This is a song I hold close to my heart, because it entails prayer, rhythm, and positivity—things that I have always cherished. I grew up in a repressive family who did not see me for who I am and what I want to be. My passions and viewpoints were not respected, and I was abused at every turn for even the slightest infraction, including for wanting to play drums. I was to learn “feminine” instruments according to my parents—instruments that didn’t require me to spread my legs. I was desperate to learn the drums, as the rhythm beckoned to me ever since I was three years old. The fact that I am playing all the drum and percussion parts in this piece, and the fact that this piece is called “The Drummer’s Prayer,” show that I am, at least for now, in a safe harbour away from my family and from other abuses of the country of my birth, free to express myself in the way I feel most called to do.

When my parents were away, I would take advantage of their absence and beat the rhythm on pillows or other objects that I could find. The rhythm became a language of love and a means of communion with my Maker; at least, that’s how I would begin to perceive it. Over the years, the rhythm began to signify love, comfort, consolation, faith, defiance, and hope. These beautiful things were imbued into my rhythms as I continued to fuel my interest by playing various hand drums I had acquired over the last nine years through the help of my fiancé and friends. This positivity and passion have deepened within me, and have come to define me and my outlook. Now, I feel like I can express glimpses of it through my songs, especially this one. The driving drums, the unhinged chanting, the ringing of the tambourines—all of these are my expression of unbridled joy at finally being able to express the feelings behind a prayer that I once hid away.