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Finding the groove with Jan Ivelić
From thrash metal to jazz, from weddings to Royal Albert Hall, Croatian drummer Jan Ivelić has lived through a remarkable musical journey. Today, he plays everything from progressive metal to fusion, and along the way, he’s discovered a deep connection with BONE Drums and their innovative approach. We sat down with Jan to talk about his beginnings, his experiences with legends like Oliver Dragojević, and what excites him most about the future of drumming.
First encounter with BONE
Jan first met Nejc, the founder of BONE, at the Sinkro Party drumming event in Croatia.
“He was showcasing drums, and I was immediately curious. What drew me in was his technical and technological mindset – using carbon fiber in drum building, approaching things almost like the automotive industry. That was really fascinating to me because it felt cutting-edge.”
What surprised him most was something he had never seen before: carbon fiber inside a maple shell.
“That hybrid idea was super cool – maple combined with carbon creates a completely new character for the instrument.”
The BONE sound
For Jan, each BONE drum he played had its own personality.
Hybrid shell – “Open, resonant, loud, with extended highs and lows. It’s sharp and powerful, perfect for heavy, prog, funk, or rock. But again, it depends on the player – I know jazz drummers, like Tomi Purich, who use it, too.”
True Carbon snare – “Lightweight yet extremely strong. The volume and character remind me of bell brass. It works in any genre – from metal to pop. That’s my current favorite.”
Gentleman (wooden shell) – “More organic, warm, refined. Ideal for jazz or pop. A beautiful drum for beautiful music.”
Roots and Rhythm
Music was always in Jan’s home thanks to his father, a lifelong keyboardist. Records by Weather Report, Sting, Genesis, The Police, and Miles Davis filled the air, while Jan studied piano for six years in music school.
But the drums were calling.
“My uncle was a drummer, but he never really taught me. Later, I ended up teaching him how to hold the sticks. I was always banging on things – kitchen ladles, flour pots – anything I could find.”
Looking back, he says the piano gave him the best foundation:
“Once you understand piano, you can play any instrument – especially drums. Piano is written on two staves, bass and treble clef, and you can clearly see the vertical alignment. That’s just like with drums – you see where things line up or separate.”
From Metal to Oliver
Jan’s career began in heavy music – encompassing death and thrash metal, prog, fusion, and jazz – before a significant shift occurred in his early twenties.
At 22, he started playing with Dino Dvornik, then later joined The Beat Fleet (TBF), recording two albums with them (Maxon Universal and Galerija Tutnplok). In 2005, he met Oliver Dragojević, one of the greatest Croatian musicians, and three years later became an associate member, playing unforgettable concerts, including one at the Royal Albert Hall.
“Playing with Oliver changed everything. Normally, the drummer leads the groove, but with him, we followed his breath and feel. You had to breathe with the singer – let the groove breathe with the voice.”
Jan describes Oliver as an institution:
“Probably the best pianist among singers, and the best singer among pianists. Honestly, he was an institution, a living legend – what more is there to say?”
Current projects
Today, Jan divides his time between a variety of projects:
- Working with guitarist Ante Škurla on a modern progressive metal album.
- Playing live concerts with Vesna Pisarović and collaborating in extending the pop genre with fusion-jazz elements.
- Session drumming and mixing for different artists.
Looking ahead: The future of BONE
When it comes to BONE’s place in the drumming world, Jan is optimistic.
“BONE has a huge opportunity. Precision-built carbon shells, and the hybrid of maple and carbon – that’s a unique segment of the market. Hardly anyone else is doing it. The key is to focus on your strengths. That’s where BONE can achieve big success.”
