SHAUNEY “BABY” RECKE BY J E NI FE R MARC H A IN | PH OT O BY C H L OE A F T EL
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elebrated both nationally and internationally as one of the best female drummers in the industry, Shauney “Baby” Recke has played with Sting, Will.I.Am, Hilary Duff, The Pussycat Dolls, and Robin Thicke, among others. Shauney became enthralled with music at a young age—her father was a member of pivotal soul group the Delfonics, known for such hits as “La-La (Means I Love You),” and ‘Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time).” For Recke, opportunity is not just about the experiences you have in life, but about giving back to others. In addition to bringing people joy through her music, she is known offstage as a philanthropist as well. TOM TOM MAGAZINE: THE THEME FOR THIS ISSUE IS ‘BODY.’ ANY THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER? SHAUNEY RECKE: The concept of ‘Body’
in and of itself is powerful, especially in terms of an interview with a woman who is a drummer. In so many ways we are different than our mostly male colleagues and I have come to appreciate everything feminine about who I am—all my being and how it plays such an impact in my life as a whole and what I portray in my playing. I WAS READING ON YOUR BLOG THAT MUSIC AND PHILANTHROPY ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU. TELL US ABOUT THE AMAZING ORGANIZATION YOU FOUNDED CALLED DRUM FOR GOODNESS SAKE. WHAT’S THE PURPOSE BEHIND IT AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START THE PROGRAM?
DFGS is a company that provides “music therapy” to people of all ages, from depression to autism to dementia. I don’t call it music therapy because I’m not a licensed therapist at the moment, but rather ‘music programs that cater to specific needs.’ There are other great companies out there that provide a wide range of services in addition to what I do, but there are unnecessary politics involved and I just want to make people feel better and don’t really have time for all the other stuff. So I started this company to fill a need and it’s been going well.
THAT’S REALLY AMAZING WORK AND A GREAT WAY TO GIVE BACK. I KNOW YOU WERE EXPOSED TO MUSIC QUITE EARLY IN YOUR LIFE AS YOUR FATHER WAS ALSO A MUSICIAN. HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN MUSIC TURNED INTO A PASSION FOR YOU? I was very young. I remember
we would perform and put on shows for our family members. I was probably five or six, and I just remember always singing around the house. It made me feel good. The drumming didn’t come until later.
YOU STUDIED AT DUKE ELLINGTON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS IN WASHINGTON D.C., WITH AN EMPHASIS IN VOICE AND PERCUSSION. HOW DID THAT EDUCATION PREPARE YOU FOR THE INDUSTRY THAT YOU WOULD SOON WORK IN? The discipline of putting in the time and work
into perfecting your craft is definitely a big thing I learned there. Also, the ability to adapt and work well with others under sometimes extreme pressure was something I got out of the school. The hours you put in at the school, and all of the techniques and theory, are concepts that stay with you. Learning to stay healthy through it all is key as well.
LOOKING AT YOUR CAREER, WAS THERE ANY PARTICULAR EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAD THAT WAS THE CATALYST IN MOVING UP IN THE INDUSTRY? I think that every experience gives you opportunity for
growth, moves you forward and propels you to another level of playing and creating, which always is good for future opportunities. It’s difficult to say specifically if one gig helps elevate you to another and so on. There is a saying, ‘You’re only as good as your last hit.’ I am grateful to have worked with some incredibly talented iconic artists, and of course it looks impressive on the résumé. But I’m just like everyone else, in that, I go to auditions and have to work continuously on all aspects for the next gig. WHILE YOU ARE TOURING, WHAT DO YOU DO TO STAY FOCUSED AND IN SHAPE TO TURN OUT YOUR FIERCE PERFORMANCES? I am always
grateful anytime I get an opportunity to play, but what works for me is eating nutritious foods and working out. Meditation is also helpful for me to find my center.
WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED WHILE WORKING IN AN EXCITING, YET TOUGH MUSIC BUSINESS? Stay focused. Do things you enjoy
outside of music. Find experiences to play music just because you enjoy playing music and find good things for your soul such as great books, nature, or whatever works for you.
IS THERE ADVICE YOU CAN OFFER YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE SEEKING SUCCESS IN THE SAME INDUSTRY? No matter how often you hear
‘no’ or ‘you’re not good enough,’ continue to practice, learn and grow. Never think you have arrived, be nice, humble and always find the space for loving what you’re doing and yourself.
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