Meet The Band GINGSU: New Single "TRE" Coming Out Soon!
If you ever need a band that stays at 11 and doesn't turn down, GINGSU might be the band for you. We had the pleasure of interviewing them, so let's see what they say about the band's background, their upcoming single release, and what else they have in store!
Photo taken by Wendy Rosales
WHERE ARE YOU GUYS FROM, AND WHAT BROUGHT YOU ALL TOGETHER?
"GINGSU is currently based out of Long Beach, CA. We've undergone a couple of lineup changes since our initial start in 2020. - Two of us met through a musicians-wanted ad posted on Facebook. The other half of the band became involved through mutual connections in the local music scene."
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR BAND NAME, GINGSU?
"The band name is inspired by the Hellfire R9X missile nicknamed the 'Flying Ginsu,' the extra 'g' included for character and flair."
YOU ARE RELEASING A SINGLE NEXT MONTH. TELL US ABOUT WHAT INSPIRED THIS SONG.
"Our upcoming single, 'TRE,' is a response to politicians' thinly veiled strategies to sow paranoia at the most basic level of their constituency in order to expand their own influence. The lyrics reflect the consciousness of the everyday American, who has been presented with scapegoats for their suffering yet is able to recognize who has created the furiously escalating national pressure cooker. The lyrics reflect the violence and economic bleakness associated with failing empires, as well as the audacity of the elites who fill their pockets as they drive their countries into the ground without a second thought."
Photo taken by @sanchez_productions on IG
WHAT WAS THE WRITING PROCESS LIKE?
"Much of the lyrical content for 'TRE' came first, which pointed pretty distinctively towards a song built off raw aggression. From here, the main riff and the underlying groove came together fairly quickly, and it only took a couple of days to iron out the first half of the song. When it came to the bridge, we felt inclined to introduce some unexpected harmonic elements and a melodic vocal part to provide a different kind of character while still keeping a driving rhythm section. Having these moments of more pronounced musicality, for lack of a better phrase, was important to us. In a subtle way, it also brings out the depth of the lyrics and reminds the listener that the tune is pretty fleshed out in its construction, as opposed to being reliant on just one catchy component. The final breakdown to conclude the song came very naturally."
WHAT WAS THE RECORDING PROCESS LIKE?
"We began working with Matt Norman over at NOYZR Music this past spring, and 'TRE' was the first song we brought to the table to see how we all gelled together. We knew that we wanted a fuller, more dynamic sound than we had gotten in the past and spent a lot more time experimenting with equipment than we had previously. We also made sure to think more critically about how we layered certain elements of the instrumentation and vocals than we had in the past, which really paid off in the final track. The song was recorded over two days at Electric Sun Studios in La Cañada Flintridge, and we're extremely satisfied with the sound of the single!"
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE LYRIC IN THIS SONG?
"There's always a give and a take
Are you a gardener or a winnower?"
"It's the perfect respite to the aggressive lyrical content throughout the song- and is arguably the most important phrase in regard to its social context."
Photo taken by Wendy Rosales
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER RELEASES COMING OUT SOON?
"As of December, we're back in the studio, feverishly tracking away. We can't say a whole lot on this front, because we don't want to spoil some big surprises just around the corner; let's just say, GINGSU is transforming and what's coming will dwarf everything we've done so far…"
HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? ARE THERE ANY ARTISTS OR BANDS THAT INSPIRE YOU THE MOST?
"Our music really is a curious amalgam of what one might consider unreconcilable genres. We like to think that we come by it honestly; our individual influences are manifold, spanning Zeppelin to Alice In Chains, to Kate Bush to Polyphia, and even The Strokes. GINGSU blends metal with indie, funk with progressive, and grunge with pop. It's a frustrating answer for interviewers, but then they hear our music, and they get it. We're pretty difficult to define, even for our most dedicated fans."
WHAT CAN YOUR LISTENERS EXPECT FROM YOU GUYS IN 2024?
"We are on the cusp of so many massive announcements that it's hard to sum it all up neatly here. Nevertheless, I will try: 2024 is going to be, quite simply, the year GINGSU takes everything we do to the next level. It is already shaping up to be a year of radical growth in so many directions for us, and our boldness will be on full display. Between the most memorable songs we've created yet, mountains of new merch pieces that are each totally out of left field, and (super secret) shows that blow everything we've done so far out of the water, our listeners need to get on the train and hold on tight!"
