MC Solaar
About
Setup
Cymbals listed from left to right
14" Signature Dark Energy Hats Mark I
18" Formula 602 Classic Thin Crash
22" Signature Dark Energy Ride Mark II
16" Masters Dark Crash
Videos & Pics
Biography
Born in Paris on October 13, 1985, Stéphane Athus is a self-taught musician whose passion for drums was evident in his childhood. From a very young age, he was immersed in the musical world of the church, a vital learning environment where he refined his ear, developed his technique, and forged a musical identity influenced by Gospel music, but also by a wide range of styles. At only 12 years old, Stéphane took to the stage for the first time. He then accompanied several Gospel groups in the Paris region, gradually establishing his playing and musical presence.After his studies, he turned professional and perfected his skills in the field, multiplying collaborations and experiences in the studio and on stage. His career quickly led him to perform alongside iconic figures such as Les Nubians, CeCe Winans, Donnie McClurkin, and Craig Adams. He participated in numerous festivals and projects in France and internationally, demonstrating his great artistic versatility. Since 2014, he has expanded his repertoire by collaborating with numerous artists from the rap, R&B, and pop scenes: Ninho, Bigflo & Oli, Wallen, IAM, Soprano, Youssoupha, Disiz La Peste, Lomepal, S. Pri Noir, SCH, Dosseh, Georgio, Rocka, and many others. In 2015 and 2016, he joined rapper-poet Oxmo Puccino, then accompanied pop and variety artist TAL on stage. In 2022, he joined one of the icons of French-language rap, MC Solaar, for an international tour.
Setup Cymbals
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Details
Sizes: 20", 21", 22"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Medium
Sound character: A fusion of darkness, energy, projection and brilliance. Very wide range, complex, musical mix. Responsive feel, extremely controllable. Woody, silvery, spanky ping over crunchy, thriving wash. Extremely versatile, flexible ride for wide ranging application in modern blended music styles. Mark II: Tends to be a bit livelier and brighter. This manifests itself in the overall sound character and in particular in the bell and ping sound. Mark II also has a bit more volume potential due to its more open character.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 14", 15"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Medium
Sound character: Full, rich, energetic with a definite dark side. Crunchy, with a meaty bite. Very wide range, very complex mix. Extremely balanced, very responsive feel. Full dark, rich, shimmering, biting open/closed sound. Beautiful, fat, meaty, crisp, cutting chick sound. Fast, responsive, articulate with excellent feel and playability. An immensely versatile hi-hat that combines finesse and articulation with raw energy and cutting power.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 16", 17", 18", 19", 20", 22"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Light
Sound character: Silvery, breathy, transparent. Fairly wide range, slightly complex and dense mix. Soft shimmering and velvety feel. A light crash cymbal with a definite retro character suited for many styles in that music genre.
- Sounds
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Details
Sizes: 16", 17", 18", 19", 20"
Volume: Medium
Weight: Light
Sound character: Dark, warm, smoky. Medium wide range, complex mix. Buttery, soft feel with quick response. Rich, dark, mystical crash sound with tender clarity. Extremely lively cymbal for broad accents and crashes in intimate to semi-loud settings. Well suited for delicate ride patterns or mallet swells. «For those guys who really appreciate just having a cymbal that can do everything, the larger Dark Crashes can do anything. Very crash-able, and if you want to ride on them, they will give you all the ride patterns in the world.» - Gregory Hutchinson
- Sounds