Chiminyo is a drummer and producer from North London who, with his tech-heavy drum kit set-up, combines the raw, immediate live sound of percussion and the futuristic timbres of his electronic productions to create his own, daring soundworld. Via laboriously self-coded software, each cymbal crash and drum hit triggers a synth or sample, allowing Chiminyo complete control and freeing him of all loops, click-tracks and backing tracks. Every sound effect is performed live, producing an idiosyncratic kind of music that has led to solo performances at Love Supreme Festival and London Jazz Festival, features on Worldwide FM and Jazzwise, and releases via Gearbox Records.
As well as his own solo project, Chiminyo performs and records with some of the leading figures of London’s music scene, including spiritual jazz-leaning outfit Maisha and psychedelic energy bomb Cykada. He has also collaborated and recorded with Gary Bartz, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings, Theon Cross, and Zara McFarlane. The drummer, who through his craft uses a range of technological equipment, is also sponsored by Roland and Bosphorus, as well as being an Ableton artist.
The up-and-coming musician released a debut EP last year entitled ‘I Am Chiminyo’, a visceral introduction to his all-encompassing universe. Described by Clash magazine as “a startingly inventive percussive workout”, the three tracks flow through a cascade of ethereal arpeggios, thumping basslines, and heavy, dance-inducing beats. Critically-acclaimed by the likes of Gilles Peterson, BBC 1Xtra and Jazz FM, it indirectly earnt Chiminyo a Jazz FM Digital Award nomination whilst the track ‘Kandy Lanx’ was nominated for a 2020 Worldwide FM Award. This Autumn, Chiminyo will be releasing his debut album I AM PANDA via Gearbox Records. Whereas the 2019 EP was an introduction to his sound and technique, the upcoming album is a deep exploration of the music that Chiminyo truly resonates with. Recorded at Konk Studios by Ricardo Damian (Jorja Smith, Sampha, Binker & Moses), the album features a host of talented guests including Kweku Sackey aka K.O.G, singer Dunja Botic, and spoken word artist Brother Portrait of Steam Down fame. Composed and arranged by Chiminyo, the music is a synth-laden blend of euphoric choruses, glittering drum beats, and samples that take the listener on a high-speed aural trip around the world. His joint use of digital technology and analogue meaningfully honours both the manic city lights of London’s metropolis and the natural wonders of the wild, a conflicting duality that Chiminyo reflects in his music.
