Boom, Bam, Babuka!
We spoke to Kosova's rhythm renegade Besim Gashi Babuka on drums, dreams, and riding the wind. Here's another beautiful TenTen with man from Peja who made Prishtina better but in Ulqin feels best.
There are drummers, and then there’s Babuka. If Kosova’s music scene is a hill, he’s king of the hill.
You don’t meet Besim Gashi, you feel him coming. Like a beat drop on a mountain, or a thundering lightning over the Adriatic. He’s Kosova’s own rhythm oracle, forged in the pulse of Peja, honed in Prishtina’s rock’n’roll stages big and small, sharpened by snow, sea, and stage lights. Whether he’s slicing silence with his incredible drum solos or just riding wind like gods of sea owe him something, Babuka doesn’t just play music — he lives in tempo.
We caught him somewhere between a kite-surf and a soundcheck, to ask him the big question. About laughter, about legends, about imaginary childhood stallions. He answered like only he could: bold, rhythmic, and glitter-dusted with truth. This is TenTen. And this is our buddy Babuka.
What’s your earliest childhood memory?
Oh, just me casually owning imaginary horses. Stallions. I spoke of them so convincingly, my childhood friends would ask if they could ride them.
What’s more difficult to predict: the sea or a live audience?
Audience? Easy. The sea doesn’t care about your stage presence, you can charm a crowd, but you can’t negotiate with Poseidon. The sea wins.
When you’re on the snow, do you hear rhythm, or silence?
Rhythmmm all the way…I hear my own drums scoring the moment, each carve is a drum fill.
What’s the most beautiful sound you’ve ever heard, outside of your own music?
Laughs of the people close to my heart :)
What feels more rock’n’roll: an awesome drum solo or a spectacular kite jump over the waves?
Please. Drum solo. Always. That’s my first-love.
If “Californication” is the anthem for surfing in Big Sur, which song is the anthem of kite-surfing in the Big Beach of Montenegro?
“Seven Nation Army”—because once the wind hits right, nobody can stop you. Not even the White Stripes.
What is your greatest fear?
Greatest fear? None. But I do aggressively manifest good health and suspiciously good luck!
What part of your personality is very Peja?
My accent could slice cheese. It’s loud. It’s proud. It’s Peja.
If you could live in a different time period, and different place, when and where would you live?
Why pick just one? I’d like a time-travel pass, thank you. Sample a century here, a revolution there.
Why do they actually call you Babuka?!
Inherited the name from my grandpa, a man so iconic. I just added more spice and glitter.
