Every drummer knows the dream: devoting your life to drums and music. You haste yourself from session to session, play with every imaginable artist, and finally, some guy picks you up, wants you in his band, and being music friends becomes a professional career. Bram Hakkens is the drummer of Kyteman\'s Hip hop Orchestra, the serious new sensation in Holland. Having sold out every big venue in Holland, playing all the festivals there are this year, this band is ready for an international tour, even outside of Europe. Kyteman recorded the album himself, and his band -on publication of this article- only exists for five months.\"Playing in Kyte his band is just awesome! On stage everything always falls into place with this huge group of people. Every time it feels like I am coming home musically. This band has many musicians, but still I can do everything I want. From Anarchistic Balkan Blasting Beats, to the most subtle Jazz grooves. In this huge musical vendor all musicians have a lot of freedom. The music reflects it, and the audiences feel it.\"
But Bram has more energy. After another sold out show in Nijmegen (Holland) he shouts out: \"I need to play more! Guys, can’t we do another session in the studio when we get back?\"
An attitude most approved! But even more characteristic for his personality. Never ever he will deny playing, wherever he is and where the opportunity lies. A joy to watch, and to know he can be heard in more musical settings besides Kyteman\'s Orchestra. Therefore, you won’t only find videos of Bram with Kyteman\'s Hip hop Orchestra, but also some features of Illicit in Munich, Germany, and with rappers OneLove and Raz of Arrested Development in Berlin.
Still, its one of the best things you can have going on as a drummer: 100% music, and playing drums in a way you have always wanted to do. Not even a world wide crisis holds back the success of this band. Venues and festivals are booked everywhere, playing crowds from 350 to 20,000 people at Europe\'s olders festival Pinkpop this year.
Talking with Kyteman himself, it still is a dream come true. Yet, although having his success he is fully focused on his music:
\"The success is extreme, a great feeling after so much work and devotion! But I don’t want to overdo this band live, and in the experience of our audiences. The music must keep this level and it has to evolve. I certainly do know we still have to grow musically. Still, I have to keep my musicians on alert while having this success everywhere we have played so far. In a project as big as this, it is the most important thing . I need to keep my music and my artists eager to do it live all the time.\"
Videos and music
Besides videos of Bram with Kyteman\'s Hip hop Orchestra, you will find some more streams of Bram with his former band Illicit. Click the releases below this article to listen to the albums he has played on.
Gear
Bram has a Ludwig endorsement and is working with Paiste for a personal cymbal setup.
He is his own and only endorser of his self made ‘Bram La Bam Nevershifter’. Which, according to Bram and his technicians, \"never ever shifts!\"
Bram\'s Ludwig endorsement kit
Ludwig Classic Maple Green Sparkle
24x18 bass drum
14x10 tom
16x16 floor
Concert setup
Ludwig Classic Maple Mod Orange
