Today we’d like to introduce you to Gareth Hunter.
Hi Gareth, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was considered by many to be a child prodigy. I started on hand percussion at age three (three) and competed with adults at age four (four) in my first talent competition – BTW, I placed 3rd in that competition – Denver, Co. By age nine (nine) I had performed nationally with various bands as a drummer with my apex moment being a featured performer with the Florida State University Jazz Band. Years later (in college on a full music scholarship) I left school to accept a composing contract with a branch of A&M Music that launched in Birmingham, AL. As with a lot of musical stories mine is no exception – that situation went bust! However, it did lead to my first independent release as a Music Producer. That one song, “Round and Round” led me to many connections that I utilize to this very day. As a drummer I went on to tour with Blues music great Clarence Carter while in my early 20s for four years and expanded my production work to include a few well known artists, film scores and many independent label projects globally.
After years of being successful financially with various projects, I found most of my productions shelved for various reasons beyond my control. It was at that point that I disconnected from all major label projects pending and spent five years developing my own brand and sound. I call that sound “Intellectual Soul” – music and art that makes you think as well as feel a connection to life. We are in a time that life still imitates art but the art is enslaved to political and financial gains instead of feeding the souls of people through thought provoking content. The last several weeks has brought about change with a new distribution deal with Universal/Ingrooves/Sound Republica and I’m closing out my first feature film production as Executive Producer entitled “The Delaney Chronicles”. From the films to the music, a story of male-female relationships is told in graphic detail and not for the purpose of “shock value” but for the purpose of showing us the mirror of ourselves. It’s my truest hope that my next batch of releases including songs from my album “Blemishes of Perfection”(that features my composed and written work) will inspire dialog about healthy relationships with ones self as well as with those we love.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
What road? lol! Oftentimes, including now I’ve had to create my own space in this creative world. I never fit in and I prefer it that way. The biggest struggle has always been to navigate around other peoples hidden agenda and to not get my work trapped in a situation of not owning my work any more. I come to the table with a lot to offer or a lot to steal – I write, compose, produce and own all of my work which is attractive to people with good and bad intentions.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in Music Production – taking an idea in the mind and birthing it into something you can hear and feel-
I am most proud of the fact that my reputation as a person in this business is a good one. I treat people well and no one ever has or will ever have to go through any type of “casting couch” dynamics with me or any of my productions. I understand that I am impacting dreams and that means I’m touching places in people that God dwells – I take that seriously.
What sets me apart is the fact that unlike allot of today’s creatives in the business, I am a true musician. I am classically trained which means I can eat by performing in a blues band or composing music for an orchestra. I spent a lot of time being a fly on the wall at a young age of some greats such as Barry White and later on with Mr. Bobby Byrd to name a few – those brief experiences are still priceless to me.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
BE PREPARED!! Much of the discomforts I’ve experienced from this Covid-19 season was visible before it hit. I was just simply not as prepared to adjust as I should have been. Thankfully, it has not devastated me as it has many others but I feel it none the less.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.garethhunter.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/garethhunterpresents
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOfficialGarethHunterPresents
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/ghunterpresents
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/garethhunterpresents
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/garethhunter
Image Credits
Feature Photo: Photographer JB for A Place Called Beautiful Photo Salon, Model Nell Coleman Child Photo: Photographer Rocky Mountain News, Clothes by Grandma Additional Photos: Photographer JB for A Place Called Beautiful Photo Salon, models Amber and Lynette Mckinney Stylist: Joffrey Caldwell Makeup: Tavia for Simply Gorgeous Studios
