Here for a chat with Mystic Fool. Their self-proclaimed genre, “Spirit Jam”, has come due to the surplus of styles coming together from Medicine music to Jazz, from Pop to Reggae, from Ambience to Psychedelic Rock. With all of these influences, Mystik Fool brings a message and a prayer to reintroduce a seemingly lost idea of living through love and community.
Hey Gio thanks for having us on "Given to Rock" we are so excited to be able to talk about our newest single release "I'm On My Way". Firstly, it was written in 2018 at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame where me and my brother Simon (bass) went on a vacation. We were sitting in our hotel room playing Wii Sports, and the tune just popped out! Ha!
As our band worked and finished the song with Producer Jeff Martin (Trevor Hall, Will Evans) it took on a life of its own while maintaining our optimistic attitude. So as you listen, think back to any of the traveling you’ve done and remember the feeling of coming home. That is what this song is about. The tension of wanting to continue exploring the world while the tenderness of home soon awaits. I've never liked coming back home after my wild adventures around the world, so we wrote this song as a remedy to that feeling.
- How would you describe your sound?
This question always stumps us. So instead of piecing together a bunch of things we just coined a genre called 'spirit jam'. all of us in the band come from similar and different musician backgrounds. elements of Rock, pop, reggae, folk, psychedelic, and more. So simply put, our sound is new.
- What do you write about?
life is peculiar sometimes ya know? There is so much to be felt and experienced. I write about people, places, ideas, wild moments of change in my life. and to be a bit vulnerable, there was a time that was really dark for me and in many ways almost didn't make it out, but through a community of wild free spirits called Sufis, I was able to get out of that dark time. So I write about that kind of "we aren't alone in this" kinda vibe.
- What do you listen to when you are home?
(Galen - Vocals) The music I listen to at home changes constantly but there have always been some constants. For me it's The Smashing Pumpkins, Coldplay, Half Alive, Zeppelin, Trevor Hall, and always classic Bob Marley.
- Your favourite live performance so far?
So far our band Mystik Fool has had some cool moments and cool shows. but by far the one that stands out was right before the pandemic hit in 2020 we headlined an award show and made the paper the following day. So that was pretty cool. But hey, the best part about live performances is the simple fact that it brings people together. It always has. What a blessing to carry the music.
- Tell us a funny story that happened in studio or on stage.
Okay, so while we were in the process of recording "im on my way" we spent a weekend in Columbus Ohio with Jeff (Producer). We got up on the final morning, stopped at a grocery store and bought a bunch of bananas, and watermelon. Then, of course, I take out my Samurai Katana Sword and we all spent an hour in the yard throwing fruit at each other slicing it up with the sword. It was hilarious!
- Your favourite albums?
7. My Favorite albums of all time? this is just me speaking. Simon, Michael, and Will would have a different answer. but here are mine...
• Siamese Dream - Smashing pumpkins
• Grace - Jeff Buckley
• 22, A Million - Bon Iver
• Crosby, Stills, & Nash (self titled)
• Nothing Shocking - Janes Addiction
• S.C.I.E.N.C.E • Incubus
• Chapter of the Forest - Trevor Hall
• 10,000 Days - TOOL
• The Joshua Tree - U2
• Who's Next - The Who
- A musician you would like to meet for a beer?
Chris Martin - Coldplay... he knows something...
- What would you ask for backstage, if you were the most important band on earth?
I would request every venue backstage to do our best to create a zero waste production. no trash, no gas, other wasted or non sustainable. high order I know. but we have to do our best to create a sustainable future. Also, delicious Plant-based food.
- What are your plans for the near future?
The future for Mystik Fool is going to be interesting. we plan to tour the East Coast in spring of 2022, festivals and recording in the summer of 2022, and cross country tour in fall 2022. then in the coming years link up with some of our favorite bands and go on tour as opening support. This band is on a mission to bring up things that are swept under the rug. A new era of music standing for something bigger than ourselves. a community of bands, artists, musicians, creators, teachers, farmers, visionaries, to bring about a paradigm shift for the overall healing of today's broken world. Restore harmony by living through love. Foolish?
https://www.mystikfool.com
https://www.facebook.com/mystikfoolmusic
https://soundcloud.com/mystikfool
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTIILC4JitGPfqUra3Qnx7w
https://www.instagram.com/mystikfool_music/
https://www.tiktok.com/@mystikfool?lang=en
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