1 hr 2 min
015 / Mona Tavakoli (Jason Mraz, Raining Jane) on Being Present with Drums Mid-Riff
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- Music Interviews
Hilary talks with Mona Tavakoli (Raining Jane, Jason Mraz, Ebi) about playing Sesame Street, crushed NBA dreams, and reintroducing herself to her culture. Plus, tips for companies to make change when they don’t know where to start.
MONA’S BIO
Mona Tavakoli is a Los Angeles-based drummer, singer and performer who believes in making music that unites, elevates and connects.
While Mona is equally comfortable performing as a drummer and a percussionist, she is especially known for adapting the cajón to unexpected genres such as rock and pop. She began playing the Peruvian percussion instrument as a college student taking a flamenco dance class. She’s since designed a signature instrument called The MT Box.
Mona started playing drums at age 11 and blossomed into a tenor drum star in her High School marching band. She began her professional musical career in 1999 at UCLA as a founding member of Raining Jane, an all-female rock band. More recently, Raining Jane co-wrote and recorded YES! (Atlantic Records) with Jason Mraz. In support of the album they toured internationally for two years. As a solo percussionist, Mona has collaborated with Pat Benatar, Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareilles, and many more.
She is a co-founder and co-director of the Rock n’ Roll Camp For Girls Los Angeles, a nonprofit that encourages girls to find their voices through music during an intensive, weeklong summer day camp. Mona also promotes music education by hosting rhythm workshops at elementary schools and colleges around the country.
Mona is endorsed by: DW Drums and Hardware, Gibralter Hardware, Latin Percussion, Remo Percussion, Roland Electronic Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Sennheiser Microphones and Vater Percussion.
MENTIONS
Raining Jane / Sara Bareilles / Jason Mraz / Christine Stevens / Ebi / Pema Chodron / Kelly Clarkson / Guitar Center / Daisy Rock / Latin Percussion / Shure / Pearl / DW / Band Lab
MONA’S LINKS
Website
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube
Raining Jane
Jason Mraz
MID-RIFF LINKS
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Newsletter
Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!
CREDITS
Mona’s Bumper Track: “IWF Mother’s Day V2” by Mona Tavakoli, Shiva, Becky Gebhardt & Houda Zakeri
Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda
Artwork by Julia Gualtieri
Hilary talks with Mona Tavakoli (Raining Jane, Jason Mraz, Ebi) about playing Sesame Street, crushed NBA dreams, and reintroducing herself to her culture. Plus, tips for companies to make change when they don’t know where to start.
MONA’S BIO
Mona Tavakoli is a Los Angeles-based drummer, singer and performer who believes in making music that unites, elevates and connects.
While Mona is equally comfortable performing as a drummer and a percussionist, she is especially known for adapting the cajón to unexpected genres such as rock and pop. She began playing the Peruvian percussion instrument as a college student taking a flamenco dance class. She’s since designed a signature instrument called The MT Box.
Mona started playing drums at age 11 and blossomed into a tenor drum star in her High School marching band. She began her professional musical career in 1999 at UCLA as a founding member of Raining Jane, an all-female rock band. More recently, Raining Jane co-wrote and recorded YES! (Atlantic Records) with Jason Mraz. In support of the album they toured internationally for two years. As a solo percussionist, Mona has collaborated with Pat Benatar, Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareilles, and many more.
She is a co-founder and co-director of the Rock n’ Roll Camp For Girls Los Angeles, a nonprofit that encourages girls to find their voices through music during an intensive, weeklong summer day camp. Mona also promotes music education by hosting rhythm workshops at elementary schools and colleges around the country.
Mona is endorsed by: DW Drums and Hardware, Gibralter Hardware, Latin Percussion, Remo Percussion, Roland Electronic Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Sennheiser Microphones and Vater Percussion.
MENTIONS
Raining Jane / Sara Bareilles / Jason Mraz / Christine Stevens / Ebi / Pema Chodron / Kelly Clarkson / Guitar Center / Daisy Rock / Latin Percussion / Shure / Pearl / DW / Band Lab
MONA’S LINKS
Website
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube
Raining Jane
Jason Mraz
MID-RIFF LINKS
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Newsletter
Thanks for rating/reviewing on Apple Podcasts!
CREDITS
Mona’s Bumper Track: “IWF Mother’s Day V2” by Mona Tavakoli, Shiva, Becky Gebhardt & Houda Zakeri
Theme Music: "Hedonism" by Towanda
Artwork by Julia Gualtieri
1 hr 2 min