes (an incredible setlist btw) on the congas. I’ve been learning for nearly 4 months now. So playing this was a massive step up for me and boy did I learn a lot during that 40min set 😅
A special shout out to my amazing teacher @yuniormaden for helping me prepare for the show 💖
And love to my friends who made it in time for our set and took these videos… so that I can review my mistakes and practicepracticepractice 😅
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1. My People Hold On - Eddie Kendricks
2, 3. Love Supreme - John Coltrane
4. Walk The Line - Leonard Charles feat. Dudley Perkins
Practice montage - My first 2 months of learning Congas. I try to practice 3-4 times a week. It’s very hard to play all of the different sounds with precision and consistency. But when I’m leaning a new pattern and it finally clicks, it feels amazing! I especially love the feeling of playing in pocket with the clave. I’m kind of obsessed… here’s to the start of a long journey ahead! Thank you to my amazing teacher for passing on the tradition @yuniormaden ! 🪘🔥🏋️👍
