So, Gregg ...
Firstly thanks very much & thank you for having me!
Q What do you hope people take from New Dawn and your music in general?
A. A sense of joy & happiness which is in the tradition of Osibisa's music. It's all about happy vibes especially during these times of the pandemic.
Q If you didn't become a musician, what would you be doing right now?
A. Maybe grading end of term papers, applying for an extended grant for a science research project or trying to sell you a car.
Q What is the weirdest or funniest question you've ever been asked in an interview?
A. What was my greatest musical achievement? If you’ve been a musician as long as I have you have many musical achievements, so it feels funny to us musicians when we’re asked that question.
Q What do you feel is the best song you've ever released and why?
A Probably our forth coming single ‘Your Luv is Betta’ because the rhythm grabs you right away and the message is about loving someone.
Q Which musician would you like to collaborate with next?
A Ed Sheeran or Drake just to show them the possibilities of old school afro beat music.
Q What accomplishments do you see yourself achieving in the next five to 10 years?
A. Having completed several world tours with Osibisa which will include a documentary film, book & several new albums.
Q What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?
A. The spontaneity of the creative process, the collaboration between fellow musicians and the ability to communicate a song to a huge audience. The spiritual experience of inspiration.
Q Describe your creative process when you write new music.
A. Maybe starting with lyrics for a chorus or a verse. Sometimes it can be a musical riff that starts it off or a track someone brings you that needs a top line & lyrics.
Q Describe your worst performance. What did you learn from this experience?
A. I once saw a video of me singing slightly out key because I was more focused on entertaining rather than playing & singing ....I was horrified! Now my priority is to deliver an accurate measured performance and not get too excited while playing & singing.
Q Is there another musician you've mentored or trained? Describe what you've done to help them.
A. James Bay’s guitarist Andy Cortez I met when he was 14years old he was an amazing blues guitarist I used to play bass at the jam sessions his dad organised just to encourage and support him. 4 years later I got him a record deal at Universal Music.
Q What's the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you?
A. Don't play if you are ever unsure about where you are in the arrangement of a song... a rest is always as good as a note.
Q What would you do if you made a mistake during a performance?
A. Don't lose the cadence of the song even if you hit a bum sometimes you can repeat the bum like it’s part of the plan the audience doesn't know it's mistake
Q Tell me what your first music teacher was like. What lessons did you learn from them that you still use today?
PART 3 will be published here at some point in July 2021
