Big Wreck's Sekou Lumumba (right): An Interview (all promo pictures and album artwork belong to their respective owners)
What are you listening to currently?
SL: I've been listening to the new Periphery album that came out this summer! Those guys always put out great music, and this is no exception.
How long have you been playing drums?
SL: I started playing drums when I was about 16; I originally played bass with some friends, but when they needed a drummer, I decided to try it out and got more and more comfortable with finding a simple rhythm. I started playing professionally in 1998 as a session/touring drummer, about 25 years ago.
How did you get the gig with Big Wreck?
SL: I mentioned previously, that I was doing some session and touring work early in my career. I had drummed with a Canadian R&B singer named Ivana Santilli. After that, I worked with a few more artists including Edwin & The Pressure [Edwin being the lead vocalist of fellow Canadian rock band I Mother Earth]. Somewhere around that timeline, I was picked up by Ian [Thornley] to play on his debut solo album [Come Again], and toured with them until 2005, with Ken Tizzard of The Watchmen also in the lineup. After 2005, I played with some more notable acts including Bedouin Soundclash for 2 years and Serena Ryder for 10 years, around the time when she was becoming one of the next big things in Canadian music. In 2020 or 2021, Ian called me up and asked if I could join them for some sessions for what would become Big Wreck's 7 EP series, we recorded about 15 songs in those sessions and I became their full-time drummer soon after, as their previous drummer was suffering through some medical issues that made it impossible for him to continue touring and drumming at 110%.
Compared to the last series of EPs, was the writing and production process different at all, or was it similar?
SL: I would say similar writing-wise, though I wasn't too involved with that side of things on the EP tracks. I was also not involved with the EP 7 series' pre-production, as I joined in the midst of that happening. For this release, I was there for the entire process, including writing. What I can tell you from experience, is that Ian is a great writer. He'll come in with a drum loop or drum machine part that he imagines the song had, plus his guitar parts for a rough demo. At that point, he'll kind of let me do whatever I want with the part.
What has the reception towards the new single been like? Big Wreck is always one band that loves experimenting, but this is by far the heaviest Big Wreck material I've heard.
SL: I appreciate that man! Big Wreck gathers much influence from whatever we're all listening to at the time and therefore is an amalgamation of different sounds. From new and old fans alike, the reception has been super positive towards Bail Out, especially out on the road.
One thing that I have noticed about Big Wreck's legacy on commercial radio, as opposed to some of your contemporaries, is the lasting effect and play of some of your newer stuff (Albatross, etc.) Would you be able to speak on this, in some part?
SL: Certainly. Before I go on here, I would like to say Albatross just got gold-certified, which is really cool. What I will say, is that when we get put on a "nostalgia act" bill or festival with our friends including The Watchmen, The Tea Party, or whatever it may be, there is an understanding that a large majority of our setlist is comprised of our big commercial songs, or the songs that everybody grew up with on the MuchMusic charts. That's the difference between those sets and when we're able to play our own shows like we are currently.
What are some of your favorite venues that you've played in your career?
SL: Without Big Wreck, no doubt it has to be Red Rocks with Serena Ryder opening for OneRepublic. I saw multiple concerts there when I was younger, I was in awe of the venue. It was just an absolute dream to play there with Serena. With Big Wreck, I'd say History in Toronto. That is such a fantastic, huge venue that I believe holds about 2000 people, and sounds great no matter where you are, whether you're on the floor or up in the rafters. I saw Turnstile there this year, and that was such a wonderful, energetic show, with a huge, huge drum sound and great vocal sound.
What are some of your favorite parts about touring? Least favorite?
SL: My favorite parts have to be the people that we meet and see singing along with the songs in the crowd. You even get a person here or there who gets teary-eyed or cries during a song - I love that, it means they care. As for least favorites, there's not a whole lot I could say except for after when were in the tour bus, and everybody is cranky and farting in the bunk beds *laughs*.
Do you ever suffer from post-concert/post-tour depression?
SL: To be honest, I don't really. As much fun as I have on tour, I always can't wait to get back home to see my parents and my dog. Especially with this tour, being we started in early November, we will not be back home until a few days before Christmas. Another thing is that on tour off-season, I'm always trying to find work, whether it's at a wedding or a fill in. One time, I played a big show, and a girl wanted me to sign her chest. The week after that, I was at a bar mitzvah as a drummer waiting for the food line, and was told to wait in the kids' food line, so I was waiting with these kids for some chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese, *laughs*.
Are you a gamer?
SL: Absolutely, I love The Last of Us. It is likely my favorite game series besides Bioshock. Other games that I have loved or checked out recently include Alan Wake and Starfield. I got about 100 hours in Starfield, or whatever is enough to finish the game. Let me tell you, I didn't end up liking it all that much because I got stuck. I was doing all the tasks, mining and gathering all the resources and what have you, and then my marker for my home base disappeared, meaning I couldn't find my home anymore! Regardless, I think it's a nicely made game but there was some glaring issues like that that made me more critical about it.
Thanks for talking to me, Sekou! We'll see you in December at The Regent Casino here in Winnipeg.
SL: Thanks! I used to live in Winnipeg, so it'll be cool as always to be back. I'm very excited to continue the rest of the tour with Big Wreck!
Check out Sekou's Instagram and Big Wreck's music via the links below.
Sekou Instagram | Big Wreck Instagram | Big Wreck Facebook | Big Wreck Merch
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