Unexpected Pairings: A Tale from the Lab

A Story of Musical Serendipity

Let me tell you about Chris.

Chris is a retired carpenter whose passion for drum circles originally brought him out to the Whidbey Island area. On Saturday, December 7th, he walked into the rehearsal space where our monthly music meetup called the Lab is held. That day he was desperately hoping to be in the fellowship of other drummers. When he realized he was the only drummer in attendance, his disappointment was obvious.

That changed pretty quickly, though, when everyone’s attention shifted to the mysterious instruments he brought with him. First, he pulled out a tongue drum—a beautiful steel instrument with slits on top that create crystal-clear tones when you play it. The sound was mesmerizing.

Then, he brought out this custom-made djembe, with a wide base and straps running along the sides. As Chris played, he used the straps to manipulate the pitch, adding these unexpected, descending notes. It was quite a thing to behold.

The scene at Click Music - Sound Dialecct Instagram

Within an hour, we had recorded this unique instrument as part of an arrangement written by Kenny Peterson, a young artist attending the Lab for the first time that day.

Within an hour, that djembe was part of a new song written by Kenny Peterson, a young artist who was attending The Lab for the first time. Kenny’s not a drummer—he’s been in a few punk bands and now writes and records music on an old-school tape recorder. He’s still figuring out his sound, but he’s got something unique brewing.

When you hear what Kenny recorded that day, punk isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But that’s the magic of The Lab.. But that’s the beauty of the Lab. Each session is a bold experiment that brings together improbable elements to produce unpredictable results. The outcome is always unexpected, transformative, and unforgettable.

The unexpected fusion of Chris's rare instrument and Kenny's emerging artistic vision perfectly embodies the Lab's spirit of creative spontaneity. It's a reminder that true innovation often emerges from the most unlikely collaborations.

Descending Whale written Kenny Peterson featuring Hope Mackie and Chris Boyle

A few vibey tracks

We hope to catch you at a future Lab session, every first Saturday at Click Music in Oak Harbor, Washington.

Thank you Kenny, Chris, and Molly for taking this journey.

Collaborate with life,

Udie of Sound Dialect