By: Andrew Boyd

Rock Island: This will be your first album under your new solo venture gVg and your first release under any project since 2013. What inspired you to take on a new album? 

Georgie Newman (gVg): These songs are more or less written as a soundtrack to a tragic comedy that arose from a failed attempt to connect in a disconnected society. Without getting heavy into it, this body of work is mostly a personal archive; a snapshot of perhaps the most catastrophic moments of my existence where I had to confront all my demons. These tracks arose during this period. 

RI: The early tracks you released sound very modern, but at the same time they trigger this strange sense of nostalgia. How do you feel your writing style with this project has transformed since your previous releases? 

gVg: I don't really feel like I have a writing style. I have had the privilege of producing and engineering albums for so many different styles and genres in the past couple years. That has probably been the biggest influence, being a part of so many private circles and witnessing others at their craft. I guess the nostalgia arises from my earliest 90s trip hop and industrial leanings. Also, the subject matter of the material has a certain timeless quality.   

RI: This quote from our pre-interview conversation has stuck with me: “The world has affected me and I feel compelled to make this. Despite my tendency to remain hidden and withdrawn, and the fact that the tunes are my most autobiographical, it's the effects of the world, and the expectations of my intimate community of influence that is driving the work”. Can you elaborate on this statement for our readers who might not know you personally? 

gVg: My world directly affects my existence. My existence directly affects my world. We were already connected without knowing each other personally. Sorry for being evasive. I know some folks want to hear this is a heartbreak album and to an extent it is, but it's more of a self-discovery album and a byproduct of holding myself accountable. 

RI: You are booked for at least one live performance (not including a potential album release). What can we expect from a gVg live show? 

gVg: The concept is a live electronics smoke and mirrors show where some elements are real, some are sequenced and some are automated. Within these elements, I encoded/encrypted very real and very personal experiences, much like life in our digitally connected, physically removed society. It's performance art that imitates my life. For the first show, I have enlisted drummer, Alex Pierson, to aid in humanizing the performance and will be looking for other members as the material develops. 

You can catch gVg live at The Factory February 24th for Sarkastadon’s mixtape release show: https://www.facebook.com/events/1329282813804245/