Drums in the Living Room: A Woman's Musical Journey

"Music is the glue that brings everybody together," says KC, whose remarkable journey into musicianship begins with a drum set placed squarely in her family's living room. From that unconventional start emerged a passionate musician whose mother's simple teaching method—"That's your foot, that's your foot"—would become KC's own approach to demystifying music for others.

The conversation flows with KC's infectious energy as she breaks down the seemingly complex art of drumming into accessible parts, comparing it to making a sandwich: start with the basics and add layers according to taste. Her philosophy cuts through intimidation and technical barriers, opening doors for anyone who feels called to make music. "People make it overly complicated and get intimidated," she explains, "but at the end of the day, it's just me and a little vibe."

Beyond technique, KC speaks with fire about empowering Black women in music, pushing back against limitations placed on them by others—including church leaders. "If you're a Black woman, specifically, if you're anybody Black, there is nothing you can't do," she declares with conviction. This passion extends to her belief that gifts are meant to be shared, echoing her mother's warning that unused talents will be lost. When asked what she wants audiences to feel from her performances, her answer is beautifully simple: "Love." In a world she sees as increasingly cold and disconnected, KC views music as therapy, a universal language that transcends differences and heals wounds. Join us for this heartfelt conversation about music, purpose, and spreading kindness in a world that desperately needs it.

Transcript

Learning Music from Mama

Speaker 1 0:00

Mama guilt tripped me into singing . She said if you don't use your gifts that God gave you , you will lose them . And I was like Mama , I'm young , I'm like Mama . What you mean ? I'm a loser . Mama , she's like what they gonna get lost like some peas .

Speaker 2 0:49

I can find them Just take , turn it up , just take , turn it up . We have Kasey with us . Kasey's a phenomenal bass player . She actually does it all . No , no , that was the wrong title .

Speaker 1 1:03

No , it was funny . I don't know about phenomenalenomenal Bass Player . She's being a little bit .

Speaker 2 1:09

From what I saw , it was amazing . It was amazing like a female bass player . So what just inspired you to take , like just to get into music ?

Speaker 1 1:20

My mama , the Lord . And the funny thing about it is actually so my mama plays the keys , the organ . Um , she doesn't play the drums , anything like that . But , um , I always say my mama taught me how to play drums . They'd be like , oh , your mama can play the drum .

Speaker 1 1:34

We were in the living room and my mama got me a drum set . She put it smack dab in the middle , like like this ping pong table , put in the middle of the living room , and I and I was like you know , mama , you know people like running to see if she's like anybody to come in this house need to be playing with you or uplifting you . So it's not an issue . And I'd be like , how does she teach you ? And I'd be like my mama just sat there on the piano . She , that's your foot , that's your foot . And I'm like you know , cause my mama got rhythm . So this is .

Speaker 1 2:04

I was like I'm this young . I'm like okay . And she's like , come on , what'd I do ? So I'm like okay , and then I'll give me a roll in between . You got to fill up the space , kc , fill up the space . Now , look , I want a little ambience . So when I little ambience , I want you to hit that . There you go . Now , look , let's go back from the top . That's your foot . Start with your foot . Give me that foot . Yes , that's how I learned .

Speaker 1 2:29

Honestly , you really can teach me and that is how I teach people and it's funny , that's how I actually teach people . Any kid that comes to church , I'm like start with your foot . You have to feel it , just feel it , just vibe with it . And if you can vibe , that's your foot , and everybody . Whenever you in a crowd , what's the first thing people do ? Yup , when they rockin' Right , I'm gonna stomp my foot , right , that's a bass pedal , that's all I'm doing . I'm stomping with the . And if you can just look , and if I could talk and keep the same thing up . And now I'm adding my hands . The people get intimidated because I'm actually losing all four of my limbs .

Speaker 2 3:12

They're like I don't know what these have .

Speaker 1 3:14

If you can cook . I'm grabbing a napkin and I'm walking at the same time in the kitchen . I got to check on a pan .

Breaking Down the Drumming Basics

Speaker 1 3:22

I grab a napkin again . Oh , I wash my hands Walking in the kitchen and I grab a pan and I this is a sandwich , and that's all I say . It's all just about a sandwich . It depends on how you make your sandwich . You could just put a peanut butter and jelly on a sandwich For me . I like a little meat . Yes , you do , I like a little meat .

Speaker 1 3:40

I like a little lettuce , a little mustard , and that's the full . You know what I'm saying . That's where every other component comes in .

Speaker 2 3:49

You just taught me something , and that's all I'm saying .

Speaker 1 3:53

People make it overly complicated to get intimidated . Just about the . Now I can do all the bells and whistles , but at the end of the day , it's just me and a little vibe . That's it . That's it . It was just me and my mom in the living room . It is me and my mom in the living room Like people . It is me and my mom in the living room . And then who be up like people , come to the house and be like you got a drum set in your living room . Are you gonna play or are you gonna get out Right like what ?

Speaker 2 4:19

do you do ?

Speaker 1 4:19

I do have a drum set in my living room and we have two pianos in the living room .

Speaker 2 4:24

Oh man yeah , y'all been dissing for this .

Speaker 1 4:26

And we have two couches . I'm sorry , Don't think you can't come to my house and sit down , but you better be able to come to my house and you gonna enjoy this view Even if you don't play . You just gotta sit here and just look , we gonna pass you a shaker , we gonna pass you a tambourine , that's it , and we in now .

Speaker 2 4:41

We don't believe in camps .

Speaker 1 4:43

People be oh , I can't do that , I can't do that . What you can't ? Stomp your foot Right , you can't Right .

Speaker 2 4:48

Right .

Speaker 1 4:49

That's a beat right there , come on , that's a band if you ask me .

Speaker 2 4:56

So you guys do teach the younger kids .

Speaker 1 4:59

Yes , okay , my mom and I . I really credit her . She is one of a kind she likes to be behind the crowd , but I be like girl , you know , she is specifically , I've been classically trained piano , okay , but she specifically like she actually has a . So when people be like , oh , I want to learn and I'm serious , I don't want to derive , you Go on , I am not , I mean , I work through my heart , but she can actually read . Let me go through a book and that's serious to me and like people be like , oh , I want to actually okay Girl .

Speaker 2 5:35

No , I don't want to keep you Right . Oh my , that is . You have really just brought a different light into the music .

Empowering Black Women in Music

Speaker 2 5:43

How easy that was , I'm and that's all I'm saying .

Speaker 1 5:47

People make it . I think you know , and . I really specifically with Black women especially in my church . I had a 17-year-old come up to me was like oh , I want to play , but you know I don't think I can do it . Her grandpa , that she lived with the reverend of the church , told her she can't do it . How can you do it ? I'm going to curse that man out .

Speaker 1 6:06

I mean we be even to this day because of it , and that's the reason why we feel like you know , we're so limited and I hate that , specifically as black women , it is nothing that we can't do . Let me wait . Zoom in on my face . If you're a black woman , specifically , if you anybody black , it is nothing you can't do . Why ?

Speaker 1 6:26

Because we've already gone through it all and you mean to tell me you can't do why ? Because we've already gone through it all , and you mean to tell me you can't master it ? Wait a minute , let me in with me . Yeah , now , look , look , get out of here , look so , and I , even if I have to bat head sometimes I have to bat heads with the reverend . Yes , I did it . And if he's seeing this , let me look again , because if you are telling your child that there is nothing , that you're limiting them , and I'm grateful to raise an environment . My mama told me that I could go to the moon and I believed her .

Speaker 1 6:58

That's right , that's right when your mama at Now she laughed and because I feel like I can't , there's nothing I can't do with Christ . So I try to really instill that in other people , because life is short , that's true , but you do not be playing an instrument . You know what I'm saying . What do you do when you have a melody in your head ?

Speaker 2 7:17

Come on .

Speaker 1 7:18

It gets stuck there , Please let it out .

Speaker 2 7:21

I be like I go around singing all day .

Speaker 1 7:24

Let me hear something I'm going to hear something ?

Speaker 2 7:26

No , not right now . No , all day . The day is still After , after , okay , when ?

Speaker 1 7:30

Because our people don't know that I do this when .

Speaker 1 7:33

After we get out . How you got a podcast , your people don't know , because that's an unhidden talent . This is your podcast and I'm helping you . Unhidden talent , hold back on art either , and I'm going to put you on the spot too . Whoever's podcast needs to be fully fulfilled . You know what my mama I'm sorry , my mama guilt tripped me into singing . She said if you don't use your gifts that God gave you , you will lose them . And I was like mama . I'm young , I'm like mama . What you mean ? I have to lose them . Mama . What ? They going to get lost , like the peas ? I can find them and you know I'm young , I'm like bro , I can't lose a gift that's inside of me .

Speaker 2 8:19

She was like you're not hearing me .

Speaker 1 8:21

You're going to get there and you're going to wish you had something and everybody . You know what I'm saying . You got a gift and everybody wishes you have it . And when you have a gift you don't even appreciate it because you don't realize how good you have it . But God gave you something specifically and you may not know the reason , that's fine too . You don't have to , because guess what it's not for you A good gift keeps on getting up .

Speaker 2 8:45

Come on now . Let me go home on that . Come on now . Y'all don't care , that was good , and I'm not even . That was good , no , you're good .

Speaker 1 8:51

I have to say that because that's how I start , right , you keep it . And I was saying my mom would , to this day , bully me .

Speaker 2 8:58

Man , I wish you would have met your mama .

Speaker 1 9:00

I'm like mama , I'm scared , that's .

Speaker 2 9:01

I'm like dang mama Right , you have a good mama . I have a great mama . She has really . God is good . God is good . God is good , god is good . So when you're performing , this will be the last question . I know you're sweating . I'm already sweating , please . So what do you want your

Using Your God-Given Gifts

Speaker 2 9:26

audience to feel from you , your mom ?

Speaker 1 9:27

like your whole group , when y'all are out performing . Love , that's a short answer , love . I think that the world is lacking love .

Speaker 2 9:35

And I had somebody today say I don't know why we can't all just get along .

Speaker 1 9:39

And I think music is a glue . It is that if nothing else can bring anybody together all walks of life , that's you , that's me , that's them , that's us Like it don't matter what song you're playing . If nothing else , it could be war going on . Music playing , right . You know , they had in the war stare drums . Why did they have stare drugs in the war zone ? Because people need morale . Music , yeah , help heals people . Music is therapy . I went to school , I got my minor psychology and I thought I wanted to actually be a music therapist , because I initially said you know , I could actually talk to somebody , but but sometimes it's just nice to just sit in it . And anytime somebody comes to me and somebody is serious , they'll be like oh , I want to play , I want to play . I'm like why do you want to play , why do you really want to play ? And if it's a man you know what I'm saying they'll be like oh , I'm trying to be cool , up , get the ladies .

Speaker 1 10:41

That's not about that man . I want you to be serious . If you can't , I want you to close your eyes and I just want you to feel it . I just want you to feel it . If I close my eyes and I play some Debussy okay , y'all don't know who that is before your time If I close my eyes and I play some Beethoven , what do you feel ? It's songs that can convey a meaning and it puts me at just a serenity , just a full peace , and I want that to be shared for everybody else . I want everybody to feel at bay when they like listening to me .

Speaker 1 11:14

I want people to feel like they believe in love you know , Cause it's

Music as a Vehicle for Love

Speaker 1 11:19

like the world is so cold , so negative , and I hate that . I'll be telling my mama be like mama dang , nobody else . And she'd be like heavy as a hand and nobody else does it . You have to be . That's the purpose . Everybody has a little purpose . You're like oh , I'm so purposeless . Everybody has a . Just a . If everybody takes a vow of peace , kindness , general kindness , it isn't just like oh , I'm going out of my way for somebody , I'm just saying hey to a stranger . You know what I'm saying . If everybody in the faceless world just took a vow of kindness , that's it . That's it . It could be . What did Lauren say ? It could all be so simple if we just operated in love . So my , my sole purpose is to try to put a little bit of love back in the world , cause that's what it's lacking .

Speaker 2 12:14

Give a little love .

Speaker 1 12:17

Okay , okay , I just like I want more love . You know just more heart , more passion , more kindness . Be kind . I'll be telling the kids . Be kind , bro , put that phone down and be kind . Matter of fact , if you pick the phone up , go look at some YouTube music videos . That's how you can learn , you can learn , you can learn .

Speaker 2 12:41

And people be putting their phones in .

Speaker 1 12:43

Look , I'm sorry , I'm going to shut up , I'm going to shut up . I'm clearly a talker , I cannot shut up Anyways .

Speaker 2 12:51

Yes , we're going to have to get you back so you can play for us . Yeah for sure you and the crew . Yeah , for sure the crew .

Speaker 1 12:59

The crew . Let's put that in the suggestion box the crew .

Speaker 2 13:02

With a K , but yeah , so thank you for coming on .

Speaker 1 13:06

Thank you , I hope you don't know , I don't mean nothing by it . I meant nothing for jokes . I play too much . That stare down was nothing but love .

Speaker 2 13:13

I know I felt it Okay , good , because when you ran into the door , like all right , that's my time , I'm going to put my head down .

Speaker 1 13:25

Come . All right , that's my time . Put my head down , come on . So where can we find you ? You ?

Speaker 2 13:29

know what I'm like low key retired . I don't even want to be . We need the love we got to find you , to get the love we need this Jesus .

Speaker 1 13:39

Yeah , you want to find the love . Search for the Savior . Jesus is love . If you want to find the love , search for the Savior . You're not lying

Finding KC and Wrapping Up

Speaker 1 13:48

, casey . My name is Nook . I don't know what it was . My mama was still . She had that epidural and they shot her . So when she was trying to sign the birth certificate she forgot the rest of my name . That's my real name , two letters K-N-S-E underscore , madison Spelled normally M-A-D-I-S-O-N underscore .

Speaker 2 14:11

So unique .

Speaker 1 14:13

I love it . Imagine my this day . It's the people be like oh , it's unique now when you 20 something . But when I was on the playground they bullied me . You ever got accused of your name being a lie . They used to make stuff up . Don't let me get started .

Speaker 2 14:30

I really was going with K-A-S-C-Y . You know I was going okay .

Speaker 1 14:36

Thank you so much . It could have all been so simple , Lord . It could have .

Speaker 2 14:40

Mama knew what she was doing , though , because when you signing your autograph , that KC hit .

Speaker 1 14:46

It's literally the same , though you know a curse of K and a curse of C . What is the difference ? Because it's yours . Think about it . Think about it . Yeah , okay , yeah , yeah , walk off , miss Kimberly , because she know I'm on it and I want you to put me on the screen . Put that edit in there , because it's no different . Now , sometimes I try to be a little snazzy , I put a little curve in the cake .

Speaker 1 15:09

I put a little squiggle out the sea . I just elongate it . You know the sea and I lean it out there , but it's too much because it's so dry . What about ? I'm filling it up . I'm searching , you're crazy . You're crazy , god is good . Thank you so much for having me . I'm searching , you crazy , you crazy , god is good . Thank you so much for having me .

Speaker 2 15:28

I had a blast . I'm glad yo look , make sure you guys follow KC and we gonna have her back on so you guys can hear her play how she play . Alright , thank y'all peace . Thank y'all Peace .