Episode 166: Interview With Drummer Alex Cohen

Alex Cohen’s journey into the world of drumming didn’t begin with a lightning bolt of inspiration or a musical epiphany. It started with an awkward middle school moment and a desire to be cool. “I was a dweeb in middle school,” Alex admits. “There was this more popular guy who played drums, and I thought maybe if I played drums, I could be cool like that. The answer was definitely not.” His first drum teacher flat out told his parents that he didn’t have it—but that didn’t stop him.

Fueled by determination and shaped by an autism diagnosis in his youth, Cohen poured every ounce of his focus into drumming. What started as a failed bid for popularity turned into a lifelong obsession, one that would eventually earn him global recognition for his complex rhythmic style and technical mastery. From his early influences like Travis Barker and John Otto to jazz legends like Elvin Jones and Brian Blade, Cohen’s drumming reflects a deep and ever-evolving relationship with music.

But in July 2024, everything changed. “I was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer; a Grade 3 Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma,” he recalls. “There was speculation that it might have affected a lot of my work over the past decade.” His tumor was surgically removed, but the trauma of the experience—and the grueling chemotherapy that followed—left an indelible mark on both his life and his music.

Still, Cohen refused to stop. Even after surgery, radiation, and 11 cycles of chemo, he kept practicing daily. “Even on chemotherapy, I'm still practicing every day and trying to clock in hours,” he says. His commitment wasn’t just about muscle memory—it became a spiritual and neurological transformation. Cohen noticed that post-surgery, something inside him had changed. “I sat down and I put the metronome on two tempos, and I could play two tempos at once in each side of the body,” he shares. “Suddenly I could play things that I never thought I'd be able to play.”

These weren't incremental improvements. The techniques and rhythmic independence he developed were described by top drummers as “unprecedented.” The experience, as traumatic as it was, unlocked a deeper layer of creativity. His new rhythmic perception allowed him to execute polymetric lines independently on each side of his body—something virtually unheard of in modern drumming. "The drum set is such a young instrument,” he says. “We've only scratched the surface. If anything, I think I've dug deeper because of the brain tumor.”

Cohen’s style reflects his tireless refinement. His kit is uniquely tailored, filled with melodic placements, chimes, and smaller cymbals designed to mirror a percussion ensemble. He often plays as if orchestrating multiple instruments simultaneously. “I use quite a few melodic placements and chimes to create melodies from that ambidextrous point of view,” he explains. His preferred sound is clean and precise, often using Paiste Signature cymbals for their transparent, fast-decay tones.

Creativity, for Cohen, doesn’t stop at the kit. He often taps out patterns with his feet while walking or works through rhythms on his knees and pillows—an effort to translate ideas from imagination to instrument in the most minimal way possible. "A lot of my best practice time has been with my wrist or sticks on a pillow and my feet on the floor," he says.

Even more extraordinary is the story of how he survived. The seizure that revealed his tumor nearly cost him his life—he was seconds from driving when his friend, Kai Hahto, drummer of his father’s favorite band Nightwish, saved him. That moment was just one of many coincidences that seemed divinely orchestrated, including a message from a family friend who claimed to have connected with Alex’s late father. “This isn’t going to kill you,” the message read. “You’re going to help a lot of people.”

The surgery at Duke University confirmed what Alex had hoped: it was not glioblastoma, the aggressive form of brain cancer that claimed Neil Peart and his own father, but a more treatable tumor. He woke up from surgery with a new lease on life—and a new language in rhythm.

Today, Alex Cohen continues to inspire. With a third book in the works, a new studio in New York, and plans to help others through his story, his focus remains as sharp as ever. “You go through the worst year of your life, and maybe the tunnel gets better,” he reflects. “You find the little wins when the world drop-kicks you.”

From middle school outcast to groundbreaking percussionist, Alex Cohen has proven that rhythm can be more than sound—it can be survival. His story is not just about beating the odds. It’s about reinventing the art form, one beat at a time.

To follow his journey and explore his work, visit Alex Cohen’s website

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo5m-696PNA

🎧 To hear the full conversation with Alex Cohen tune in to his episode on The Savoir Faire Audio Experience, streaming now.

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