These Kids Are on a Mission
Song of the Week: "Burn"
Screen shot from “Burn” © Yoyoka Soma
I was working on another article about a legendary band in its 50th year of touring when this popped up. I knew right away that the other article could wait a few days. This had to be the Song of the Week.
Like the article I was working on, this combines two of my favorite things: Legacy bands that defined rock and metal in the early days, and gifted young musicians who revere that music and are keeping it alive today. Only, these young musicians are actual kids.
Deep Purple have been a band since 1968. They have gone through a dizzying array of musicians, and at one point went on an eight-year hiatus. Some of their early members are no longer even with us.
The one constant has been drummer Ian Paice, who was not originally one of the band's leaders but has been their heart and soul for some 40 years. Without him, there is little chance the band would have lasted this long.
“Burn” was Purple’s eighth studio album, and the title track is one of their most covered songs.
Yoyoka Soma is a 15-year-old drummer who was, at 11, the youngest person ever to make the list of “500 greatest drummers of all time” compiled by Drummer World. She has been recognized and lauded by, among others, Dave Grohl, Robert Plant, and the aforementioned Ian Paice.
She has gigged with dozens of top musicians and headlined shows in small venues in several countries. Thus, she is in the enviable position of having to choose among many possible career options.
Those of us who follow her have been hoping she forms a band of her own. She has posted a few videos of her playing with other exceptional young musicians, so who knows? These were mostly recorded in the U.S., where she currently resides with her parents.
The following video features her at a Japanese festival last month, leading a band of local whiz kids. She has jammed previously with the vocalist and the older guitarist. The bassist and second guitarist are, get this, ten years old.
The sound quality is not great — the instruments could be better separated and balanced. Then again, the whole thing was probably done on the fly without a full crew. What matters is that the band were on their game.
Yoyoka has covered “Burn” before, and, as always, nails it. But watch for the second guitarist, who initially seems content to hang around in the background. After the second bridge, she steps up and rips a creative, technical solo, with a “you didn’t think I could do that” smile on her face. You just never know.
I am working on a full-length article about Yoyoka. Meanwhile, I think you can say classic rock and metal has a chance, with kids like this embracing it.