Gib The Rocker is back with "Sonic Assault," a no-holds-barred hard rock anthem. We discuss his influences, songwriting process, and the raw energy behind his upcoming concept EP.
1. "Sonic
Assault" is a powerful title. What does it represent to you, and how does
it capture the essence of the song?
After my
first EP, I was left with an itch for doing a record that sounded more
authentic, more hard rock, more powerful and heavy. Basically, like…a sonic
assault! So I decided that was going to be the title. I had written this riff
which I had been waiting eagerly to use, and it sounded perfect for this song.
The essence of the song is: just push play and be blasted away by a wave of
hard rock, so I think the title is perfect!
2. Your
influences, like Motörhead and Aerosmith, are legendary in rock history. How do
you balance paying homage to them while keeping your own sound fresh?
I’m not sure I sound fresh, as in “innovative” or “new”, but I try to sound authentic, to do something that is mine. I suppose my influences can be heard in my playing, and as long as they don’t sound like a copy, I’m happy with that. I think the best thing to do is what Billy Gibbons suggested: play the music you want to hear! That way, you can’t go wrong.
3. You mentioned frustration with the idea that "rock & roll is
dead." Do you see a resurgence of rock happening today, or do you think
it's more of an underground movement?
Let’s face it: if you look at the chart, rock is not doing as well as it used to. However, there are more kids playing music and listening to rock than ever in history. There are more guitar and pedals in the market than ever. There are more independent artists than ever. So the thing is the money is not there, nor is the trend, but the art is not doing bad, in my opinion. They’ve been saying “rock is dead” since the late ‘70s, but where is the corpse? There are still so many rockers around the world, and we won’t go down!
4. You wrote the music and lyrics and played guitar and bass on this track. What was the most challenging part of wearing so many hats in the creative process?
It's actually better in a way, because when write a whole song, you have a full perspective, and you play what serves the song best. Sometimes, when you are in a band and play only one instrument, you come up with parts that sound cool on their own, but can get in the way of the other parts. Writing whole songs has made me mature as a musician (although I really enjoy writing with others and exchanging ideas!).
5. You brought in Jamie Lailey for vocals and James Wise on drums. What made
them the perfect choices for this track?
I knew
Jamie, I had seen him live and I use to blast a CD he made with his old band in
my car. I thought his voice would fit well, but when he sang in the studio he
was better than I expected! He is vocally amazing and he brought a further rock
& roll vibe and attitude to the song.
With James, instead, I admit I was lucky. I reached out to a drummer I knew, but he couldn’t help me for some other commitments, so he recommended James. We did a rehearsal together and I realised I was in great hands, he’s incredible!
6. You recorded "Sonic Assault" in a straightforward, no-frills way.
Why was it important to keep the process raw and simple?
For one, you save money, hahaha! But actually, it depends on what you are trying to do. I also like is complex and orchestrated, like Steve Vai or Dream Theater, as much as music that is straight to the point, like Motorhead. This song was supposed to sound like a punch in the face, so there was no room for “finesse”.
7. Your upcoming EP is described as a mini concept album exploring the timeless
nature of rock & roll. Can you give us a hint about how the other tracks
will connect to this theme?
Thanks for
this question! This EP is actually going to be about “time”. Each song is going
to look at time from a different perspective. What’s worth spending your time
on? Do you have regrets? How do you look at the future? How do you change or
have you changed in time? Each song will deal with some of these themes and
questions. Sonic Assault specifically is about the timeless nature of rock
& roll and how this spirit never fades in true rockers, but this principle
can be extended: there are things in ourselves that never change through the
years, because they are part of our deepest nature and essence. It’s about
knowing who you are and embracing it, because time can’t change it.
8.
What’s your songwriting process like? Do you start with a riff, lyrics, or a
specific energy you want to capture?
The great thing in music and creativity is that there are no rules! Sonic Assault started with the riff and the title. There will be another song in my EP that started with the chorus: one morning I woke up, and on my way to the toilet the chorus comes to my head with lyrics included, as if a spirit was singing it in my head, like a miracle! Other times I start from an idea, a vibe…it can be anything, as long as it resonates.
9. If you could tour with any classic or modern rock band, who would be the
ultimate lineup for you?
On drums, Bonzo; on vocals, Steven Tyler; on bass, Lemmy; on guitar, me, Joe Perry and Eddie Van Halen. I would sound like a mess because everybody is too loud, but we’d have fun, haha!
10. You’re currently looking to form a live band. What kind of musicians are
you searching for to bring your vision to the stage?
At the moment I’m looking to join a band because it’s easier; I’ve tried to put together bands from scratch for decades and it’s never worked, I don’t want to waste anymore time. But if the record does well, I think it would be a dream to play all these songs with a band, in which case, I’ll be looking for competent musicians who are nice to work with and love rock & roll!
11. What do you hope listeners take away from "Sonic Assault" and the EP as a whole?
I hope they
feel the way I felt when I listened to my favourite music and records. That
feeling of wanting to run, scream, or cry, or have sex, that chill on your neck
or that burst of heat in your chest and blood, or that tightness in your gut.
Or that lyric line that repeats in your head. If anybody ever felt even a
fraction of that, I’d be more than happy
12. With the single releasing on February 27, 2025, what’s next for Gib The
Rocker? Any plans beyond the EP that fans should look out for?
I have
enough ideas to keep me busy for a decade, haha! I’m thinking of turning this
EP into the first of a trilogy, three thematic EPs. But that will take a lot of
time and resources, so in the meantime, I might record a home-made instrumental
album. I hope to be recording and touring with a new band before the end of the
year too, and I have some ideas for writing/recording collaborations. Provided
I have time and resources, I will be releasing plenty of new music in the
future, but for now, the next 3 songs for this EP will be released before the
end of the year. Stay tuned!
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