Kai Craig

Independent

Born in Brighton, UK (b.2000), Kai Craig first picked up sticks at the age of 2 and began formally studying with his father at the age of 6. Kai’s musical inspiration was sparked by hearing recordings from his father’s record collection. His early exposure to a wide range of music, and the playing styles connected to them, enabled him to develop his initial understanding of music, and planted the seed from which his own playing approach grew.

At age 18, Kai moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music, from which he graduated in 2022 with First Class Honours. He is grateful to have been mentored by Gregory Hutchinson, one of his greatest influences on the drum set, since 2020. In the past, he also had the honour of studying with Kenny Washington, Tyshawn Sorey, Marcus Gilmore, Francesco Ciniglio, and has enjoyed opportunities to work with the likes of Soweto Kinch, Géraud Portal, Romain Pilon, Kit Downes, Graeme Blevins, Nigel Price, Ivo Neame, Franck Amsallem, Stan Sulzmann, Giacamo Smith, Raynald Colom, Gareth Lockrane, Laurence Cottle and Anders Jormin. Whilst in London, Kai regularly performed at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Dean Street, The Vortex and The 606, with select performances at the Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall and the Southbank Centre.

Following his graduation, Kai lived in Paris, where he quickly became an integral part of the scene, performing regularly at all of the clubs and further afield throughout Europe. Kai is currently based in Brooklyn, New York, where he will be based for the foreseeable future. In January 2024, Kai recorded his debut album, 'A Time Once Forgotten', in Köln, Germany alongside Sean Payne, James Copus, Rainer Böhm and Géraud Portal (produced by Gregory Hutchinson).

Kai
Craig's
IN 3

Kai Craig's
IN 3

  • WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

    Sunset Jazz Club in Paris. I remember playing there right after finishing my Bachelors Degree at Music School, with Géraud Portal who is one of the baddest bass players in the world and like an older brother to me. I remember feeling a weightlessness in the middle of the gig knowing it was the last date of the tour and I didn't have to go back to school ever again. Everybody I knew in Paris came to the gig and the room was packed way over capacity, and anybody who knows the club knows it's already intimate as it is, to say the least - we could barely get off the stage after... The vibe there is always amazing and it was a special night that I'll remember forever.

  • WORDS OF WISDOM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF DRUMMERS

    The idea that knowledge is infinite and study is lifelong. There are always more things to learn; infinitely more concepts to develop; and as hard as we can try, we will never know everything. It's simultaneously extremely motivating and completely flooring.

  • FAVORITE ZILDJIAN CYMBAL/COMBO

    Is there any other choice? The first sticks I ever used were my Dad's Vic Firth's. Since before I could walk and talk, it's all I've known.

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