Every now and then you sit down for an interview and within the first couple of minutes you realise you’re not just chatting about drums, but you’re talking about philosophy, culture, mindset and the bigger picture of creativity. That’s exactly how it felt sitting down with Jojo Mayer ahead of his appearance at The Europe Drum Show.
First things first… I genuinely cannot wait to see Jojo take to the main stage across the weekend of the 11th and 12th of April 2026 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Having someone of his calibre performing his full artistic show format (not a stripped-back “clinic” version) is a huge moment for us. These appearances are becoming increasingly rare, and the fact that he’s bringing the real Me/Machine experience to our stage is something special.
One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation was Jojo’s idea that clarity beats perfection. It’s such a simple sentence, but it carries enormous weight. He spoke candidly about unlearning perfectionism, describing it as a kind of mirage that can make your life (and the lives around you) miserable. Instead, he’s focusing on artistic clarity. That shift in mindset feels particularly relevant in today’s hyper-competitive, hyper-visible drumming world.
We also dove into the realities behind iconic performances, including his Modern Drummer Festival appearance, and it was fascinating (and oddly reassuring) to hear that even moments we view as “perfect” often feel very different from the inside.
Perhaps most powerful was Jojo’s take on the internet. He talked about how social media has “flattened” the art and how attention spans have shortened, how nuance can get buried, and how chops are easier to learn than true artistic expression. Technique, he said, is just work. Expression? That’s the hard part.
And then there was his advice for aspiring drummers. Not a neat, gift-wrapped cliché — but something far more valuable. Point of view and attitude matter more than raw talent. Talent is only potential. That line really stuck with me.
If this conversation is anything to go by, his performance at the Europe Drum Show is going to be more than impressive — it’s going to be meaningful. And that’s exactly what we’re about.
Find out more about us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and X (formally Twitter)…
Roll on April.
