Gary Spicer is a friendly fella who finds inspiration in electronic music and gummi bears. Playing multiple instruments, he doesn’t let accidents like a cymbal stand falling down or lack of inspiration stop him from performing. In addition, he played the drums for various heavy metal bands and is currently working on an album. Gary is a very interesting character and we are delighted to have him interviewed for the Drooble blog! Here it goes…

How did you grow up to become the musician you are today?

I was always interested in listening. Not to just words but how each instrument has a unique language. I started out in elementary in a music class and was completely infatuated with our teacher playing the acoustic guitar. Later years, I began to join orchestra classes and became a new violin player and I had no idea what the heck I was doing at that time, but it all worked out. I always knew even if I didn’t know how to play an instrument, I’d pretend I was a pro and somehow that made me like what I was doing. I had to let go of a few fears sitting at the back of my head just to make something happen or else it was never going to happen.

After high school, I really found myself great at the drum set I and some friends always dreamed of being in a band together and it was a reality for a few months before I decided I wanted to keep getting better and really enjoy what I was doing. I had to branch off on my own even though these were my friends, I learned that you can’t stay with the same people if you want to make it happen for yourself (not in a bad way). I want to thank those friends for being there to help me realize what I was becoming.

Introduce your current musical projects and tell us what makes each one special for you!

I really wanna dig with this question! Well, I had to come to a hard decision and dropped out from my college courses, I was actually studying Music Production and completed one school year as an online student at Full Sail University. One class I was in was based around Electronic music production and synthesis, which brings me to my current project “What The F@%K Was I Thinking?” And this is my first full length album being worked on right now in 2018 and planning to release it late 2018/early 2019. I actually just made a kickstarter for this project and if it fails, I’ll start one up again. The title the album has gotten has everything to do with the last few years of my life. I was completely lost and not knowing what to do. I was playing as a drummer for heavy metal bands and they always kept falling short (ending sooner than I’d expected).

Each song title has it’s own story behind it, and I thought it was a really cool concept to simply tell my story through song titles with fun and emotional instrumental dance music to back it up. I’m not a vocalist so this was pretty much my only choice at the moment. Which doesn’t hurt in anyway because it’s art. Lastly, I really hope to inspire people with this album, the cover art is of three gummy bears and the middle bear has a half bitten off head with galaxy dust oozing out. Resembling the active thoughts one can have in a process of trying to find oneself.

I thought it was a really cool way to express the title! This brings me to introduce myself as GummI3ear. The name is Deadmau5 and Marshmello inspired. And, one day, I was with a friend and I was eating gummy bears. A lightbulb flicked on when he mentioned me really liking gummy bears. Two things I really like, Gummies and Music. Can’t go wrong!

You have been playing music for a long while! How do you find the drive and inspiration to keep going all this time?

This one is a bit tough, but my inspiration comes from sitting myself down because I cherish my alone time a lot actually. But I do love people. Usually a audio loop in Logic Pro X will spark something as I browse the library. A lot of my songs are actually from the use of loops but I add more to it if needed, like write something over it, input each drum pattern myself, Etc. I’m a 4 on the floor type and really love to move. If it makes me move, I make it something. All other inspiration naturally just comes from life events, too. Inspiration never really ends, you always find something to push you to do whatever it is you love doing. Sometimes, I’ll be making a snack or a meal and I’ll stop mid way just to go play around! The list of inspiration will forever go on.

How is your local music scene in your perspective? Do you feel like you belong there?

The local scene I was ever only part of was the heavy metal 607 music scene, I had great times within it and met a lot of really cool, nice and talented people and bands. I was a drummer for years in the scene playing in different bands. But somehow, I stood out, not even really realizing how much I stood out until now. It was great being part of the scene and I wish nothing bad for anyone in it. But I no longer feel like I belong in it, but will always be part of it as long as I keep going this route. Regardless of genre of music I decide to take on.

What is your all-time favorite record and how did it change you as an artist?

It’s a tough decision, but I’d like to say “10,000 Days” By Tool. The power this album pushed through to me was pretty intense. It made me appreciate music in a new way, I really loved how the vocals translate power along with the instrumentals being in odd time signatures. It’s hard to exactly say how it made me better as an artist, but I know deep down it did and that’s really all that matters. I’d play this album over and over and I’d even choose this album to sleep to for it’s relaxing nature or even while playing a good video game.

What are your favorite software and hardware tools for music production?

I’m still very new in the journey of production and right now I’m rolling with a MacBook Pro, using Logic Pro X as my software to create the music I want to make. I’m gonna pick up FL Studio soon in the future from what I heard about it, and really, just keep using what I can to have fun and get my tunes out to the world! I’m using a simple 25 key controller to practice piano scales and chords and it’s great to doodle on.

What is your songwriting process like?

I am still struggling to find a perfect process for writing, but lately I’ve been using audio loops out of Logic’s library to help push music out, I make sure to pick loops that would replicate what I’d do as a writer, I don’t stick to using loops 100% through an entire song/track but It’s a great starting point for me and each loop is key labeled so I can also write over a loop to make it more my own unique piece. I also like to go classic and use a grand piano plugin to play with different melodies because I’m a melody guy so writing a good melody is important for me it also helps me map out a rhythm for drum programming.

Out of all the live shows you played, which one was the most memorable, and why?

I wanna say my first live performance as a drummer. I was a little nervous but something told me to get up there and do it, and I pulled it off well. Also, it being my first live performance, I wasn’t careful with cymbal stand placement because of the excitement rushing through me while setting up in front of a good crowd…Mid set, a cymbal stand fell on top of me and I didn’t stop playing, two people from the crowd hopped on stage and fixed it for me with a big smile and a thumbs up. After the show I got a lot of great feedback for my technique and the cymbal accident not stopping me!

What is your biggest musical goal?

To be recognized for my work, and how it makes people feel. And to inspire young and experienced artists to follow their dreams and goals! Don’t give up everyone, even non artists reading this…You got everything it takes, get out there and make it happen. You mean everything to the world.

How has being on Drooble helped you as a musician?

The amount of plays I’m getting on my simple yet enjoyable tracks! And simply, the great community. It makes me feel more alive as an artist and feeling alive for what you do is just Love as a whole.