“Playing percussion is as visual as it is aural”, says New York based drummer Shayna Dunkelman over email. “The trajectory of the hands and sticks, shift of body weight, the eyes aiming to strike – the physicality of the performance has a choreographic quality as it is. The body follows a sequence of movements when immersed in playing the array of percussive instruments surrounding it.”

With her California based sister Nava, Shayna is one half of the duo Nomon. She goes on to explain that it was these discussions around the performative aspects of drumming that inspired their collaboration.

“We use a Rorschach-like percussion set-up to capture the naturally occurring mirror image synchronisation. Now, who can ask for a better duo partner than your drummer sister? The music is powerful and intense, but sometimes peaceful and serene. This medley features excerpts from an EP we plan to release in the near future. It was recorded at Figure 8 studio in Brooklyn, New York by Eli Crews, and produced by Shayna Dunkelman with the help of José Olivarez and Michael Carter.”

Shayna and Nava Dunkelman further discuss Nomon and their various other projects in an interview in The Wire 432. Read in print or online now.