“It all started because of some madness. My answer to all your questions is just that,” smiles DJ and percussionist Kimo (Bejoy Joy), as he passionately describes his dream project in Kerala — the drum circle.
Every week, a few percussionists from different parts of Kochi convene, sit in a circle, and create mesmerizing music together. The notes produced from instruments like the djembe, conga, hang drum, darbuka, didgeridoo, and cajon reverberate in a unique synchronized rhythm. This spontaneous jam session results in a musical spectacle that is never the same twice; the musicians, rhythms, and notes constantly evolve, ensuring that the music remains a thrilling and unpredictable experience.
“If you can strike a few notes, they will hand you an instrument, and you can be part of this frenetic musical revolution,” says Kimo, based in Kochi. For this drum circle, it’s all about celebrating beats and rhythms of all kinds. “There really are no bad drummers. Everyone has a sense of rhythm and musicality. Even if you don’t know music, you can join,” he continues. The drum circle welcomes everyone, inviting participants to communicate through the universal language of rhythm, dance to the beats, and partake in what there is a celebration of human connection through music.
The drum circle is held in Fort Kochi twice a week. On Wednesdays, musicians gather at David Hall, and on Thursdays, they meet at Fort Kochi beach. The sessions are organized by Kochi-based music company Art House Music Labs. “The idea is to develop a street music culture,” says Kimo, explaining that the concept took root in 2014 when he first experienced the joy of being part of a drum circle on the banks of the River Ganges in Rishikesh. “That changed everything. And when I came back to Kerala, I wanted to start something like that. Street music is still an alien concept here,” he says.
Thus, in 2016, Kimo launched the drum circle in Fort Kochi, joined by Hari Krishnan, Nekheeb Sha, Arun Kumar, and Sajeer Khan, his bandmates from Rhythm Circle, a Kochi-based band. “We used to gather and play.
. Sometimes traveling musicians would also join us,” he recalls. However, life took its course, and the drum circle faded, though the dream of nurturing a street music culture lingered in Kimo’s mind.
Eight years later, in early 2024, Kimo and his former bandmate Hari Krishnan revived the drum circle. The inspiration for this revitalization was rooted in Kimo’s experiences in Ukraine during the war. Kimo, who went to Ukraine to be with his wife Natalia Terekhova and their baby, witnessed the resilience of the street music scene there, even amidst chaos. “The street music scene was active there even during the war. During the weekend, musicians would come out and jam, and it brought some semblance of normalcy. When I came back, I wanted to start the street music culture,” Kimo recalls.
Today, a collective of 31 people gathers with their instruments, meeting regularly for the past four months. “Half of the musicians were strangers, but we are all now united because of music,” says Kimo. Avinash Kurungot, an advocate and native of Kozhikode, shares his story of joining the group: “Once I shifted to Kerala from Bengaluru, I was trying to connect with the music circle here. That is when I came across this drum circle. I liked the fact that it was a place where percussionists could go and jam.”
Currently, people from various districts come to Fort Kochi to be part of this drum circle. “I hope that one day there will be drum circles in all the districts and that even when I am not here, this tradition would go on,” expresses Kimo. The openness and inclusivity of the drum circle mean that anyone who wishes to experiment with drumming and rhythms just needs to show up.
For those interested, the drum circle sessions in Fort Kochi are held twice weekly from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM, with gatherings at David Hall on Wednesdays and Fort Kochi beach on Thursdays. For more details, you can contact 9895162838, 8137096664, visit their Instagram @rhythmcircleindia, or email [email protected]
Join this vibrant community of percussionists and be part of a rhythmic revolution, where the beats of Fort Kochi meet the essence of global street music culture.
