Meet El Paso TX USA-born UK Open Mic performer Gravespeak:

Hi Gravespeak, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

Do you play solo only, or also in a group?

Solo

How old are you?

32

Where were you born?

El Paso TX USA

Where did you grow up?

El Paso, Seattle WA

How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)

Growing up on the border of Mexico gave me a wealth of experience from two different cultures and the indigenous culture from my father’s side. I had a lot of exposure to different types of music, and music being such a huge part of our native culture as well as our national culture, it shaped who I am.

Where are you based now, and why?

London/Essex, moved here recently from the USA

What got you into making music in the first place?

The moment I learned my first riff on guitar as a 10 year old, I knew that was all I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

What instrument/s do you play?

Guitar
Piano
Piano
Singing
Bass
Drums
Music Producer
DJ
Beat Making

Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?

Radiohead, Jimmy Eat World, Porter Robinson, The Beatles, Trent Reznor, Meshuggah, Between the Buried and Me, Baths, Elliot Smith

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

20

What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?

Sometimes the melody comes to me in my dreams, and it fleshes itself out (if I get lucky)

How long have you been playing open mic nights?

15

Why did you get into playing them in the first place?

A great way to network, meet other people in the scene and form bands

What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?

Just imagine yourself at home playing it like you do for yourself while you’re on stage.

What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?

Time constraints

If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?

Yes

What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?

Sustainability

What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?

Currently working on Gravespeak songs, electonic indie and dark pop. As well as a progressive metal album for another project I have

Do you have your own music video, channel or playlist you’d like to share?

Do you have music on streaming? What’s you main streaming channel to send people to?

Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?

http://instagram.com/gravespeak

What other sites/profiles should people go to to find out more about you?

instagram.com/gravespeak" target="_blank" rel="noopener">instagram.com/gravespeak

facebook.com/gravespeakmusic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facebook.com/gravespeakmusic

We’re done! Anything else you want to share before we go?

No thanks!