Today we’d like to introduce you to Bazo Grey.
Bazo, please share your story with us.
I started out as a project that came from the ashes of a musical collaboration between my friend, Anthony Martinelli and myself, Michael Forde. That band was called Ashuraa Nova. We played a few house gigs together but ultimately we wanted to explore our own ideas alone for a period of time. Anthony continued on as Swaansongs and I continued on as Bazo Grey. The origin of the name is a funny story actually. I’ve always liked the idea of having an almost “human” name for a band name. The music takes on this almost “human” form when you can create a strong association between the two. Anyways, I was coming home from work one day and thought I saw the word “Bazo” spray painted on a sign, so I wrote it down in my notes ’cause I dug it. I realized it actually said “Enzo” when I got closer but I dug “Bazo” more so I stuck with it. “Grey” came from Anthony constantly saying that I “looked grey” all the time. From that, Bazo Grey was born. I wrote, recorded, mixed, and produced my first record in my apartment with only logic X, some cheap Sony headphones, a macbook, my guitar, and a midi controller. While I was making my first album, I was playing solo gigs for FamilyHood, a local organization that host art shows around Atlanta. FamilyHood really helped me get my feet wet with regards to playing live and I am forever grateful to Marcus Whitaker and Jake Llaurado of FamilyHood for those opportunities. After I produced that record, I started to really dive deep into the jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius (also the band he was a part of, Weather Report). Subsequently, this drove me to want to play gigs for hours while “battling” on stage with my fellow musicians for the tastiest licks. Unfortunately, I did not have anyone to do this with at the time. While all this was going on, Anthony was getting really deep into the bass and we eventually began to jam together. This lead to Anthony joining Bazo Grey. Today, Anthony and I are the life force that is Bazo Grey and, as of recently, the wonderful Nathaniel Lewin has joined us shredding the drums! Man does he bring it down!! We are also in the middle of getting some mid-to-late summer gigs booked around town, so keep a look out for us!
Please tell us about your art.
I write, record, and perform music. It’s something that I have done for a long time now, but have never really thought about bringing it to the public until the last two years or so. Music, to me, has always had a spiritual element to it. Being able to sit in front of a record player and be completely transported to another world just through sound is an incredible thing. Bands/musicians like Pink Floyd, Radiohead, David Bowie, Weather Report, Porcupine Tree, Jaco Pastorius, Jeff Buckley, Joni Mitchell, and John Frusciante (the list goes on) have all taken me away to other worlds. Music has always provided me with a comfort, happiness, and sometimes obnoxious levels of excitement that ground me when things start getting whacked out. That is what has really driven me to create music. I want to be able to create those sounds that my favorite musicians created. I want that obnoxious excitement, not only from listening, but also from playing and creating music. The inspiration I wish to give is the inspiration that my favorite musicians have given me, an outlet to let everything go. The inspiration of completely being in the moment. That outlet doesn’t have to be music… that’s simply what worked for me. I just want everyone to be comfortable in creating something that comes from them. The best feeling you can ever get is sitting back and looking at something you made. Whether you think it’s horrendous or not doesn’t matter. The fact that you sat down and did it is the amazing thing, ’cause in the end, that piece of art (whatever form it may take) is unique to you. Michelangelo can’t paint like Joe Blow ’cause he isn’t Joe Blow. That is a special and powerful thing! We all have our story to tell. I want people to know its okay to be vulnerable in that moment of artistic expression. That is when the magic is made! Let it all hang out! We only have one life, we cannot forget that simple, yet fragile fact.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
Differentiating one’s self from the pack. There are so many great new musicians/bands out there today. Due to the ease of discovering new music through various social media and streaming platforms, and the advancements in recording technology, everyone has the opportunity to find an unimaginable amount of great new music and everyone has the opportunity to create great new music. This is an amazing thing to be a part of but it also makes the grind that much more difficult (and ultimately that much more rewarding!).
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Here are links to my Facebook page, soundcloud, and bandcamp. I am also on Instagram as @bazogrey. Soundcloud and Bandcamp are ways to hear the music I have made. I am always creating new music and I try to keep these platforms as updated as possible. On my Facebook page and Instagram, you can see little videos I make of licks I like and upcoming shows.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bazogrey.bandcamp.com/
- Email: bazogrey@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bazogrey/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bazogrey/
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/bazo_grey
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
