DRUMMINGCELLIST
violoncello, drums, voice, percussion, effects
DrummingCellist is an artist building a bridge between the extremes of musical creation. Between composition and improvisation. A unity in one, a duality in one performer and creator. Going beyond musical myths and melting rhythm and harmony in one organic flow.
The landscape of sound wants to bring the listener on a journey of two worlds, the old and the new, the lyrical and the avant-garde, joining genres, juggling with musical form and expression, combining endless space with clear definition, bringing together balance and chaos, temperament and prudence, explosiveness with grace, shining light and accepting darkness.
It will speak the truth from the first beat to the last note. All you have to do is listen.
DrummingCellist:
ZABUČALE GORE / THE MOUNTAINS ROARED
The Mountains Roared is a new original work of multi-instrumentalist and composer Kristijan Krajnčan, based on Slovenian folk music and mythology.
The idea for the project was actually born in a jungle. “I was participating in shamanic rituals in the middle of the rain forest. When I returned to Slovenia, back to civilization, I felt an inner urge to explore who I am, where am I coming from, and where am I going,” says Krajnčan.
He was interested in anything that could inspire the compositional process, such as unusual customs, mystical rituals, folklore mythology, and musically not-well-known regions.
“I was surprised at the rich heritage we have, especially when I heard old recordings from the beginning and middle of the twentieth century. Some ways of singing are no longer present, and many mystical forms have lost their meaning. It was important for me to find it again.”

Kristijan emphasizes that this project is not an authentic playing of folk music. It is a complete re-composing and re-integrating of old recordings from wax cylinder with organic sound of cello and drums, always having a root idea of each song in mind.
“It was a great challenge for me. When you tackle folk music as a contemporary composer, you have to ask yourself “why?”; why would you change, take away or add to the music that is already perfect? I found the answer in how I see life, which for me is connected to the music. The only way to know who we are is to look with one eye into the past and with the other into the future. These two points give meaning to the present: the roots of our ancestors, and the creativity of our individual path. Folklore is a living thing which continuously transforms while being passed down from generation to generation. It becomes more valuable if we can rediscover its meaning. I am interested in that view, through my personal kaleidoscope. That’s why I don’t feel burdened by dogmas of neither folk neither contemporary music.”
VIDEOS
Vodnjak / The Well
Tri Jetrve / Three Sisters in Law
Seifert Competition
Rožmarin / Rosemary
Snow of Ashes
The Leaving of Siddhartha
DISCOGRAPHY
ZABUČALE GORE / THE MOUNTAINS ROARED (2022)
FLOATING SAND (2021)

ABRAXAS (2019)

ABRAXAS REVIEWS
“A stellar discovery!”
Dave Tremblay, CTEBCM
SIGIC
“The most beguiling aspect of Krajnčan’s artistry was arguably his melodic sense on cello, where classical, European folk, jazz and African folk influences rubbed shoulders.”
AllAboutJazz
“Absolutely magical and disturbingly inventive”
Citizen Jazz
“Primary direction that knocks down all established understandings of the music itself.”
Jazzetna
CTEBCM
DrummingCellist (2017)

DrummingCellist REVIEWS
“For Krajnčan, musical genres hold no boundaries. The equal weight given to composition and improvisation made for music that was rooted and free-spirited.”
AllAboutJazz
“Virtuoso on the cello, and brilliant drummer, he managed to conquer the hall with his touching universe, into which he dives completely.”
Citizen Jazz
“The range of emotions, embedded in the music was very wide; one could feel a personal relationship in every note.”
Jazzetna
SIGIC
SIGIC