Drums & music production for “Wild Summon” by Saul Freed & Karni Arieli

2024 BAFTA Nominated British Short Animation

Official selection at Festival de Cannes 2023

Winner!! Best Original Score Award at London International Animation Festival 2024

Community Music

“Pete the Beat”

With CoMuSa in Bosnia 1996-2000 I delivered over a 1000 workshops to young people across Sarajevo, Mostar, Gorazde, Travnik, Banja Luka, Brcko… with band tours to Czech Republic in 1999, Holland in 1999 & 2000, Croatia 1997-2001, BiH 1996-2020

I have had the fortune to be mentored 1997-2007 in workshop leadership skills, djembe playing, rhythmic ideas & inspiring concepts in music by award winning South African Master percussionist, composer, improvisor, poet & enduring friend Eugene Skeef.

The video above is a classic moment from our years in post-war BiH 1996-1999.

I trained intensively 4 times between 1998-2002 with Master Griot Musician & drummer Tomas Camara & other griots in West African Mandinka Djembe, Dundun, Bougaraboo styles, songs & rhythmic improvisation in Serekunda, Gambia.

I also travelled to study with master musicians in Congas & Bata in Havana & Santiago, Cuba in 2015 & 2017; Claypots in Iran in 2001 & 2005, Darabuka & Frame drums in Turkey in 1999-2001

In the UK, 2000-2020 I have also studied regularly with African, Brazilian and Cuban percussionists such as Eugene Skeef, Bosco De Oliveira, Dave Pattman, Vicky Jassey, JP Courtney, Jason Gaines & Ravin Jayasuriya. 

I completed a BA (Hons) in Psychology (1996) specialising in Music Psychology focusing on drumming, rhythm & well being

I also studied Drum Kit & Latin Percussion (2001) in London at Drum-Tech Studios where I received a Distinction in a Diploma in Popular Music Performance.

I hold an MSc in Sound Design from Edinburgh University (2007) focusing on sound for film & improvising as a percussionist with live sampling & mixing using Live/Max/Logic

Apart from all these intense phases of dedicated training I suppose I am largely self taught in many ways, have been playing live music & conjuring up creative projects together with fellow musicians for 30 years.

I aim to honour the traditions I have had the fortune to study & immerse in learning, have always been in a band, playing music with people wherever I have lived, playing drum kit, congas & various inventive percussion set ups, in creative music performances, gigs, tours, concerts & many incredible recording projects...

I feel most at home being an instinctive improvising player, remembering music is an art of the humanities that can & does affect positive change.

As you may see if you browse my projects, I really do believe in the inherent healing power of music & have witnessed many remarkable moments in music making sessions, having had the fortune to travel to collaborate, record music, make films & to play with other musicians & create & record music together, whilst being immersed in each others cultures which has taken me to Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iran, Republic of Georgia, Turkey, Italy, Holland, Malta, France, Croatia, Scotland, Cuba, Czech Republic….

Community Music Projects

Sarajevo Drum Orchestra

(Founded in 1996-Local from 2001-2021)

Between 1996 & 2001, I founded a band & community music project called the Sarajevo Drum Orchestra training young percussionists in war torn Sarajevo & Mostar & Gorazde…

This pioneering community music project opportunity is one that I embraced for years, we made great life long friendships whilst being an inspirational collaboration between musicians in the post-war music scene. We created the band Sarajevo Drum Orchestra!

 Touring, performing, recording & devising drum & song workshops & collaborations with fellow musicians like Don Guido & the Missionaries, Sikter, Ady Lukovac & Ornamenti, Dubioza Kollectiv, DJ’s, producers, dancers, Visual Artists, sculptors, animators, street musicians we performed some incredible performances and interactions across Holland, Italy, Czech Republic, Croatia, Sardinia, Bosnia, Turkey, Iran & Georgia 1996-2001

We all had the fortune to benefit from a wider community of consciousness & action from Community Music Sarajevo’s energy from knowing each other, experiencing so much & living & creating music with Eugene Skeef, Simon Glinn, Bennet Hogg, Roxana Vilk, Nigel Osborne, Tony Pesikan, Oha Maslo, Tao, Jasmina, Gogo, Robo, Vedran, Shuta, Aida, Alma, Elvir, Brano, Vedran, Darko, Alan,

Highlights include performing at the UN Peace Conference in The Hague in front of Kofi Annan, Desmond Tutu, Queen of Jordan, Sir Peter Ustinov…

We also jammed with Mos Def (Yasiin Bey) backstage & performed with the Soweto Choir of South Africa on stage playing together spontaneously…

SDO stayed for 2 weeks in Tabor, Czech Rep (2001) as resident summer artists collaborating with fellow musicians & video artists…

In Italy we perfumed at the UN Assembly on cooperation & peace, in Perugia, for a 70 country delegation and then got every dignitary clapping or singing & we also had the honour as Sarajevo Drum Orchestra to lead 80,000 people on a Samba peace parade march from Perugia to St.Assisi (1999)

More importantly and to the community music point/perspective...many of the people Pete trained in using music & interpersonal skills in workshops & performance are all still active 20-25 years later working in their communities across Bosnia & Hercegovina including Sarajevo, Mostar, Srebrenica & in Turkey & the Republic of Georgia, Palestine, Scotland.

Thanks to my brothers & sisters Tony, Oha, Jasmina Basic, Senad Suta, Eugene, Aida Kudic, Gogo, Vedran, Robert, Johnny, Alan, Teo, Pero, Alma & countless other musicians that made the times so magic & memorable for all involved.

Tony Pesikan

My brother Tony Pesikan (from Grbavica, Sarajevo) most notable in his consistent presence on the community music scene in BiH since 1997, who is one of the most talented percussionists in the Balkans, sought after in his musical craft of delivering music projects & workshops & performances across the Balkans & Europe.

Together we worked all over Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Turkey & Scotland. Recent work by Tony include long term projects in Srebrenica, Sarajevo, Mostar, Adriatic Brijoni Islands on summer camps over the past 20 years....

Tony & I were a positive force in community music drumming & singing sessions.

We were relentless doing creative music making sessions in large & small groups always focusing on guiding the spontaneity of making music together.

Funded by War Child Netherlands we visited Bakuriami, Kutaisi, Zugdidi & Tbilisi.

Between 1998-2000 we devised & delivered live music & art creation sessions & training workshops often with Roxana Vilk, Dee Issacs, Miriam Nabarro as creative collaborators.

6 * 2-3 week visits over 2 years training local Atinati NGO & with Tbilisi street kids in Orphanages & Internally Displaced Persons settlements in the West of Georgia.

We strived to share all our passion for the rhythms, rhythm games & songs & created many safe creative musical spaces to let expression & community heal & shine

Mimosas breakfasts were legendary. She would start cooking everything at 5am every morning so breakfast was a feast which was needed, for a full on day ahead, the smells of the early mornings and the crazy drives Georgi our trusted driver & companion, navigate military check points to go to work & return home safely having shared music to hundreds of refugees from the conflict & to relax at our digs later & soak up the local home-brew…we drunk many a drink whilst playing poker & laughing & talking about music themes & rhythm ideas into the night.

Professor Nigel Osbourne joined us for several visits which was an honour & a pleasure.

Dee Issacs admirably took over the reins with War Child as part of the Edinburgh University Music in the Community. Result! Many happy connections still exist to this day with Georgia & Scotland as a result of our time there 1998-2002

Community Music Projects in Scotland (2001-2019)

In Scotland, Pete, as a freelance practitioner has led hundreds of workshop music projects in a variety of different creative worlds working with thousands of young people over 18 years.

Focusing on freelance work with East Lothian, Edinburgh City & The Scottish Borders, working with p4-p7 Primary Schools in pioneering projects such as Big Drum Adventure, Drake Music Scotland, Scottish Chamber Orchestra Connect & Music at The Brewhouse

2017-2019 Angus Youth Music Initiative Additional Support Needs, Creative Music Making Projects

2012-2018 East Lothian Youth Music Initiative Additional Support Needs in Musselburgh, Dunbar & Tranent. I visit regularly ASN Units & engage creative rhythm & drum games, storytelling, soundscapes & songs.

2002-2017 Scottish Chamber Orchestra CONNECT Freelance Music Workshop Leader for the music programme including award winning projects such as Festus with Grindley Court Theatre, SCO Laboratory Project, The Vibe Band with Paul Griffiths & Gauche the Cellist with composer Shiori.

Improvisation/composition Tutor for regular project based projects with Secondary School music students in The Scottish Borders and Glasgow 2015 and other Community Music Performance projects

2010-2017 I also focused my teaching energy on S1-S4 Learn to Succeed projects for disengaged Secondary School Pupils as The Rhythm Zone Project, on a community level with the Street Beats Brazilian project, taught West African drumming for the Edinburgh University Drumming Society for 12 years & Big Drum Adventure collaborations with Mat Clements from WT1?

2014 Musical Director & Percussionist - SCO's VIBE Band Project special performance for SCO 40TH Anniversary Ball at The Assembly Rooms

2007-2008 Young Scot Special podcast & recording projects with homeless & recovering from drug addiction youngsters

2003-2009 Music at The Brewhouse 14 piece Big Ensemble including John Kenny, Joby Burgess, David Knotts, Dee Isaacs,

2001-2005 Hearts and Minds as an Arts in Health Care Practitioner  

4 years I worked as a ClownDoctor & Elderflower & Special Branch physical theatre & music character in Children’s Hospitals Edinburgh, Glasgow & Dundee; Hospices & Respite Homes in Edinburgh, Perth, Kinross; Elderly Care Units in Edinburgh & Scottish Borders

Bands & Recording Projects

In Scotland, Pete has played percussion & drum kit for a variety of ambitious & successful bands.

Jazz-World-Fusion-Funk band GOL/Vilk Collective, Afro-Latin-Funk-Rock band Baobab Gateway.

Over the years with friends & amazing individuals like Dougie Hudson, John Kenny, Andy Cooke, Yann Seznec, Mat Clements, Allan Ferguson, Aki Remaly, Steve Kettley, Conrad Molleson, David Robertson in bands & fellow collaborators from Orkestra Del Sol to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to the award winning (British Composers Award 2007) contemporary classical-fusion group Music at the Brewhouse & the legendary Seznec Bros. 

GOL (now Vilk Collective) performed regularly at festival across Scotland 1999-2017 including headline sold out shows at the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2010 & 2015 at the tRON kIRK on the Royal Mile.

Played drums & percussion with Afro-Beat-Funk-Rock group Baobab Gateway at a sold out Queen's Hall Edinburgh in 2009

I have have had the fortune to learn & play with immense players like long time collaborators John Kenny, Joby Burgess and Mario Caribe conducted by Composer Stephen Deazley with The Brewhouse Band at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, The Usher Hall Edinburgh, Glasgow Tramway, Orkney St Magnus Festival, Byre Theatre St Andrews, North Edinburgh Arts…

GOL (now Vilk Collective) Highlights include playing the inaugural Kelburn Garden Party Main Stage 2009 in a line up including Bonobo & The Bays in 2011, 2013,2015; Knockengorroch 2010,2012,2014 Edinburgh Jazz Festival Headline slots 2010,2015, & many gigs, collaborations, parties & happenings across the UK…

Films

Vilk Collective

Pete has been performing on recordings as well as composing sound design & music for film documentaries, film poems, experimental films since 2002.  

Pete's sound design & music has been on 30 Roxana Vilk documentary & short films premiered at film festivals, nominated for several awards & won awards together (Kodak Award 2006), 2nd Prix Du Jury at Cannes 2017, Amsterdam New Renaissance Best Short Experimental Music Film 2019 & The “Unchoosen” Award at Encounters Film Festival September 2019 (as voted for by the audience)

Theatre 

Sound Design & Live Percussion

Pete has performed as a drummer & percussionist for live theatre since 1997 as well as composing sound design & music for theatre productions since 2003 in Edinburgh.

Pete has composed sound for theatre for over 20 years & in particular enjoyed 4 major productions with the inspiring Lung Has Theatre Company including Monster Tears, A Distant Suma & Around the World in 80 Days (2011)

The CATS Award Winning "The Unconquered" with Stellar Quinnes Theatre which went to Brits off Broadway in New York

The wonderful "Archeology" for Starcatchers Theatre which toured Scotland.

Pete was also commissioned in 2004 to compose for the Opening Ceremony for Perth Concert Hall & recorded for the Opening Sequence of the Edinburgh Tattoo 2012

 Studio and Music Production

For 20 years I have had a working, professional studio for live recordings & post-production work in albums, film, theatre, TV productions, sound design and music projects.

I have recorded, mixed & produced Vilk Collective’s  "Strange Times"  Album released in 2014.

I was commissioned to design a unique sound design installation called Evolution by Studio Integrate & The British Council in 2015 for a 6-month installation at Asia House London.

2017-2020

Recording & mixing new albums & music videos for Vilk Collective (previously GOL) on Vilk Collective Records