Episode 58 | "From Southern University to Building Rudimental Control" (w/ Nissan Ballard)
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Show notes
What happens when a Southern University snare drummer puts the sticks down for 20 years… then comes back and builds one of the most unique drum pad companies in the percussion world?
On Episode 58 of The Drum Lounge Podcast, Jeremie Foster and Bryon Russell sit down with Nissan Ballard, founder and owner of Rudimental Control, to hear the story behind the man, the drummer, and the brand.
Nissan takes us back to growing up in the rich musical culture of New Orleans, learning the Louisiana style of drumming, and eventually becoming a two-year section leader at Southern University during the 1990s. He breaks down the origins of Louisiana’s signature playing style, the influence of traditional drum-and-fife drumming, his experiences inside the Human Jukebox, and some unforgettable Southern University band memories.
But Nissan’s story didn’t stop with marching band.
After putting the sticks down for nearly 20 years, a move to Texas during the COVID era led him back to drumming—and eventually to an idea that would become Rudimental Control.
We dive into how Nissan developed his signature real-head, real-hoop practice pad, why articulation and realistic feel were so important to the design, how long it takes to build each pad, custom drum pads, his signature sticks, future improvements to the product line, and his vision of getting Rudimental Control pads into drumlines across the country.
Nissan also drops some incredible gems for entrepreneurs about building a business organically, listening to criticism, protecting your brand, staying focused when you have a million ideas, choosing the right people to join your team, and why sometimes you have to put the idea out there before it feels perfect.
We also discuss the importance of Black entrepreneurship within the percussion community and what it means for young drummers to see someone who looks like them building a successful brand in the industry.
🥁 IN THIS EPISODE:
-Nissan Ballard’s journey from New Orleans to Southern University
-Becoming a Southern University snare section leader
-The history behind the Louisiana drumming style
-Southern University band culture in the 1990s
-Putting the sticks down for nearly 20 years
-The creation of Rudimental Control
-Why the real-head, real-hoop design matters
-Building and improving drum pads by hand
-Rudimental Control signature drumsticks
-Custom pads and memorial drum pads
-Customer service and building trust with drummers
-Black entrepreneurship in the percussion industry
-Lessons for aspiring business owners
-Taking constructive criticism and using it to improve
-Nissan’s vision for the future of Rudimental Control
-Why your practice pad might be exposing your dirty playing 👀
🥁 5th Quarter Picks
Jeremie’s Pick:
Southern University – “Controlla” (2016)
Bryon’s Pick:
Southern University – “Who Can I Run To” (1995)
Nissan’s Pick:
Southern University – “In the Stone” (1993)
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