He's a rare breed of alternative rock / rap artist - passionate, gifted and adventurous. With his debut radio single ‘Gorilla’ rocketing up the charts, Gibrilville is in a unique position to re-define the genre.
Typically, alternative rock / rap musicians must rely on a stack of amps and clever lyricism to succeed in the market, and Gibrilville is well-armed in that regard. Perhaps that's why critics had this to say about the alternative rock / rap artist's award-winning work: ‘Distorted and grungy, Gibrilville's 'Gorilla' is in-your-face and powerful with raw lyrics and a polished production.’ Now that his blazing new radio single ‘Gorilla’ is lighting up the airwaves, it's clear that we'll be hearing a lot more of him. Reporter Alexis Adams recently caught up with Gibrilville to learn more about this experimental new alternative rock / rap artist and what inspires him to create great music.
ALEXIS: Let's just get this out in the open- What is the craziest thing that has happened to you in your music career?
GIBRILVILLE: Performing in Long Island. My band and I were under the impression that we were showing up to a festival, but we got there to find an empty hall. We rocked the empty show anyway!
ALEXIS: Your song ’Gorilla’ is receiving a positive listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
GIBRILVILLE: I still have not caught it live on the radio yet, but I can tell you now that my reaction is going to be crazy.
ALEXIS: What was the inspiration behind your debut radio single?
GIBRILVILLE: Live music and a dream I had-- believe it or not, all of my lyrics came from a dream I had. In 2011 I got into the habit of writing my dreams down and when Mantse, one of the featured artist on the song, sent me the lyrics to the chorus, I immediately connected it with the dream. So, I dug out the lyrics from my dream for the verses. Luckily enough, while I was recording, Kwaw Kesse showed up at the studio after coming in from Ghana. He heard the record and the rest is history.
ALEXIS: It is often said that great art arises from difficult experience. Is there something in your life experience thus far that you would describe as the ‘catalyst’ or ‘fuel’ for your desire to create music?
GIBRILVILLE: Yes, the dream I had that inspired 'Gorilla' occurred in jail. I almost got deported back to Ghana, and spent nine months in a detention facility. I promised myself to make it to the top of the music game when I got out of jail. And I'm not going to quit.
ALEXIS: How would you characterize yourself as an artist/musician? (Ex. Down-to-earth, serious, fun-loving, complicated…)
GIBRILVILLE: Very serious with tons of fun and love.
ALEXIS: What has your experience been like working with the other people on your team?
GIBRILVILLE: It has been rocky. I'm very opinionated and all of the producers on my team have like ten or more years of experience on me when it comes to making music. I make music in very unorthodox ways and that creates a lot of craziness at Gibrilville. But we get the job done.
ALEXIS: Did you come from a musical background? Are there other musicians in your family?
GIBRILVILLE: There is no one famous or seriously into musical instruments in my family. But I grew up in a house that loved playing records loudly. My dad had a big music collection and I was always dancing.
ALEXIS: What do you find most rewarding about being an artist? What do you find most challenging?
GIBRILVILLE: What I find most challenging is attaining the rewards of being an artist.
ALEXIS: Who are your role models in music?
GIBRILVILLE: Bob Marley is the only role model I can think of. But, I get inspiration to write songs from life.
ALEXIS: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
GIBRILVILLE: We had a show in Queens, New York. The crowd made the performance memorable. The chemistry was all there and I could feel the whole place move with me. There was a moment when I was performing a song called 'Dope Fein' and Brandon and I hopped on these huge speakers in front of the crowd. In the middle of a verse I was lying on the floor, lost in my performance, and for like five seconds I remember opening my eyes and seeing a sea of cameras and people all zoomed in. It was awesome.
ALEXIS: What advice would you give to young, aspiring artists out there who are unsure and need guidance?
GIBRILVILLE: Make unorthodox music. Don't recreate what you hear. Strive to create something new.
ALEXIS: What's next for you as an artist? Is there a new single in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it?
GIBRILVILLE: I just released an album called 'The Foreigner JJC Deluxe.' It has been three years in the making and it's a project I am very proud of. What's next is my latest album called 'Black Cadillac.' It's a live album mixed with co-production from my band and my team of producers.
ALEXIS: Can't wait to hear everything! Thank you for sharing more about your life with me. I wish you continued success in the future.
http://www.gibrilville.com
