‘We Heard Drums And Realized We Could Come Out’

Who are these guys playing at Sunday marches?

For almost two months Belarus has been shaken by mass protests. Throughout September, along with thousands of Belarusians, drummers go out to peaceful processions. Tut.by met with three representatives of the team and found out who these people are and what they do at the actions.

The guys talk about themselves briefly and ask not to take pictures so as not to attract too much attention. Oddly enough, only one of them is now engaged in music - Ulad, he plays in a rock band. Vanya once played in such a band, and Anton is not at all connected with music and works in the field of logistics.

According to the guys, before the elections, they were practically not interested in the Belarusian politics.

- Until this summer, Belarusian politics did not exist as such,- Anton expresses his opinion. - There was power, and the sphere of public policy was purely nominal. I was interested in Russian and world politics. Belarusian - no. As for my actions, I used to be critical of the state course, but I never went to protests.

Ulad also speaks of his interest in world politics and not in Belarusian politics. And Vanya admits that he became interested in them only recently.

- I was tied to music. Not that I didn't care ... I divided these areas. I studied music, and in my sphere there was no chauvinism, no division between those who, relatively speaking, were for Russia and who were for Ukraine. I became interested in politics this year amid the coronavirus and elections. In my opinion, after the events of this year, one cannot be apolitical. It is as if someone pokes you in the eyes and says: “Look at all this!”

According to the guys, the complex of events that happened this year directly influenced their appearance on the street and performances. But the decisive factor was the violence and harsh detentions that occurred after the presidential elections.

- Even before I met Anton, I thought that it would be nice to go to actions with a drum and support the participants, and play some kind of marching compositions. But somehow it didn't work out, - says Vlad. - I was looking for an opportunity to go out. And this opportunity found me: Anton wrote to me and offered to take part in such a project.

It is logical that we ask Anton how such an idea came along.

- My friends organized one action and offered to drum. During it we got to know each other and made acquaintances. The backbone of 10 active people was formed. When the Sunday marches started, the idea of performing there was born. I wrote in the general chat of the concert organizers. I suggested: who wants to play at the march or do some drumming. So through friends and acquaintances the team gathered.

Now the Minsk drummers have two projects.

- With the first one we perform in Minsk courtyards. A large number of musicians and performers are involved in this project. Therefore, we not only play, but also sing, - explains Anton. - We do not have our own repertoire. We play protest songs that everyone knows, that people can sing along with us and join in the general movement. These are songs by Tsoi, Liavon Volski, N.R.M., Okean Elzy, Lyapis Trubetskoy ... But mostly this is Russian-language music that everyone knows. There is no point in playing underground songs.

The drummers' second project is actually performing at Sunday marches - they have about ten drums.

-Initially, we thought that we would go in a column and sing songs,- says Anton. - The first time, at the end of August, it happened. But drums are themselves an acoustic instrument. But with acoustic guitars - especially in a large crowd, when people shout and sing along - the problem is: you get acapella singing to the drums. Moreover, we have no gain. Buying or renting additional speakers is risky. You can chip in on them and lose them that very evening.

The guys already had such a case. During performances in one of the Minsk courtyards, one of them was detained, and the column was taken away.

-Therefore, we often improvise, - the musicians explain.

Now there are several dozen people in their project.

- The team is very motley: there are both girls and boys, people of all ages and professions. Among them are programmers, musicians, builders, furniture makers, - explains Anton.

- We don't even know who is doing what. It doesn't matter, - Ulad throws a remark.

- It is impossible to imagine such a situation: a man came to us. And we ask: “Who do you work for? An assembler? Then we'll take you, ”Anton fantasizes. - We do not conduct auditions (everyone laughs).

- Are you expanding or do you have a stable “team”?

-Sometimes people come up to us during the march. Once a man with a drum took part in the action. He played well, maybe he plays at a professional level, - Vanya recalls. - Once a saxophonist was with us. We try to involve such people in our movement if they want to speak. Ulad has already said that he was looking for a reason.

According to the guys, they would like to expand: for example, to arrange a concert during the march.

- We would like to make a better sound so that you can hear not only drums, but also guitars so you can sing along. Then one might think about a concert. But so far we have military field conditions. Therefore, we are trying to arrange a holiday cheaply and cheerfully (laughs).

“A couple of times people said: they heard the drums and realized that they can go out”

The drummers prepare only for concerts in the courtyards. And before marches, they solve not musical, but logistic problems - how to quickly bring, mount and quickly take away the platform - one of the recognizable features of drummers. This is where the performances of the guys take place.

- Initially, we had a platform two by two meters. We transported it by car. But you can't really run around with it and hide, - says Anton.

-Because of it, we didn’t even take part in the march once,- adds Vanya. - One weekend, when the route changed at the last moment, we tried to start from the Minsk-Arena, but could not coordinate and make it with the platform. Therefore, we decided to make a smaller foldable platform.

Now the guys have a foldable, more mobile platform that is split into two parts.

- Our task is to quickly wedge it into the center of the column. Naturally, to understand where this center is. The situation is different every time. Our priority is mobility, - explains Ulad.

During one of the marches, the guys had to urgently reassemble and leave. But, according to them, it was not clear then whether they were going to detain them or not.

During the performances, the guys used a wheelchair. But it turned out that there are no people with disabilities among them.

- For us, one of the main priorities is mobility, and the wheelchair helps to transport drums cheaply and quickly, - Vanya admits. - We thought for a very long time whether it is possible to use a wheelchair like that. We asked many people - everyone reacted to this with understanding.

“Many people don't care what we play. The main thing is to maintain a certain even rhythm”

- If you are asked why you are going to actions, what will you answer? - journalists ask.

- It seems to me that everyone is trying to make some contribution to the common cause. And our performances inspire people and lift their spirits, - says Ulad.

- Now people come not to the classical procession, but to the festival, - Anton expresses his opinion. - Many people are creative: crowns, original clothes appear. Therefore, the music fits perfectly into the concept of the carnival march.

- In fact, many people do not care what we play, - Vanya admits. - The main thing is to maintain a certain even rhythm. A couple of times people said: they heard the drums and realized that they could go out.

At the same time, the guys emphasize that they are ordinary participants in the march.

-One Sunday, people came up to us and began to ask what our plan was, where we would lead the column, - says Anton. - But we stood in place and waited for the column to go, and then we moved after it.

The musicians also emphasize that they do their work exclusively for free.

- On the platform we usually have covers. And during one of the actions, someone threw a handful of coins. Other people began to join. We were very embarrassed, - Ulad admits. - This is not what we are doing. On the other hand, it is somehow impolite to clean up.

And the guys also ask not to interfere with their work during the march.

- It is clear that many sincerely want to help. When we are just getting ready or, on the contrary, packing our stuff right in the crowd, in the middle of the march, many come up to us - I have a car, let me help. It's very nice, but we will do it ourselves. Let people not be offended that we did not let someone play or refused help, - asks Vanya.

- Protests in Belarus have been going on for almost two months. Do you get tired?

All our interlocutors answer this question positively.

- Rather, it is not physical, but moral fatigue, - says Anton. - Regular marchers are more mobile. They can leave at any time. And we can get into trouble any moment.

- I get nervous when the people are gathering on Sunday, - Ulad admits. - You want to please people with music, but you can be beaten for it. This is savagery.

- The last time I went to the action with the thought: if they detain me, then at least I will rest, - Vanya laughs. - Yes, when you sit down to play, I can let it go, it becomes easy. But the situation itself is starting to be a little exhausting. I want it to end sooner. But globally we are ready for a long-time run.

- Does the musical project interfere with your main job?

Anton answers this question like a real manager:

- We share the work between many people, and there is not much trouble for everybody. Rather, it is the environment, the general atmosphere, and the information about arrests that you read in the news that interfere.

But Ulad admits that he constantly keeps plans for a future performance in huis mind.

- So it turns out another full day.

- Participants of the actions say that they will continue taking to the streets until the victory. And what are your plans after victory - will you continue performing?

- We had a plan: if we win, we will buy a paddy wagon, cut off the roof, put a drumset and guitar amplifiers on the open area, after which we will drive around the city all night, - laughs Vlad.

After that, the guys jokingly suggest organizing a carnival, because by that time they will have a whole arsenal of platforms, chairs and similar things.

- But seriously, - adds Anton, - we make tactical decisions for a week, and for now we don't think so far.

- Are you optimists or pessimists?

- We try not to think about the future, - Anton answers for everyone. - This is not our doing. Everything goes on as usual. But I want to be an optimist. The protests have been going on for over 50 days, and people are still taking to the streets.