It’s hard to believe Portland percussionist David “Papi” Fimbres still has important things to learn in his chosen professional field, which could probably best be described as “lovable drummer for a million out-there bands.”
After all, this is a guy who’s played in dozens of local projects over the past two decades: from the electro-funk group Singley Fimbres Orkestra to globally inspired dance band O Bruxo, and from instrumental fuzz-rock trio Máscaras to Orquestra Pacifico Tropical, a traditionally minded cumbia collective. But Wet Fruit is a different animal altogether, Fimbres says.
“This band really taught me how to hold back as a drummer,” he says. “When we recorded, I muted all the drums because I wanted it to have that ’70s art-pop sound. And I was able to hold back and just listen to what the instruments are doing. That really allowed the music to flourish.”