Review Fix chats with Grej who discusses the unique “Part 3†single, as well as inspirations, creative process and goals for the future.
Review Fix: Why is music important to you?
Grej: It’s really the only thing I know how to do… other than playing Smash Bros. (N64).
It was really one of my earliest hobbies. Growing up, we had a 4-track reel-to-reel that somehow still worked. I remember recording layers of sounds and shit I’d find around the house and I’d make an album on cassette to give to friends. Little did I realize the value of doing that at the time.
Review Fix: How did you first get involved in music?
Grej: My dad is a drummer and singer-songwriter. I used to sound check his drums when I was a little kid. I got transfixed my every aspect of it. I soon started taking drum lessons. In high school we had a guest percussionist (Mark Adam) who performed marimba with loop pedals and did some Steve Reich phasing. My mind was blown and I decided to study with him at Acadia University. From then on my main focus was classical music, until I moved to Toronto and started incorporating drums again.
My time in school really opened up my ears to new and interesting music. I think the combination of that and my keenness of recording technology paved the way to making experimental art music.
Review Fix: How did the band get together?
Grej: I had a conversation with myself and said “ok.†This particular project was commissioned by Form Contemporary Dance Theatre in Feb. 2017. Afterwords I thought the music would make a nice standalone EP.
Review Fix: How was “Part 3” written?
Grej: It started with me trying to figure out a way to incorporate Columbian music into the piece (being commissioned by a Columbian dancer and all). I was having a hard time deciding what/ how I could incorporate certain elements… so I decided to try chopping up a track of traditional Columbian folk music.  That was really the backbone of the whole piece, and you can hear it pretty much throughout the track.
Review Fix: What makes it a special single?
Grej: I think it has elements of the whole album in it. The theme of cymbals/ synths are there, however this movement features a lot more percussion. I ended up rigging an acoustic guitar so I could bow it and smash it with drum sticks. This provides the rhythmic hocketing pattern, as well at stabbing strings throughout the piece.
Review Fix: How is i/Variations unique?
Grej: I think the concept of cymbals being manipulated to create melodic lines was interesting. It opened a lot of doors on how to feature that instrument (which normally gets squashed via overhead compression, mp3s, etc).
Review Fix: What do you think is the best reason to listen to this album? Why?
Grej: I think it evokes strong emotions of tension and release through waves of acoustic treated sounds and a Juno synth. If you’re interested in letting foreign sounds take you to a another place, then this will work out for ya.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Grej: Thinking of doing an album for drum kit/ electronics. “grej†is an excuse for me to do whatever I want. This means each album will likely be a concept album.
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