Producer's Own Kits And Grooves

US NI releases their latest Play Series collaboration: KARRIEM RIGGINS DRUMS, 17/02/23

Native Instruments has announced the release of KARRIEM RIGGINS DRUMS, the latest installment in the Play Series, built with pioneering drummer and producer Karriem Riggins. This is what they have to say about the new release...

A close collaborator with Kaytranda, Paul McCartney, H.E.R, Diana Krall, Kanye and many others, Riggins is celebrated for his unique and experimental approach to drumming and production, fusing his background as a drummer and producer across multiple genres.

KARRIEM RIGGINS DRUMS marks his first plug-in release, making it simple for producers to dial in his signature style of punchy and behind-the-beat drums.

The instrument features kits designed and recorded by Riggins during sessions in the renowned Studio 3 at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles.

Working with engineer Kyle Hoffmann, they created a palette of left-field drum sounds using guitar amps, reverbs, experimental mic placements, custom setups, and unconventional performance methods.

In addition to an array of one-shots and kits, the instrument packs a collection of MIDI groove patterns curated by Karriem himself, which users can customize using onboard controls or drag-and-drop into a DAW of choice for further editing.

"The KARRIEM RIGGINS DRUMS Play Series was created to inspire musical diversity," said Riggins, "and explores how expansive the Law of Rhythm really is."

In a first for Native Instruments, the interface of KARRIEM RIGGINS DRUMS was hand-painted in gouache on 56 x 76 cm paper and digitized by San Francisco-based artist Jason Jägel, whose work has appeared on covers for MF DOOM and Jahari Massamba Unit, as well as on large-scale public murals around California and beyond.

"I created a movie poster-inspired scene," said Jägel. "Karriem's music often feels cinematic, like it evokes its own world."

"The color palette, setting, and narrative of my painting represent a place both futuristic and ancient, which is how I experience Karriem's music and how his home of Detroit appears in my mind's eye."

In the KARRIEM RIGGINS DRUMS walkthrough video, shot at Sunset Sound, Riggins goes deeper into the instrument, explains how he approached the project, and shows how producers can use it to create one-of-a-kind drum parts.

The release is also marked by the publication of Behind the Sleeves, shot at Gold Line in Los Angeles, in which Riggins explores a collection of key records from his discography, recounting stories of his time working with J Dilla, Madlib, and most recently Steve Lacy.

KARRIEM RIGGINS DRUMS joins the ever-growing Play Series, a portfolio of sample-based instruments designed to be fast, fun, and easy to use with endless options for tweaking and shaping your sound.