What’s your musical background?
The first lessons were on clarinet in 3rd grade. My sister loaned me her acoustic guitar in 6th grade and that was IT. I literally would get in bed playing it and end up sleeping with it next to me! My neighbor across the street had a Cort electric guitar shaped like a star. He loaned it to me along with a Gorilla Amplifier called ‘The Tube Cruncher’. Then I spent every day trying to play rock n roll songs off the radio.
How would you describe your style of music for a new audience?
A friend calls it ‘plug in and play rock n roll’. I like that: no frills, catchy, melodic music.
Was it ever frustrating practicing as you were building your skill?
It’s always both exciting and frustrating to learn a new skill. My guitar playing happened in a time *before* YouTube and the internet. This was even just before CDs. I’d listen to a cassette tape of Led Zeppelin or AC/DC or Van Halen and have to rewind & listen to riffs again and again. Years later when the internet happened, I realized often how off I was in how I played a lot of those songs but it conditioned me to learn things by ear. I did buy this book that came with a cassette tape called Doug Marks Metal Method. That was a huge help in learning how to solo like a rock GOD or GODDESS!
What advice would you give an artist if they hit a challenge like this?
Repetition is the key. Growth really happens when things are frustrating and hard to do. There was a time in my early days of singing live where I would lose my voice halfway through a set (my vocal style was a lot more ‘punk’ back then) especially on tours. And while it helped me stretch my limitations, it also was a bummer. For the new tour which the band is in town to rehearse for this week, I am doing vocal warm ups. It’s like stretching before working out. It’s necessary!
What was your first single?
The first song I put out under my own name was called ‘Tested By History’ and it was used in a show called ‘One Tree Hill’ in the 2000’s. What a thrill that was! We had a big watch party with the band at my tiny Brooklyn apartment (plus, you know, you get paid… wow!)
What is your latest single out?
The newest song is ‘Highway 101’ and it’s video just premiered!
What is the difference between the two?
Oh amazing question: that first single was me sitting in my Brooklyn rehearsal space playing all the instruments into ProTools free! It was only 8 tracks Haha. So I’d do the drums, then the bass, then the guitars and vocals. That was how I learned to record & mix my songs. The latest album was done in a big real live studio during a week of sessions with my friends Jason, Ian, and Jacob. mostly live, and recorded to analog 2 inch tape. Lyrically, ‘Tested By History’ was a look forward to technology taking over the whole world. ‘Highway 101’ is a look backward remembering that all you need is love.
What are you looking forward to with an upcoming release?
Right now, all of the new songs are finally getting performed live. It’s like a whole new breath of life for them since they were written right before we went into the studio. Some of them perform better than others. Usually, the songs are rehearsed and THEN recorded. In the case of 2020, the songs were never rehearsed – just recorded!
How would you describe your style of getting music out? A bootcamp or go with the flow?
There are so many roads to getting people to listen to your music. Sometimes it takes years for something to resonate. Never lose heart because great songs will always find an audience that appreciates them. Once they are out in the world, they aren’t yours anymore. They become something for everyone else. And everyone will have a different feeling when they hear them.
Leave us with any additional thoughts you’d like to share!
Keep on writing. Keep on making art. Keep on learning. Don’t listen to naysayers. Appreciate your craft, and remember making art is a journey and not a destination.
Social media links below:
All the links you could ever want are at www.thegreghoy.com … and thank you for interviewing me!
For Press Inquiries: bsquaredmgmt@gmail.com
End of Interview