Stop Forcing the Jazz Thing: A Drummer's Liberation | Local Music Shapes Culture

When do you stop letting your degree define your music? On this episode of Local Music Shapes Culture, drummer Giauna shares how breaking free from her jazz expectations led to an unexpectedly diverse musical life.After completing her Jazz Studies degree at the University of Iowa in 2021, Giauna faced a familiar creative crisis - the pressure to stick to what she'd trained in. But everything changed when she decided to stop forcing herself to be "just a jazz drummer." That choice initially led her to explore hardcore punk with Live Suffer Die and traditional Jewish klezmer music, opening her eyes to new possibilities.💭 Have you ever felt pressured to stick to one musical style or path? What made you break free? Share in the comments below!Today, Giauna brings her technical expertise to an eclectic mix of projects: fusion jazz-rock with Wampus Milk Daddies, J-pop/J-rock with Zap Black, R&B/Soul with the all-women-of-color group Glow, and traditional jazz with Outside Corner. Her unique perspective reveals surprising connections between styles - like how hardcore drumming is really just "compressed jazz," and how the raw emotion at the heart of different genres creates unexpected bridges between musical worlds.With musical roots stretching back to family connections with Wes Montgomery and the Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign, Giauna's story challenges assumptions about musical boundaries. She breaks down her technical approach across genres, from Latin jazz to various rock styles, while sharing her vision for future projects that blend electronic and acoustic elements, daft punk influences with hip-hop, and improvisatory jazz with everything in between.In this episode, we explore:* Breaking out of self-imposed musical limitations* Finding freedom beyond formal training* Connecting different musical styles and approaches* Technical drumming across diverse genres* Managing multiple bands and projects* Building community across musical styles* The importance of trying new things* Finding your authentic musical pathOur conversation dives into the challenges and rewards of pursuing multiple musical directions, the value of formal training as a foundation for exploration, and the joy of discovering unexpected connections between different styles of music.Jump to the highlights:00:00 - Introductions & Getting Comfortable00:34 - Music Origins & Jazz Education at University of Iowa 03:04 - Musical Family History: Wes Montgomery Family Ties & Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign06:04 - The Breaking Point: "Stop Forcing Jazz" 08:45 - Current Projects: From Jazz to J-Pop to Soul 14:17 - Local Scene Changes & Venue Evolution 17:29 - Bridging Genres: The "Compressed Jazz" Theory 21:12 - Breaking Down Each Band's Unique Style 23:27 - Technical Approaches: Jazz Training in New Contexts 27:31 - The Reality of Balancing Multiple Projects 28:42 - Life on the Road: St. Louis Stories 31:22 - Future Vision: Building a Genre-Fluid Collective 34:45 - Social Media & Breaking Scene BarriersGiauna's journey speaks to anyone who's felt trapped by their training or background. Her story reminds us that formal education can be a launching pad rather than a box - it's all about what you choose to do with it. The local music scene is richer for her willingness to explore beyond boundaries and follow her creative instincts wherever they lead.🤔 What unexpected musical connections have you discovered in your own journey between different genres or scenes? Share your experiences in the comments below!Connect with Giauna: Instagram: @giaunasjazz Follow her bands:* Wampus Milk Daddies (@wampusmilkdaddies)* Zap Black (@zapblackgram)Watch more Local Music Shapes Culture: YouTube | SubstackListen now on Spotify | Apple MusicFollow me on Instagram | TikTok Local Music Shapes Culture is a reader-supported publication celebrates life in local music scenes, insights and resources on building community, and rock. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to receive new posts and support this work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisonchristoff.substack.com