GEDE: Moving Forward
Artist – Interviews
Gulie Carrington: Where did you get your inspiration? Tell me about your journey.
GEDE: I go by GEDE, my real name is James but I developed ‘GEDE’ actually at the beginning of quarantine. I live in DC, born and raised, now with my wife. I’m 32 and I’ve been doing music since I was 14 or 15, playing bass & guitar, joining punk bands, classic rock, reggae, folk and more. I’m a music nerd, I love it all. When I got to college, I ended up splitting my time between business school and the arts. That was the first time I went into any art or design.
I spent a lot of my 20s as a freelance artist. With my wife, Parvina Gilliam, I own a design company called Blue Pretzel Studio. http://bluepretzelstudio.com/
So we’ve been building brands, logos, websites, launching products direct to consumers, anything and everything. The more art I did, the more I felt drawn to creating and get back to my roots, musically. I’m like half way between a band and a producer, I procure the skills and tools I need via samples, noises and voices in order to make something great! That’s how I started with GEDE. So far, it’s been great. I released by first project in September and have been going up from there.
GC: How have you used the pandemic to shift your focuses?
GEDE: It’s an oversaturated market right now. Being a brand and art director, I help brands try to stand out, so I had that in my back pocket to apply to the music. When the world opens back up (hopefully) toward the fall, that will be my foray into playing shows. I doubled down on the marketing and the visuals and wanted to find something that would catch people’s eyes. I wanted people to see my vision.
GC: Visuals are essential. As a kid, I loved to see how my idea of what the song is related to the visual creation the artist and creative directors cultivate.
What was the moment you decided “I’m FOR SURE doing music”?
GEDE: About a year and a half ago. I started dating my wife and we started a company right out of college and I thought that would be my primary creative outlet. We picked up projects here and there, but the turning point was purchasing a guitar. Then I began writing, which then became a 4 song EP which then turned into an 18 track debut project. This project was meant to show my audience who I am, it couldn’t be explained in only 4 songs.
GC: I love to see how one song or series can be the catalyst for your entire career path and trajectory. Who are your inspirations and what do you listen to?
GEDE: Growing up, I loved punk rock, we had tons of vinyls that my dad and I would listen to in the basement. I love anything and everything really. As I get older, I gravitate more toward music that keeps the mood up. I can’t be rocking to punk rock like I’m 15 anymore!
When Tame Impala got big, I was surprised so many others liked it. I love Gary Clark Jr. Anderson .Paak, I’ve been doing some Ratatat covers. I love a mix between instrumental and rock. They’ve got unique voices and visions. THIS is the world I’d always wanted to be a part of, musically. If It feels good, I’ll roll with it.
GC: FUNK is timeless. Speaking of Anderson, the new Silk Sonic project he’s developed with Bruno is incredible and has been widely acclaimed. I hear that inspiration in your music as well. Can you tell me a bit more about your relationship with your sound?
GEDE: 1000%. DC has its influence of Go-go music, you hear it in the percussion. I love that it keeps you moving and it’s one of my biggest influences, I put it on almost everything. It’s a nod to my city. ‘Call and response’ in songs is so powerful. Funk is the original crossover. As a bass player, I feel like if you don’t like funk, something is wrong with you.
GC: Sly Stone and so many artists paved the way for this! With the influence of today, funk is like the apex of dance pop, it’s all encompassing.
GEDE: Someone recently compared me to Curtis Mayfield and I went back and listened and heard the percussion, and heard it. It’s so groovy.
GC: SO groovy! Now let’s look toward the future: What’s next for GEDE?
GEDE: I have most of my next project written and recorded. I may release it early summer. I have some RATATAT covers that I’ve done, and various other things to release here and there for fun.
I’ve been experimenting with digital marketing. I’m working to solve the issue of, if you can’t come to a show, how can I put my material in front of you?
I’m exploring having the complete package, sonically and visually. I don’t plan on slowing down.
Listen to GEDE here: