Fox Reviews Rock

Introduction

I think this might be the first time we have interviewed a Glam Rock artist on the site! Gyasi in his own words is a guitar wielding peacock from West Virginia. I have to say though I have never seen a peacock with this amount of talent before! Alice Cooper clearly agreed when they asked him to be guitarist on their new album…

His music is somewhat of a throwback but in a really refreshing way and I am sure you will like his tunes! Check the interview and his songs out below and don’t forget to follow him on social media!

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We first heard the amazing music from Gyasi on the Dingir Zu Prophet Show. The weekly show focuses on amazing artists and gives them a platform to show what they can do. As well as being a great rock community. Find out more here.

Interview

Your new album “Here Comes the Good Part” came out earlier this year, I would love to know though what do you consider the best song on the album?

Hmm that’s always so hard to answer, and it constantly changes. I would say right now “23” is a favorite as it brings a type of theatricality and a cabaret element that I had wanted in my music for a while. That one always feels like a special moment in the live show. 

What made you want to start a glam rock band?

I think it was just the best way to combine the various things I am interested in to make something I like. Rock n roll, fashion, theatre, makeup, storytelling, punk and blues. It all can fit together in glam rock. 

I’m sure you have been asked before but where did the band name come from?

It is my real, God given name believe it or not. I spent a long time trying to find a band name and finally realized that my real name was actually what it should be. It’s strange and unfamiliar enough that it’s intriguing to people. If you can’t hide it, hang bells on it. 

If you had to pin down a couple of bands/artists that inspired you, who would those be and in what way?

David Bowie is number one for me. I just find him so inspiring in his entire approach to music, art, and life itself. A brilliant artist able to combine so many of his interests into an amazing body of work.

Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page musically taught me more than any other band. I studied Jimmy’s playing religiously when I was young. I just think they’re the greatest band of all time. Little Richard is the source of rock n roll music. Pure electric energy. Iggy Pop as a performer and force of nature.

Robert Johnson I find just a magical enigma of virtuosity. Lou Reed as a songwriter captured a certain perspective that no one else has ever touched. And Bob Dylan because…well, Bob Dylan. 

Now the album has come out, what is the plan moving forward?

Playing it live while also writing the next one. Already been in the studio working on new tunes. Headed to Europe in October which I can’t wait for. 

If you could play a dream tour, what countries would you visit?

I mean Europe, which we are playing in October so I guess I’m living the dream in that sense. We’re finally playing the UK this time which has been a dream for a long time. But also Japan. I want to visit Japan so bad. I find Japanese culture so rich and unique.

How did you working with Alice Cooper come about? Also what has it been like working with such amazing musicians?

That kinda just fell out of the sky for me. It was totally unexpected and one of the greatest honors of my career so far. The original Alice Cooper Group were heading into the studio to do their first full record together in 53 years and they needed someone to fill the role of the late Glen Buxton.

They could have easily gotten a studio ace but I think they wanted someone who really fit in with the band and had their own personality. Producer Bob Ezrin was asking around for a guitar player that would fit and Mike Grimes of Grimey’s record store in Nashville sent Bob and Alice some of my music and next thing I knew I got a phone call inviting me to a recording session with the band. We did a couple songs that day and then I ended up playing on the rest of the record.

It’s been incredible getting to work so closely with living rock n roll legends. I found it really inspiring to hear their musical approach from their own perspective. They were art school students chasing something that had never been done in rock music and they still have that same desire to create something new and theatrical.

Getting to spend so much time with Bob Ezrin was also a masterclass in production. He is just brilliant. It was amazing to watch the detail with which he directed and saw the music through to the finish line.

“Snake City” from the new album is classic! I’d love to know though if you were to be any type of snake yourself what do you think you would be?

Oooh fun question, I love snakes. I’d have to say green mamba. They’re so beautiful but also deadly.

I’d love to know what local bands that you listen to that you think we should know about?

Nashville has a lot of great bands. The Weird Sisters rule. 

They’re not local to Nashville but we just had a band from LA called Dagger Polyester open for us on tour and they are just the coolest. 

On your album from 2024 “Rock n’ Roll Sword Fight” there is a song called “Teacher” that I adore. Especially that guitar solo at the start! I want to know though if you were to teach a subject in school other than music what would it be?

Thanks! Hmm probably English or History. 

I would honestly love to know what the song “Androgyne” means to you? 

It’s a song about being androgynous and being in touch with both sides of the gender spectrum. It’s also about characters I have met along the way and the experiences that come with living freely as someone who has a balance of masculine and feminine energy. 

From your 2022 album “Pronounced Jah-See” there is a little gem on it called “Tongue Tied”. I would love to know though have you met anyone in the music industry that has left you tongue tied. And maybe you can provide a little of that story?

Jack White came to one of my shows and asked about one of my guitar pedals and it was very difficult to keep it together and talk to him without completely fangirling over him. 

A fun one to break up the seriousness, if you were to cook me dinner , what would it be? And maybe more importantly what music are you putting on in the background?

I make a mean ribeye steak with chimichurri. Side salad. Glass of red wine. Definitely putting on Django Reinhardt in the background. 

Finally, would you mind breaking down the song “Lightening” for us? What inspired the song?

Lightning was a song about some of the road trips I took from my small town when I was young, looking for adventure and excitement in a new city.  

The “here comes the good part” line comes actually comes from an experience my dad had hitchhiking with his friends in high school when they were picked up by an old timer who at one point turned up the song on the radio and said  “here comes the good part!” 

All rights to the songs used in this interview are retained by Gyasi. This site claims no rights over them. All photos were provided by Gyasi and taken by Scott Willis Photography. This site claims no rights over the photos.