Mutemath’s Darren King – HuffPost 10.26.11

Mike Ragogna: What advice do you have for new artists?

Darren King: Well, I’m so thankful for the encouragement I got from my church. I will defend my church to the death for this despite any of its flaws. I got to play music for all these people–and I played it horribly and really loudly–but those people just loved on me and encouraged me. I went to a very unique church. One year for Christmas, they let my friend and me set up our drums and do a Buddy Rich versus Gene Krupa style drum battle, loosely based on “The Little Drummer Boy.” It was complete showoff–it was very unspiritual and there was nothing worship-y about it at all–but they let us do it. All I mean to say by that is that it doesn’t have to be a church, but if there is any community where people have those good vibes and some drums, go for it. (laughs) Music is meant to be shared and celebrated together in a room. I did this right–I hunted out people with similar interests and I clung to them. Whenever people asked me when I was 17 what I wanted to do for a living, I was oddly specific and said, “I know this guy in New Orleans named Paul Meany. I want to be in a band with him.” Now, I’m 29 and that is still what I’m doing. I guess if that’s helpful at all, it’s my advice–find people with common interests and cling to them, and don’t listen to people who are discouraging, even if they’re right.