Interview | Simone Langiu

Live session drummer Simone Langui finished his studies in 2019 and has been working his way through the industry ever since.

His recent work includes performing with OKIEM, a celebrated composer and pianist who Simone has been performing with as part of a tour supporting UK soul legend, Beverley Knight. 

In our new interview, Simone shares more about his industry experiences and how he's found playing on some of the UK's most iconic stages...

How did you start out in music?

My music career started when I was really young. My dad is a musician, he's a drummer, so I picked it up from him. There was always a drum kit in our house, and I'd be able to jump on and play whenever I wanted.

I would follow him, then started listening to lots of jazz, Latin music, and fusion, as that was the kind of music he'd be playing. I started performing live at the age of nine, playing percussion for his bands. This was the launch of my music career.

Then, once I was more independent as a teenager, I started my first project and began gigging with other musicians outside of my dad's musician network.

I started getting more into rock, funk, and metal, with players like John Bonham, Mike Portnoy, David Garibaldi, and more inspiring me. Like most musicians, my tastes have evolved over the years, going through different phases.

How did you find your way to ICMP?

I wanted to make a step up in my musical journey. I'm from Sardinia, in Italy, and unfortunately, there were not many opportunities to progress my musical ambitions. The possibilities are certainly a lot less compared to the mainland or cities like London, which is where much of the world's music industry can be found.

My motivation was to head abroad and expand my knowledge and experiences on a course that could give me more awareness of the industry, pop culture, and how to become a contemporary session musician. That's what I was looking for at ICMP."

How was the move to London?

It was one of the best experiences of my entire life. I really loved moving to London; I liked the city, the people, and the music. That's why I'm still here after eight years of living in the UK, as being here has given me lots of opportunities to grow as a musician and find work. I always wanted to make music my career, and that's the path I'm currently on.

How did you find the Career and Industry Hub's support?

Especially in my second and third year, it was great to be in touch with Dave Roberts at the Hub. He's a great person, he shared plenty of opportunities and helped me with some things after my studies too. Even after a few years out, I spoke with him about my CV, and he helped me to make it clearer and more presentable for some auditions I was applying for.

How did you find your way into the industry?

I'm sure it's what many session musicians do: it was about playing gigs and making connections with the musicians and artists I was playing with.
One thing would lead to another, and I'd get another gig through that. Then a friend of mine might not be able to do a gig, so I'd be contacted to see if I could step in.

What have been the most exciting projects that you've worked on?

At the moment, I'm working with OKIEM quite a lot. We play in many different situations, from private parties to corporate or public shows. We've performed at the Union Chapel and Roundhouse a few times already, and we'll be playing the Roundhouse for the third time soon. We recently supported Beverley Knight on her UK tour, playing at iconic venues like the Royal Albert Hall and Cardiff Arena.

I also have a few original artists who I play with. For example, the Boy From the South is a Spanish artist who used to live in London but has moved back to Barcelona. I've played at KoKo with him, supporting Michael Franti & Spearhead.

There are other original artists too who are about to do some really interesting things in the new year.

It sounds like a great variety of projects?

Honestly, lots of people might think that session players like me just do random things as we need to play everything and anywhere.

I really enjoy playing with different people; it feels like there's a great exchange of ideas. I'm playing in different ways with these projects. I really enjoy it and feel like I'm always learning."

Being on stage with different people can be challenging sometimes - you might not completely connect with someone, but this is part of the game too. It's all a learning experience.

How was playing the Royal Albert Hall?

I approached it like a normal gig, although, of course, I knew it as this temple of music. I was excited and relaxed to play, to be honest, and as soon as we jumped on stage, I felt focused on what I was doing.

How did that happen? Sometimes I'll play small venues with 100 people, and I'll be more concerned as the interaction with the audience is closer compared to big venues like the Royal Albert Hall. With this, I just got on with it. It was sold out, but all I could sense from behind my kit was the applause at the end of each song. I was grateful for the experience.

I had never been there before performing, so it was a great moment to go. When I went on stage for the soundcheck, it felt really special to be there.

Do you have any advice for aspiring drummers or anything you wish you'd known before starting out?

I'm probably someone who needs advice, to be honest - but one of the things I've learned during the last year of being a full-time musician is to stay strong. It is an industry where you are competing with plenty of other people to secure a gig, so it can be tough and frustrating. You need to stay resilient and keep pushing. If you receive a 'no', then you need to move on to the next thing.

I'm still at this stage; I'm still fighting for opportunities. I'm focused on what I'm doing - I left my family and my home to make my dreams come true. I see any kind of gig as a good one to make connections; you never know who will be in the audience (or in the band) - and, of course, enjoy the time playing.

Last year, I almost secured a role with the ABBA Voyage. I sent my CV and details but wasn't expecting to get an audition. However, I've been called to do this, and the team was lovely. Perhaps they were probably looking for someone else or wanted someone who might play in a different style from me. For me, it was a huge pleasure to have made it that far, and I learned from the experience. In these situations, you just need to pick yourself up and keep going.

Visit simonelangiu.com for more information.