Elder T. Merchant | SoultoneCymbals.com

Elder T. Merchant

Elder T. Merchant

ELDER T. MERCHANT IV was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and has been amongst a variety of music genres, spanning: ROCK; METAL; FUSION; REGGAE; INDIE; PUNK; HIP-HOP; FUNK; NEO-SOUL; and JAZZ.

His love for music began as a drummer, later becoming a music theatre producer for an OFF-BROADWAY show titled Bayard Rustin: The Artivist. This continued him on to the path as a qualified drum-instructor. Furthermore, his dexterity as a practiced LIVE and SESSION DRUMMER and COMPOSER, has been acknowledged by Rockwood Music Hall:

“The essence of self-awareness within spoken word allows listeners to bathe in sound, ultimately to reach a higher consciousness.”

Rockwood Music Hall (February 1st 2020). [online]. https://rockwoodmusichall.com/event/bodhi/

His dedication to drums (and percussion) extends to a love and appreciation of music and the arts that paves a way for an expressive style; a style that is modified into fashion and illustration. For Elder, there is more to music than meets the ear with music’s ability to personify beyond human existence. Simultaneously, music and art create a path of communication for humans to connect via a mutual appreciation and even critique for the sonic reality. In this way, Elder believes that live performance can bring harmonious exultation. He performs music because music serves as a form of communication to creatively express the waves of oncoming and fleeting thoughts of cause and effect by life’s tides; tides being the metaphor for change that is consistently in kinesis.

Elder became a qualified musician beginning his career in Humanities Preparatory Academy (now known as the James Baldwin High School). There his music teacher (Claudia) had created a small sufficient music studio which housed a four-piece drum kit with a hi-hat and ride cymbal, alongside an analogue four-track recorder. In the studio, Elder would create music and jam with fellow student (Morgan Calendar). Beats were made with the drum kit, alongside vox beat-boxing, piano and poetry. The creative work produced was to become part of an end of year performance, marking the students moving on to the next grade and those entering college. From this debut performance, Elder was asked by the Art Teacher (Robert Craddock) to play drums for an auditorium art installation. The outline of the brief was to create an atmospheric ambience for the audience, whilst they viewed the paintings and sculptures on display. Engaged critique from the Music Teacher gave Elder encouragement by stating,

“Elder, you absolutely need to continue playing drums. You’ve improved! You’re starting to incorporate some technicality. Keep going!”

… And ‘keep going’ was what Elder did by performing HARD ROCK, PUNK ROCK, and INDIE broadening his musical repertoire. These events form the backdrop to Elder’s drumming career highlights that include playing tours and festivals across the USA, like: PUNK ISLAND (with Punk band Obamanation); MAKE MUSIC NEW YORK and SXSW (South by South-West) (with blues, rock, hip-hop artist David E. Beats and the Whitehouse Band).

However, being an ENDORSED drummer by SOULTONE CYMBALS is one highlight, that provides recognition to Elder’s ace drumming.

As the journey continues, in the tonal realm, so does Elders hunger for more knowledge. The knowledge to elevate his vision, and the client’s vision.

My Soultone Set: 

12 inch Custom Brilliant, Hi Hat
10 inch Gospel China
20 inch Vintage Series, Ride
14 inch Gospel China, FX86