By Eric Boudreault
As a child, I dreamed of traveling and exploring the world. I fondly recall summers with my family when our car journeys symbolized freedom and discovery.
Over the years, as a musician, I've been lucky enough to do many shows around the world. With over 6,000 shows in my career, I have adapted my personality, my musical style, and my flexibility to change. Musicians generally go on tour to different places, both near and far. My travel destinations outside Canada have mostly been in North America or Europe. I’ve toured a few Asian countries, but not as many as I have in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, France, Belgium, Spain, and a few others.
At the end of March 2022, I received a call for a proposal to be the musical director and drummer for a major production. I was surprised to learn that this production would take place on the Pacific Island of Guam. I didn't know much about the island, but I was aware that it is a U.S. territory and that there are military bases located there.
I did some research to find out more about Guam and what I was getting myself into. The project had many intriguing aspects, such as collaborating with renowned artists, contributing to a creative endeavor, and having my name associated with it. After a few weeks of negotiations, I decided to accept the offer and jump into this adventure.
Typically, when a tour or a long-term project begins for a musician, there is some preparation involved beforehand. This preparation includes the usual tasks of everyday life: storing the car, ensuring all bills are paid before leaving, packing suitcases, arranging for musical instrument rentals, or preparing instruments for shipping, among other things.
Relocating to Guam was the most challenging move I've ever prepared for, and there were several reasons for that. First, there was the family to consider. Moving with a dog is not easy, and there are many steps we had to take to ensure he would be accepted by the Department of Agriculture. We needed to find an apartment after the three-month part that was covered by the production. We wanted a place that was safe and not too far from the theater. Additionally, we needed to transport not only our clothing but also some of our musical instruments, which made the transportation costs quite high. Although the company would cover these costs, we wanted to approach the situation honestly.
Living on an island can be quite expensive, leading to several changes in our daily lives. Many people assume that musicians only play music, but in reality, we handle a wide range of responsibilities. We have become specialists in areas such as administration,
coordination, booking, immigration, integration, negotiation, production, creation, and many other related fields.
When I arrived on the island, I quickly realized that it would be an experience of a lifetime, but I anticipated challenges both technically and musically. Firstly, getting my instruments to the island was quite diFicult. I had contacted all my principal sponsors, and the audio director was going to take over the ordering process. Since the island is in the middle of the Pacific, there isn’t much inventory in local music stores. I had to place an order with duplicates of all items in case any parts broke.
Another challenge regarding the instruments was ensuring that the temperature in the theater wouldn't become too humid. The average temperature on the island is around 95°F (35°C) year-round. After three months on the island, we faced the largest typhoon in the last twenty years. Unfortunately, with no electricity, there was no air conditioning for the music studio.
When it comes to music, I have always enjoyed exploring and playing various styles. Micronesia has a rich musical history characterized by its rhythmic patterns and traditional dances. While I had some basic knowledge of the genre, I needed to learn how to play the local rhythms more deeply. Additionally, Micronesian music is influenced by reggae and Asian music, thanks to its geographical proximity to Asia. The musical vocabulary of the Pacific Islands includes a variety of accents. Rhythms are typically played with large drums, often in combinations of two to four. Vocal singing serves as an ancestral instrument that is essential to the culture, as it is used to convey messages, tell stories, and recall moments. Additionally, with the arrival of the Spanish over 500 years ago, the guitar and other stringed instruments became increasingly important in more modern times.
For more than twenty years, I have been accustomed to performing the same show repeatedly, always maintaining a very high standard of quality. This time presented another challenge: in addition to playing the drums, I had a solo act on stage that was influenced by Micronesian rhythms and modern music. The performance featured an impressive percussion setup that included a mix of acoustic and electronic instruments. Musicians must have some knowledge about the computer side of things and how to manage electronic instruments eFectively.
One of the things I loved about this project was the drum studio. It was the perfect place to play, complete with air conditioning and ample space available every morning. Plus, the drums were always set up, so there was no need to move them.
This keeps the instruments in better condition with less need to change the skins, despite playing between five and eight shows a week.
As a musician, it's important to be open to adventure, embrace new challenges, and step out of your comfort zone. Despite the diFiculties, it was truly a memorable experience.
Eric Boudreault www.ericboudreault.com