Christopher Allis shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Christopher, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I have been doing a lot of hiking lately. It’s an effort to stay in better health generally, but it certainly helps with my profession as a drummer/percussionist.
Being able to get outside and just listen to the rhythm of your footsteps, feeling your heart beating and the way your breath rises and falls: it provides you with a chance to reconnect with yourself and check in emotionally and physically. That’s been making me feel rather content of late.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve been a music professional for well over two-thirds of my life at this point. Mainly drums and percussion. I’ve been playing since I was about 4 years old. My dad also plays drums/percussion and my mom sings. So, music was always around the house. I gravitated toward the instrument early because I was fascinated by them. I loved the sound. That continues to be the case. I’m just amazed at how versatile the drumkit is and how much you can do with it when you listen and trust your instincts.
At the risk of sounding glib: I am my brand/organization. My marketing chops aren’t that great though, so those that know who I am know what I do. But, I don’t have a cache like a lot of my contemporaries do. I tend to fly slightly under the radar. I’m a bit of an introvert.
I tend to work on a lot of different projects simultaneously. I like that variety. I feel it keeps my listening skills sharp. If there’s anything special about what I bring to the table as a drummer I guess it would be that I like to think like a producer. I’m not just listening to something and ‘clocking in’ to collect a paycheck. I ask questions about where the songwriter was coming from, I ask for lyric sheets, I want to understand the song in order to better frame and accompany it. Knowing where a song or a production is coming from allows me to pick the right gear, get in the best headspace possibly, and execute what needs to happen efficiently and musically.
I’ve assembled a collection of gear that allows me to cover pretty much any musical style/base that I would typically get called to do. Having that kind of toolkit helps to differentiate you from your colleagues and offers a chance to really develop and understand your sound and how you achieve it.
I’m currently working on a few different projects right now including an original group called ‘Superfluous’. We are a quartet of folks that have a lot of experience as touring members of bands, side musicians, studio players, etc. The band is an opportunity to experiment with our own songwriting and it’s a real joy to have group of like minded people that understand who you are and where you want your art to go.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I used to be very concerned about taking up the space I (or anyone) should be taking up in the world. I would really try to diminish myself… make myself smaller. As an introvert, it’s hard enough to allow yourself to be seen/heard. But I really struggled with believing that I deserved to take up space and be myself. It has taken a long time to unravel that knot.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
That is a multi-faceted question. I’ve dealt with very low episodes in my past where giving up was really… giving up. Just not wanting to be alive anymore. Those were very hard places to come out of, but I was able to because I was able to see/understand the systems and people I had around me. On a much less ‘permanent’ level – when I moved out to L.A. I was in a relationship with a wonderful woman. But, things changed and that relationship ended. When I walked into the empty apartment when she left, I really thought “Why should I stay in L.A.? I should just move back to my hometown.” There was something in me that said ‘No. You can’t. Not Yet.’ So, I stayed. But I definitely felt like giving up on my dreams here at that point.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think so. I’m not trying to pull punches or placate. I think that I move through my day pretty much as myself. I have to interface with a lot of people in a lot of different ways. I would think that most people would consider me consistent in my interactions/dealings with people. I heard about a term last year that redefined the introvert/extrovert duality. It’s called an ‘otrovert’. There’s a value on emotional independence, authenticity, being social without being communal. I don’t know if that’s completely me – but it reads like how I feel a lot of the time. I think that most people that know me and see how I interact in a public space – would say this concept is on brand for me.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
I watched an interview with David Bowie once. I like the way he described it – this sense like you’re in a body of water and you just barely can touch the bottom… you know that any movement in any direction is going to untether you from that last bit of connection with something “solid”. That’s where the real work/magic/breakthrough is better likely to happen. When I start to feel that sensation – on stage or in a studio, or wherever – there is an opportunity for incredible growth and learning. But, it requires stillness and quiet. You can’t thrash around trying to find the bottom. Those are the times when you have to listen and trust and rely on the knowledge you’ve acquired up to that point. Feeling outside one’s depth and reaching for something new; it feels uncomfortable, it’s a little scary… it’s such a necessary experience in order to grow and develop. You should experience it at least once – it could unlock so much gold as you move through your creative world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christopherallis.com
- Instagram: topherdrum
- Linkedin: Christopher (Topher) Allis
- Twitter: nope
- Facebook: topherdrum
Image Credits
Kendall Ruth, Ben Burley, Carrie Rappaport, Bruce Thomas
