Drumeo’s “first time” challenge continues to test elite drummers of all styles and genres, forcing them to create a drum part for a song they’ve never heard before.
Their latest clip features Russian viral drummer Kristina Rybalchenko, aka Kriss, who Drumeo named as its “Instagram Drummer of the Year” back in 2022. Kriss has now amassed one of the largest social media followings of any drummer, even garnering the attention of Fred Durst and Limp Bizkit, who let her premiere one of their songs in a TikTok video.
For her Drumeo challenge, she’s faced with a legendary classic rock song that was as-yet-unfamiliar to her: The Who’s “Baba O’Riley.” She was also unfamiliar with the band’s late stickman, Keith Moon, widely considered one of the greatest rock drummers ever.
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“We got you with one of the most famous rock bands of all-time,” jokes Drumeo host Brandon Toews.
But what Kriss lacks in classic rock knowledge, she quickly makes up for with talent behind the kit. After admitting she was nervous for the challenge and expressing some stupification upon hearing the drumless version, she quickly pockets herself into the song’s rhythm section while following Pete Townshend’s guitar for cymbal and fill cues.
In short, she’s a natural, and it soon becomes a matter of her learning the arrangement, with Drumeo highlighting Kriss’ particularly efficient methods of picking up on new songs. After a few repetitions, she’s already primed for her final take — a fluid and technical rendering (if a bit less bombastic than Keith Moon’s iconic playing) that expertly traverses the deceptively challenging tempo changes and some deft snare rolls and crashes during the ending flourish — an effective alteration on Kriss’ part.
“Finally,” says an exasperated Kriss. “That was crazy hard.”
Added Toews: “A lot of people think this song is ‘simple,’ but when you actually listen to it all the way through and you cache all the tempo changes and everything, it’s pretty crazy.”
Kriss then gets to hear the original with Moon’s take back in the mix, and the sonic difference with the vintage drum kit tone is immediately striking. She picks up on Moon’s lack of a hi-hat, the huge cymbals crashes, and the kick drum’s tom-like sound.
“It’s sick, I love it,” she says.
Stream the clip below, and if you’re looking to pick up the drums or improve your skills, Drumeo is offering a 30-day free trial for new members.
