Draft:Stephen Flinn

Stephen Flinn is an American percussionist.

Biography
Flinn has a background in the hard rock and jazz scenes of the 1970s and 1980s. During a 1999 UK solo tour, he observed the high volume generated by drumsticks and decided to modify his drums using some objects to maintain impact while reducing noise. Flinn's "prepared drumkit" technique involves incorporating various objects, such as metal pieces, rubber, and combs, into his drum setup. He also uses unconventional tools, like knitting needles, dowels, or car antennas, instead of drumsticks.

In 2003, Flinn was featured as a percussionist on the album Keep the Meter Running. His His forceful style influenced the album's rhythmic structure, as noted by Dan Warburton from Paris Transatlantic.

In 2005, Flinn collaborated with guitarist Noah Phillips on the album Square Circle which employed a "texture matching" approach that aimed to blend sounds into an indistinguishable soundscape.

In 2006, Flinn undertook a solo percussion tour across the country. He performed at the Project Room with Michael Evans and Bruce Tovsky and collaborated with pianist Kevin Uhlingher at the 733 venue.

In 2011, an album featuring Steve Beresford, Dave Tucker, and percussionist Stephen Flinn, recorded in November 2010, was released. On the album's shortest track, "The Torn Couple," Tucker and Flinn provided a simple riff, which was complemented by Beresford's electronic interjections.

In 2018, Flinn collaborated with saxophonist Jason Mears on the album Irreversible Motions. Across five tracks, the album was characterized by a gradual increase in tension and energy. Flinn's method, which involved scraping and bowing of cymbals, escalated tension in "Atomists" and supplied an auditory backdrop in "Looping Through Time." The resultant sound spanned a spectrum from tranquility to intense forcefulness.

Albums

 * Keep the Meter Running (2003)
 * Square Circle (2005)
 * Architect of Diversity (2008)
 * Ink Room (2011)
 * Irreversible Motions (2018)