TORONTO — Somalian poet-rapper K’naan, an opening act for Jason Mraz, has been touring with Sennheiser evolution wireless and wired microphones and personal wireless monitors, including the new IE 8 earphones, supporting his second album Troubadour and the re-recording his anthemic “Wavin’ Flag.”
“We’re using SKM 535 G2 wireless mics on vocals,” confirmed FOH engineer and production manager Steve Bumbera, who has previously worked with Jazmine Sullivan, Black Eyed Peas and Rihanna. “I have all but two of the guys on ew 300 IEM G2 personal monitors. They’re reliable. You know you’re going to find frequencies and that they’re going to do what you need them to do — and they sound good. Plus, they’re versatile. You’re given thousands of frequency choices.”
K’naan and back-up vocalist/rapper Rayzak are joined onstage by a four-piece band. Rayzak and guitarist DJ Washington are the only two not on ears, says Bumbera.
Omar Edwards, the music director/keyboard player, and drummer George “Spanky” McCurdy, both seasoned veterans of stage and studio, already had their own molds, he said. K’naan and bassist Ray Nesmith are also using the new Sennheiser IE 8 earphones.
“I’d used some other brands of generic personal monitors and a lot of them sound good, but the one thing about these IE 8s is that they stay in people’s ears,” said Bumbera. “They sound great, and they fit really, really well. I ended up getting a set for myself.”
The drum kit includes both an e 901 and an e 902 on the kick drum. “The 901 by itself is a great sounding kick drum mic, and the 902 is a nice supplement. It’s a hip-hop-based band so you need to feel a good amount of thump and that gives me what I need,” says Bumbera.
Two e 935s cover the snare — top and bottom. “They get a little more of the crack that we need out of the snare. And I have a second side snare, which I’m using a 906 on. Everybody says that’s a weird choice, but it gives me a really nice, natural tone.”
The toms are miked with e 604s, with e 914 condensers on the hi-hat and cymbal overheads.
The backline mic complement is rounded out by e 906s on the guitar. Bumbera also notes that he sometimes changes out the wireless vocal mics at certain gigs. “I use e 935 hardwired mics in situations like smaller club venues. I think it looks better with a wire hanging out. Plus, there’s not much difference between the wireless and wired mic. They both sound great.”
Bumbera said he was drawn to work with K’naan by his music. “I heard this record and fell in love with it. I wanted to work with him.”
K’naan and his band was expected to head outside the U.S. in late 2009 and beyond. “We’re doing a lot of international dates in support of a major international campaign,” Bumbera said. “So keep your eyes open for K’naan in the near future. It should be a pretty big and beautiful thing.”
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