#### These days, most of my music consumption comes via YouTube, unless I can find the time and peace to **really** listen which means being in a dark room with full, over-ear cans on. These times are few and far between but it's not so bad using YouTube as I love to *see* a performance just as much as hearing it.
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The other thing about YouTube is that it opens me up to discovering new talent, most of which I will never hear on the radio or see on TV but nevertheless, are hugely talented performers and musicians.
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Usually, these discoveries are made by chancing upon a cover version, but when you dig a little deeper into the new artist, you often find their original catalogues. 

As someone who loves classic rock tracks, I am spoilt for choice, but the thing I notice a lot and am really happy to see is the number of lady rockers out there! If I think back and try and name female rock bands, I struggle after the Bangles and Girlschool although there are some top female solo performers and group members, Heart, Suzi Quattro, Shelia E, Stevie Nicks, to name a few.
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So I thought I'd perhaps start a small series, highlighting top female musicians I've been listening to recently and so I thought I'd start off with drummers!
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#### So this first highlight probably needs no introduction. I could start and end with this multi-disciplined and ultra-talented young lady who garners views on YouTube which reach into the tens of millions. I am, of course, talking about...
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## Sina
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ39FIA0yUs
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Sina is a 21-year-old German girl who hails from a very musical family, although I'm featuring her drumming today, a quick run through her channel sees her playing keyboards, guitar, bass and also singing but it's her drumming that I really enjoy! Not for her a huge array of drums and cymbals, she uses a very simple and standard kit which makes the sound she achieves even more remarkable.

The thing about this young lady is she lets the music do the talking,  her no-nonsense performances are simply about the music. They are incredibly professionally produced and polished and belie the many thousands of hours of practise that she has put in over the years.

The great thing about the videos is the use of multiple cameras and angles, with this technique you can see every flick of her wrist and kick on the bass. I am sure that for youngsters just starting to learn drums, watching her incredibly disciplined technique will be very helpful. Her backing tracks are also superb as the mix allows you to distinctly hear her drums as opposed to the originals. She absolutely loves it, the passion just oozes out 

Although she is probably the most professional artist on my list, the thing that I like most is her collaborations with other YouTube artists from all over the world and it's mainly through her that I have managed to discover such a wealth of incredible talent.

#### Go and take a read of her [website](https://girls-got-groove.com/)  and follow the links to her original collaborations. An incredible talent with a lifetime ahead of real music ahead, played on real instruments by real people!
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## Ami Kim
If you like big kits,  then Ami Kim is your lady! Ami is a South Korean Metal drummer which is obviously reflected in her choice of YT covers.  It's difficult to find much information about her as all her social media is in Korean. Ami regularly twirls her sticks in perfect timing throughout her performances and points them at the camera. Her little trademark is playing in purple high heels! Another interesting thing is that she uses two bass drums as opposed to a double kicker.

I actually find this lady a little 'disturbing' and on a more serious level, her drumming doesn't do a lot for me. I think she's a little devoid of personality and always looks like she is simply going through the motions. I don't pick up any love or passion in her playing, however, I added her to the list for a couple of reasons.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUZp9fdwE7M
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Firstly, I discovered her covering 'Cum on Feel the Noize' by Slade although she was drumming along to a cover by Quiet Riot, which I hadn't heard. Anyone who still plays Slade can't be all bad!

Secondly,  she also posts her videos as Drum only. No backing track or play along which I find really interesting and from a musical point of view, really allows you to hear each beat and understand the patterns. Perhaps I will post a few as part of a competition later and see if anyone can guess them!
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## A-YEON
A-Yeon is from South Korea and is 30-years-old. Remarkably, she didn't start playing the drums until she was 21, learning from watching YouTube videos after first starting out on piano as a child. Her street performances on drums took off, and the rest, as they say, is history! The thing I admire about this girl though is that she hasn't been an instant success. Shes' worked hard for it and kept hustling and pushing, adapting and trying new things. She has an original album out and has also been putting in some decent vocal performances. 
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvJElTaR5kM
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Back to the drums and this young lady is all about speed and technique. Seriously, her timing is more accurate than an atomic clock. She's like a robot on speed. She uses a fairly minimal Roland electronic kit and on this particular track by American HM band, Avenged Sevenfold, the double kick bass pedal takes the leading role, and damn does she work it! Absolutely awesome.
## Kalonica Nicx
Just 16-years-old, from Indonesia and this girl is on another level and has become huge. Out of the whole list, she is possibly the one I love to watch the most. 

Not for her a list of classic rock covers, but an eclectic mix of original music, tutorials, demos and live performances. Her repertoire covers the whole gamut of musical genres. She is prolific, often with 2 or 3 new videos a week.  
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBY7hXwDaC8
###### This rendition of the Joe Cocker classic is a collaboration with other artists and perhaps not the most complicated piece but watch how she throws herself into it and makes it look so effortless AND enjoyable. I don't think I've ever seen a drummer smiling when they're playing!
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She really has rhythm and a fluid technique and when you watch her, you can see that she feels the rhythm and that her performances are totally natural. 

Despite her tender age, she is already doing session work and has collaborated with other young YouTube musicians from around the world, I will be coming back to collaborations in a later post.
Check out her [interview in Drum Magazine!](https://drummagazine.com/wcw-meet-kalonica-nicx-the-13-year-old-drummer-with-three-hit-like-a-girl-championships-under-her-belt/)
#### I have decided she's absolutely my favourite!

## Kanade Sato
This young Japanese lady who is now just 18 years old has been a star on Youtube since she was 6 years old. In this first clip, she is playing with a band aged just 8 years old. Incredible performance for anyone, but at 8? 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz8b_IQFDNs
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There are so many amazing female drummers coming out of Japan at the moment and I could have listed 6 or 7 that I watch regularly, but Kanade Sato is always going to be the boss for me! In this next clip, a 4-minute drum solo, from last year, the now 18-year-old shows how her talents have been honed to produce a faultless, measured and mature performance. 
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fzUUx0QVuc
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If I had one minor negative, I'd say she is a little too tight perhaps as she's grown-up but that's just a personal preference as I love fluidity in a drum solo.
#### A huge future beckons!
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#### To play an instrument well requires a huge amount of patience and practice. It is an art form. These young ladies have battled through a traditionally male-dominated instrument and risen to the surface. If you search YouTube, there are literally hundreds, especially in Asia and it's brilliant that they are coming to the fore. I've had a brilliant day today and listened and watched dozens of performances and now have a headache but that's nothing to the awe I feel watching these amazing talents who are breaking the mould and I will continue to follow their progress.
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### Next time, I'll be highlighting a few female guitarists I've been following for a while and again, you'll be shocked at the talent that's out there that you may not have come across before!
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## If you have any suggestions for me to look out for, please drop a name or a link in the comments!
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@nathen007
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###### Obviously the source is YouTube but all rights and copyrights are respected and I in no way take any credit. Videos and their music are used under fair use policy for educational purposes.