For this week’s Hot Seat, Out N About sat down with our local St. Maarten drummer, Nikita “Fridge” Christmas.
A man of few words, Nikita “Fridge” Christmas was born, sticks in hand, with just the right pitch in his heart. Like many, Fridge’s professional journey started on stage at the local church, with his musical talent spanning back many years before that. Fridge is known in his circle for creating makeshift drums out of old milk cans in his parents’ yard. Today, he’s upgraded to professional DW Drum Kits.
Fridge has come a long way. His sound is purposefully distinguishable from other sounds, something very evident in his drum covers of popular productions on his YouTube page. He recently hit 101,000 views with his drum cover of Bob Marley’s Rastaman Vibrations.
Now a fixture in the local and international Bouyon music scene, Fridge provides his signature drum flair at international festivals, turning up the sound across the globe. He also plays backup drums for various bands in Sint Maarten, and abroad, sharing his skills with the world. Back to sporting his signature long hair that made him recognisable in his younger years, this drummer is clearly ages away from where he was before.
When asked what his favourite gig is, he recalls playing an event in Martinique: “I always had the sound in my head. It was like I needed the music to come out of me and see if people liked it. If not, at least I made what I set out to make. I just want to make good noise,” Fridge replied, in a sit-down conversation.
You’ve been doing this for a long time. How long is that? “I started before I was 8 [years old], but it was around that time that I got good enough to show what I could do. I used to travel with a band and we went around the region playing music. When people saw me, they would laugh like: ‘Who’s this little fat boy behind those big drums?’ And I wouldn’t pay it any mind, because after I was done, they knew exactly why I was there, as young as I was.”
You’ve travelled to places like St. Croix, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Canada, London, New York, and more. How do you stay grounded in all of this? “Honestly, I understand that this is my life. It can be fantastic one minute, and then it’s over the next day, so I appreciate what I have in the moment and just wait for what comes next.”
How do you feel about getting 101 thousand views? “Some of my videos get 100 views, some get thousands, and this one got 101,000. I’m thankful, but I know I have to keep working on my skills.”
When prompted to talk more about his YouTube page, Fridge responded: “The covers started way back, and I just kept doing them. I wanted a way to show myself the progress I was making and share my music with the world. I have now moved to also sharing my reels on Instagram and Facebook; some of them are collaborations with other musicians on St. Martin and in different parts of the world.”
While Fridge’s sound is distinctively his own, his passion is Bouyon, tapping into his Dominican heritage. And, as a first-generation native of St. Maarten, he enjoys merging Bouyon with local sounds: “It just comes; I don’t try to explain it.” Inspiration? “There are a lot of things that inspire me. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, because sometimes it’s one thing, other times it’s something else. But every time I hear one of my beats, or drum loops, I remember the thing that inspired me, and it’s almost like it’s right there in front of me again.”
Fridge accompanies artistes like the winner of 2024’s International Bouyon Artiste of the Year, Ridge, and many others on the local scene: “It’s a blessing that for whatever reason, they like how I play, so I just keep playing.”
His musical productions are favoured by many, like Adam O and others, so the question remains: How often will the public hear beats from Fridge? “I haven’t made new beats in a while. But, I also have a lot stored up from what I created before. So, it’s possible to hear something new these days. I probably created it years ago. Being on the road is a lot of focus on other things. When inspiration strikes again, I will see what comes of it.”
What Live Music Band nights and Venues would you recommend?
Monday - Red Piano
Thursday - Soggy Dollar (Rock Night)
Thursday - No Where Special
Friday - No Where Special
Saturday - Blue Martini (Grand Case)
Sunday - Soggy Dollar (Reggae Night)
Do you have a favourite quote or saying?
Keep it moving.
Fridge can be found on the road, touring, or via his social media accounts when searching for the keyword @drummerfridge
