
ARTIST PROFILE
Julien Boussontié
Oklahoma City, OK, USA
band: Achilles Tendency // Balefire // Ironglide // Christian Pearson Trio
STICK SIZE: 5BR // 5AR
Born and raised in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa, I am a percussionist at heart and love God and family above all. I started playing hand drums at the age of 4. Though I was mostly self taught, my learning was enhanced by my older brother, who taught me the necessary rhythms for the Right of Passage ceremonies. My adventure with the drum set began at 6 years old and never stopped. From that moment, I steadily grew my skills listening to the way musicians from all over the world played.
I moved to the United States in 2005 and worked as a percussionist for the University of Central Oklahoma Dance Department until 2012, while earning a degree in Business Management with a minor in Music Performance (focused on percussion). I wanted to be able to read music and understand that side of the art. I have had the pleasure to perform with several groups in various genres and played at a private party with Mumford and Sons at the end of The Gentlemen of the Road tour stop in Guthrie in 2015. I was blessed to perform at several Oklahoma festivals with local artists, notably Stephen Salewon (On Spotify), Erica James Band, and Jessica Herring. I traveled with a Kenyan Worship team named SIFA (PRAISE in Swahili) and was the drummer of a Japanese Ska and Jazz band called The BAMD until the members had to return home to Japan.
I am currently the house drummer at the only dueling piano bar in OKC called Michael Murphy’s and loving it. I am also involved with 4 bands comprised of very talented musicians in their own rights:
- The Christian Pearson Trio (Jazz genres) with Christian on Keys and Vocals, John McCall on bass. We are working on a venue to bring high quality intimate shows to the city.
- Achilles Tendency (Experimental Fusion band) is a fun band with Johnathan Needham on guitars, Nick Needham on bass. We have parts written for an album primarily by John who attends Law school when he is not working on music.
- BaleFire (Chiptune Rock) is super exciting because Michael Blanton is the genius behind it and he composes lead and bass from his Nintendo gameboy and we work on the music from there. The album is in progress and for now we called it BroQuest. John Needham plays the guitar in this band as well.
- IRONGLIDE (Southern Rock) was started by JD Salyer who is the lead guitarist and singer. He is an Army Ranger veteran who loves to rock. The bass player is Isaac Scott and he also shreds on guitar when needed. With COVID and venues closing things have slowed down for us but we are still going. I welcome the challenge each of these bands bring because they are all different and they allow my creativity to run free.
I am thankful and blessed to endorse and be a part of the Soultone Cymbals and MEE Audio in ear headphones families, and to join the Collision Drumsticks family. The future is now and we must keep on growing, so play on to your hearts’ content.
WHY DO YOU PLAY COLLISION?
I will be only using the 5B Reach and the 5A // 5AR from now on. The 5BR gives me the power, volume and reach I need in every other style of music considered heavy and the 5A allows me to quiet down based on the room and environment as needed and they feel good.
The things I love about the brand is the communication at every level, the dedication to great quality at a great value, the love they have for the drummers’ family and their desire to see us grow together.
The balance , the durability and the feel of these sticks is amazing and I highly recommend trying them. Even though it may not be for everyone, at least you should try and you would know. For me, it is perfect.
I’m very impressed with collision drumsticks and that is my choice for the future.

JULIEN’S
KIT SHOT