Have you ever met one of Palmerston North’s hidden gems? He’s not only a gem as well as a drum maker and artist, but he spent time living in Christchurch – so we’ve got a lot in common. Drums and flutes go together beautifully, and I find it challenging to make time to craft drums and search for quality skins.
I’m pleased to share with you Southern Spirit Drums – let’s get a few words from Rustle Phillips, owner and creator of these magically potent drums.
My name is Rustle Phillips, I am the drum maker!
Southern Spirit Drums are individually hand crafted wooden shaped frame drums. The skin, once dry is cut, stretched, fitted and laced together in an ancient traditional style. Finally a drum beater is fashioned from a fallen branch from trees within our own property or from those near by. The shaping and padding of the beater head and the lacing of the handle are then made. The Southern Spirit drum is made in a traditional ancient style, that can be found in both North and South America and also in Northern Europe.The preparation and lacing of the drum is said by some to be between 8 and 10,000 years old.
Recently I have been developing a distinctly New Zealand style drum.Utilising materials only available here in Aotearoa.
Materials include frames made from NZ native Totara timber recycled from 100 year old plus fence posts. The skin used for the drum head and laces is from the Red Deer with part of the lacing entwined with NZ native flax. Finally the handle is fashioned from the antler of a red deer. The stick of the beater is made from a variety of fallen branches and the beater head of raw wool and lambs wool fleece.
Our Name: The name “Southern Spirit” came to fruition, following the devastating earthquake in my home town of Christchurch, New Zealand in 2010 and then again in 2011. Some three years later this southern city continues to rise from the ashes with the people of Christchurch finding courage and spirit to move on and rebuild their lives.
Check out Rustle and his beautiful drums at: