The Grimm Riddle Interview
Q: Can you talk about how The Grimm Riddle project got started?
A: Well, Ive been in various bands as either the lead singer and lead guitarist or just the lead guitarist since I was eleven. But The Grimm Riddle is like the final platform to express my art and who I am. I did actually attempt to make it a band at first but just found that I couldn't find people that had the same vision as me and so I went solo.
Q: I thought there were a lot unique aspects to the music. It often went in places I wasn’t expecting. Can you talk about your creative process?
A: I write the music first on guitar and sometimes even record a basic take with the rest of the instruments, and then, (a bit weird maybe), I sing “gibberish” to get some sort of melody. Then during this “ gibberish” stage I try and feel what the song is about, or I try to pay attention to what memories/emotions the song provokes and mold the song around that. But I do play with different ideas of how the song flows or changes, sometimes for weeks before settling on a finished piece.
Q: What is the music scene like in South Africa right now and did it have an effect on your writing?
A: I like the more alternative and punk bands which are genres that are not very strong in South Africa. But there are some really good bands making their rounds. The music that's doing well in South Africa is Afrikaans pop, (Afrikaans is a language native to South Africa similar to Dutch), folk music, various dance genres and various South African hip hop genres. This is a gross generalization because South Africa is unbelievably diverse in culture and religion which makes for extremely diverse genres of music which I could never keep track of. I am influenced a bit by the South African scene, but honestly I'm much more influenced by the likes of The Pixies, Nirvana, Tool and A Perfect Circle.
Q: What was the recording process like?
A: I recorded in my studios at home, so it was very relaxed and comfortable. I have a heavily sound absorbent room for the drums and then slightly more ambient rooms for the vocals and guitars. Whether it’s vocals, guitars, bass or drums I try to really lose my self in the song to hopefully capture authentic energy and passion. And I don't like punching in parts I much prefer to use full flawless takes; it just sounds better to me that way.
Q: Since The Grimm Riddle is essentially a solo project how do these songs translate live?
A: In the case of performance I do the lead vocals and lead guitars and then I make use of session musicians for rhythm guitars, bass, drums, keys and backing vocals.
Q: What else do we need to know about The Grimm Riddle?
A: What is in the name "The Grimm Riddle"? Firstly, "Grimm" which is spelt with two "M's" serves as a double meaning. The first being a reference to the Brothers Grimm, the 19th century academics, who were responsible for putting down in print, the oral traditions of European folklore.
The second is a reference to the dictionary meaning of grim; stern, uncompromising, morbid, sinister, dreadful. And don’t forget, The Grim Reaper, a reference to death and time passing.
The second part of the name “Riddle” is a question or statement intentionally presented as a puzzle or game, a type of deceptive question that encompasses its answer.It’s like a veil in front of secrets, and if you pay enough attention to it, you may figure out what is being hidden behind. And so it’s the idea that there are great or terrible truths intentionally hidden from us in popular accepted perceptions and everyday life.
Q: Can you talk about how The Grimm Riddle project got started?
A: Well, Ive been in various bands as either the lead singer and lead guitarist or just the lead guitarist since I was eleven. But The Grimm Riddle is like the final platform to express my art and who I am. I did actually attempt to make it a band at first but just found that I couldn't find people that had the same vision as me and so I went solo.
Q: I thought there were a lot unique aspects to the music. It often went in places I wasn’t expecting. Can you talk about your creative process?
A: I write the music first on guitar and sometimes even record a basic take with the rest of the instruments, and then, (a bit weird maybe), I sing “gibberish” to get some sort of melody. Then during this “ gibberish” stage I try and feel what the song is about, or I try to pay attention to what memories/emotions the song provokes and mold the song around that. But I do play with different ideas of how the song flows or changes, sometimes for weeks before settling on a finished piece.
Q: What is the music scene like in South Africa right now and did it have an effect on your writing?
A: I like the more alternative and punk bands which are genres that are not very strong in South Africa. But there are some really good bands making their rounds. The music that's doing well in South Africa is Afrikaans pop, (Afrikaans is a language native to South Africa similar to Dutch), folk music, various dance genres and various South African hip hop genres. This is a gross generalization because South Africa is unbelievably diverse in culture and religion which makes for extremely diverse genres of music which I could never keep track of. I am influenced a bit by the South African scene, but honestly I'm much more influenced by the likes of The Pixies, Nirvana, Tool and A Perfect Circle.
Q: What was the recording process like?
A: I recorded in my studios at home, so it was very relaxed and comfortable. I have a heavily sound absorbent room for the drums and then slightly more ambient rooms for the vocals and guitars. Whether it’s vocals, guitars, bass or drums I try to really lose my self in the song to hopefully capture authentic energy and passion. And I don't like punching in parts I much prefer to use full flawless takes; it just sounds better to me that way.
Q: Since The Grimm Riddle is essentially a solo project how do these songs translate live?
A: In the case of performance I do the lead vocals and lead guitars and then I make use of session musicians for rhythm guitars, bass, drums, keys and backing vocals.
Q: What else do we need to know about The Grimm Riddle?
A: What is in the name "The Grimm Riddle"? Firstly, "Grimm" which is spelt with two "M's" serves as a double meaning. The first being a reference to the Brothers Grimm, the 19th century academics, who were responsible for putting down in print, the oral traditions of European folklore.
The second is a reference to the dictionary meaning of grim; stern, uncompromising, morbid, sinister, dreadful. And don’t forget, The Grim Reaper, a reference to death and time passing.
The second part of the name “Riddle” is a question or statement intentionally presented as a puzzle or game, a type of deceptive question that encompasses its answer.It’s like a veil in front of secrets, and if you pay enough attention to it, you may figure out what is being hidden behind. And so it’s the idea that there are great or terrible truths intentionally hidden from us in popular accepted perceptions and everyday life.