Sarah Thawer, drummer, vocalist, and versatile performer, is a Canadian musician based in Toronto and Los Angeles whose playing spans a wide range of genres including jazz, fusion, Indian/world, funk, R&B, hip‑hop, Latin, and gospel. She began playing drums at age two and gave her first stage performance at five, later studying jazz and world music at York University where she was awarded the Oscar Peterson Scholarship and graduated summa cum laude.
Thawer has performed, recorded, and toured internationally with a long list of artists across styles, including Teyana Taylor, Jacob Collier, Steve Vai, Jon Batiste, Sheila E., A.R. Rahman, George Watsky, Charlotte Day Wilson, Mark Lettieri, and Broken Social Scene. She has appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and has contributed to film projects such as the Turning Red soundtrack.
In addition to her collaborative work, Thawer performs solo and with her own ensembles, bringing rhythmic depth and improvisational flair that draw on her multicultural influences. She teaches clinics and masterclasses internationally, sharing her insights into rhythmic creativity and the fusion of Indian, jazz, and contemporary drumming concepts.
Thawer continues to expand her presence online and on stage, offering solo performances and interactive sessions such as her June 15, 2025 solo drum set and Q&A event presented by Brooklyn Raga Massive. Her endorsements include Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Remo drumheads, Sunhouse/Sensory Percussion, and 64 Audio, reflecting her broad engagement with both acoustic and electronic performance worlds.
Gear:
Yamaha drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Remo drumheads.
Sources: Modern Drummer Magazine, DrummerWorld, Toronto Arts Foundation interview, Tom Tom Magazine feature, Brooklyn Raga Massive event listing, National Arts Centre biography
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Update 1/19/26