I recently posted about Jeremy Toback’s new ONS project and after, had a chance to ask him a few questions to get some insight into his latest work. Thanks again Jeremy for taking the time to chat. Get the free ONS download after the Q&A.
So, I've been a fan of yours for a long time going back to the Brad stuff and your fantastic solo records. You have been really busy with making music - yoga music and the Renee & Jeremy project. It seems like things are going really well for you and you are in a really good place. How are things?
Things are great. Excited to have put two records out this year, and even more excited to be diving into the rock waters once more with ONS.
As far as I know, these are your first rock recordings in a while. What took
so long in getting back to rocking? Have you consciously stayed away?
Yes, it's been a very long hiatus. By the time I tried to make my 3rd record for RCA, I had really lost my musical compass, my sense of vision and purpose. I was also more than a bit heartbroken by the whole career roller coaster. In a lot of ways, the yoga label and then Renee & Jeremy have been ways for me to keep making music, while rediscovering first if, and then how I'd want to make rock again.
How do you describe your style and approach to making music?
The details change a lot depending on my role in a project, but the one consistent theme is that I always seek to create transformative music. So whether I'm writing a stripped down duet with R&J or layering and cutting up vocals over beats with ONS, the goal is alway to move and uplift.
Your collaborator on the ONS project is Herb Graham, Jr. I'm not all that
familiar with Herb. Can you tell us a little bit about how you guys hooked
up and what he brings to the table?
Herb has def been around, lead a successful Jazz band in the 90s called B Sharp Quartet, played drums with a bunch of peeps including Macy Gray, and has produced a ton of records including John Cale's Black Acetate. We met when he produced this Girish record for my yoga label, Ajna Music and were pretty much soul brothers from down beat.
He's a great producer, writer, and multi instrumentalist which really allows me to focus on being a lyricist and vocalist. We also have a shared vision for ONS as music at the nexus of rock and dance that's bumping enough to shake a festival, with the sonic and lyrical uplift to take that experience to the ether :)
Thanks again Jeremy and I look forward to hearing more new material in the
future!!
For a free ONS download check out:
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