Gyasi has reinvented glam rock for the modern age, an otherworldly artist raised in the West Virginia woods. His latest album Androgyne is a blast of excitement in a flat popular music scene.
Can you tell me about Androgyne?
The most prominent themes are self-realization or self creation. Celebrating individuality and the idea that you can create yourself, which is something that I think a lot of creative people do. It’s certainly part of my romanticized idea of the rock star. I guess I tend to be inspired by people that are in search of themselves and actively exploring everything they can about life in order to hopefully arrive at some answer.
Where and how did you record it?
I recorded and mixed it all at my home studio, largely all on 8 track tape. I worked with a few different drummers but otherwise largely played all the instruments myself. The next record we’re doing at Blackbird studio, which is very different. It’s one of the top studios in the world and we’re doing it as a band and I’m really excited with where it’s going so far. I’m still producing so it’s not that different to how I would work at home, but the gear and environment are a major step up.
Who is in your band?
My main 2 members right now are Cole Bearden on bass and Sam Skorick on drums. I usually have another guitar player, either Liam Kelley or Ricky Dover Jr., but recently we’ve been doing some shows as just a 3 piece.
When did you pick up your first guitar? How long have you been making music?
I got a guitar at age 6 but I first started playing drums at age 4.
When/why did you start songwriting?
I always had an inclination for music and once I got the guitar I played all the time and began writing little songs. For a while in my early teenage years I was more focused on guitar, trying to learning all these different styles and just becoming a well rounded musician. Around 18 is when I began really writing songs and searching for my voice as a writer.
Has your sound changed since you started playing?
Yes, it has definitely become more focused. For a long time I had so many influences and had studied so many varying forms of music that my writing was all over the map, and it sounded a bit scattered. It has definitely become much more focused and just better I would say, from a writing perspective.
What artists, past and present do you admire?
Lots…David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Robert Johnson, Cab Calloway, Big Bill Broonzy, Lightnin Hopkins, Son House, Marc Bolan, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Jack White, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Howlin Wolf, Django Reinhardt to name a few.
What generally inspires you to write?
Everything! And nothing. Isolation. People. Words. Writing is a strange process in which there are no rules.
What songs that you’ve been involved with are you most proud and why?
Mmm I like the song Teacher from my EP. It just kind of surprised me. I like songs when I don’t know where they came from. Some just seem to spring out of the blue, as though I didn’t have much to do with it. I tend to like those more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXNk11OMHUw
As playing live is currently on hold, what are your plans for the rest of the year?
Man, such an uncertain time. I’ve been talking to venues today about rescheduling and its just all unknown right now. For the short term I’m focusing on new songs and shooting some music videos. Also might do some concert live streaming if no shows are booked for the foreseeable future. All I know to do is to keep being creative and share music with people in any way I can.
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Photo credits: @scottwillisphotography
