Vragen van "Den Beir"

Vragen van “Den Beir”: J GRGRY

Vragen van "Den Beir"

Vragen van “Den Beir”: J GRGRY

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Joe Gregory’s music transports mind and soul to undiscovered realms, which somehow remain wholly familiar. Equally at home yet distinctive on Alt, Rock, and Top 40 stations, Joe’s music is molded by Seattle itself, the place where he grew up, which no longer looks like home. As the city grows up and out, so too does the man and his music, the ethereal evolution of self—from innocent open-eyed west coast optimist, to a major label international touring artis. From an open-eyed drunk, to picking up pieces and rearranging, finding a stronger, clearer, and more urgent voice. Out of coastal isolation and into the zeitgeist. Make no mistake about it, Joe’s songs force their way in and they don’t leave.

With the help of mixing legend Mark Needham (The Killers, Fleetwood Mac, Imagine Dragons) and a killer band of stalwart Seattleites, Joe’s music reflects Seattle in its confluence of organic tech – old growth forests with distorted bass, looming grey clouds with analog synth, and a voice all his own, propped ever higher on the wings of bald eagles.

Joe’s Alt-Rock is something we really appreciate on this blog, so we asked him some questions.

What is your all-time favorite song?

So hard to pick just one! Cocteau Twins “Cherry Coloured Funk” Every time I hear the beginning of that song I feel a pang of emotion and the bridge in that song is so beautiful to me!

Which song is perfect for a Road Trip?

I remember listening to Jeff Buckley’s Grace album on a road trip one time and it was so perfect! The opening track “Mojo Pin” is such an amazing song and it reminds me of driving down Interstate 5 on the west coast of the United States. The song has trance like moments mixed with beautiful, playful moments, mixed with tense and chaotic moments. Very much like a road trip!

To which song do you like to clean?

I love cleaning to Stevie Wonder. My favorite song would probably be “Master Blaster” It has such a fun, upbeat vibe to it, great for cleaning!

What’s the perfect song to wake up with?

I think My Bloody Valentine’s “To Here Knows When” is the perfect song to wake up to because it feels like you are kind of still dreaming and then the sharp edges of the guitars and the swelling of the song seem to kind of gently rock you awake. Once you’re half awake you realize there’s this gorgeous vocal tone tucked away in the distance kind of calling you towards the day. I love it and it always makes me light and positive when I wake up to this song!

What’s your favorite artist from your home city?

I’m from Seattle, WA and my favorite artist from here would definitely be Quincy Jones. He is such an incredible artist and has created some of the most important music of all time. Of course his work with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra is staggering but the fact that he signed New Order to his label Qwest in the early 80s absolutely makes him a hero of mine.

Quincy Jones

Which artist do you think is too underrated and which one is overrated?

One of my all time favorite bands is Catherine Wheel and I never understood how they didn’t become as big as a lot of their contemporaries in the 90’s and 2000’s. Their albums Ferment and Chrome were hugely important to me growing up in the 90’s!

Overrated is hard to say because I would never discredit someone for following their passion and making music. I learned early on from a producer I worked with that if you don’t like a band, you should still respect it took them a lot of energy and life trials to get to the point that you even know their name so never be too quick to throw stones at other artists.

If you could be one artist for a day, who would that be?

I would be James Jamerson for one day because he is my favorite bass player and to be a part of the sessions with Marvin Gaye he was on, even for just one day would be the most amazing experience to me!

What’s the best song to make love to? (…to ask someone out?)

I actually can’t make love with music on! I am so obsessed with music even if it is on low in the background I get so easily distracted and want to interrupt and say “Oh wow, did you hear that melody? Did you hear that bass line!! Wasn’t that amazing!?”

What’s the most beautiful lyric you’ve ever heard?

I love Björk so much as a lyricist, she is one of my favorite artists and her album Homogenic has so many wonderful lyrics! I love the line “I”m a whisper in water, Secret for you to hear, You are the one who grows distant, When I beckon you near.” Its such a gorgeous group of words and it is an especially beautiful way of describing unreciprocated love or longing.

At which place would you love to play a concert?

I would love to play at Unaltrofestival in Milan, Italy. I love Italy, the language and the culture, and Unaltro always has such a great lineup it would be amazing to be a part of that festival in a country that I love spending time in so much!

UNALTROFESTIVAL.n

You can find J Grgry here: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube

 

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