NO ORDINARY EYES: FRASER GREGORY'S DEBUT EP
February 2007
Those of
you who used to hang out at Paceville’s Coconut Grove in the 1990s -
when it was big, colourful and spacious - will probably also remember
blonde, blue-eyed Fraser Gregory flitting around the place. That was
also around the time he fronted an early incarnation of Beangrowers and
got his first taste of performing live. Band life however, didn’t seem
to suit him, and it wasn’t long before he decided to embark on a solo
career. The handful of demos he went on to record helped boost his
public profile; The Brother Song and Hard To Be Silent in particular
proved to be very popular with audiences present at the spirited live
acoustic sessions he performed at some cosy venue or other around Malta.
Despite gaining significant recognition on the island however, Fraser
realised that his career could only go further if he took bigger and
bolder steps. The biggest of these must have been his decision to
relocate to London just over three years ago. For a musician, there is
no better way to promote your music than by performing live, and where
better to do it if not in the music capital of the world! Since moving
abroad, as you will read further on in the interview, Fraser has etched
out a place for himself on the live circuit in London, and seems to
replicate this with no particular difficulty wherever he travels to. To
anyone who has made Fraser’s acquaintance, this shouldn’t be surprising,
as he is an open, friendly and genuine character with loads of talent!
Fraser’s impending visit to Malta is largely related to the release of
his debut CD, No Ordinary Eyes. Despite something of an overall low-key
angle to the CD launch, the four-track EP is an important milestone in
Fraser’s musical career; the fruit of many a rehearsal and live
performance that has seen him pay more attention to detail and evidence
of just how far his music has come in the space of three years. The
title track immediately reveals a stronger emphasis on melodic
arrangement and a keener eye for detail on Fraser’s part. It is a
quality also present on Changes, a more introspective number but just as
accessible. The other two tracks, The Truth and Beautiful, which Fraser
had showcased locally at his TU8 performance at the Manoel in 2005, are
intensely strong songs, and Beautiful in particular – an exquisitely
delicate composition - deserves at least the same acclaim that elevated
Jose Gonzalez’s cover of Heartbeats from obscurity to international
recognition. The EP is a formidable debut that not only outlines how
much Fraser’s song writing has improved and matured but is also an
important tool wherever his music takes him next! At the time of the
following interview, he was networking and hanging out with (UK singer)
Jem in Los Angeles, following a 3-month retreat in Fiji, an idyllic
place he has fallen in love with!
Q. It's been
a while since you've performed in Malta. What's your feeling about this
visit?
I am very much looking forward to it as I haven't done a proper gig (in
Malta) in a while -probably since Teatru Unplugged 8! I am hoping to
have some new visitors coming to see me play with the release of the CD,
which would be cool. You know me, I tend to like low-key, intimate gigs
with not much publicity.
I'm also hoping to hook up with some of the guys I used to play with
back in Malta, like Jeremy (guitarist with Muzzle and Scream Daisy) and
Alex Paps. That would be great, but if I don’t manage I’m just as happy
playing solo. I like Maltese audiences; they tend to be a lot more
lively and up for a good time, while in London they tend to be a bit
stiff. Also, covers go down well here but in London they generally
prefer to hear original stuff. That’s also a good thing, but I do like
to perform a mixture of both. This usually goes down well in Malta...
Q. How is it
trying to integrate into the live circuit abroad?
It's funny but being in Los Angeles and literally spending time amongst
some serious industry folk, the more I realize that it is all just based
on relationship. It's not so much about getting into a scene as much as
it is connecting and clicking with someone who is on your wavelength.
The universal current that connects is really present - sounds insane
but it's really true. You get what you pray for. It may not (always)
make you happy though…
Q. How do
you feel has your music changed since you relocated to London?
London isn't my ideal place for music. I know that is a somewhat harsh
comment, but I am not really a big fan of British pop and believe it or
not, not a big fan of the Beatles either. I do like some British artists
- Blur, Nick Drake, Jimmy Nail, Dire Straits, Led Zep, etc. - but as
such my musical mentors tend to be American; Paul Simon, John Denver,
Grateful Dead, Dylan, Tom Petty, and so on. It feels more and more like
I'm heading to the USA, but nothing is confirmed yet. Nonetheless I met
my producers in London, which was a hard but good place to learn for me.
Q. Of the
countless gigs you've performed abroad, which has been your favourite?
The highlight of last year was when I headlined The Troubadour supported
by the extremely talented Mick Hart and Pauline Taylor (ex-Faithless).
The Troubadour is a prestigious venue with some serious history - the
likes of Dylan and Hendrix played there in the 60's! I also had a really
good gig in Notting Hill not too long ago with Tamarind, who is
currently collaborating with Talvin Singh. That was an awesome gig too,
but the best gigs I have had so far have been those in Malta - it is
home, after all!
Q. Your new
EP features backing musicians. Are you also performing live with them or
are you solo onstage?
All the folk on my CD have also played with me live. Clark Berger and
Nick (the cellist) accompanied me at The Troubadour, and Duncan Bone, a
brilliant designer and dear friend of mine who is also a talented
musician, also performs live with me sometimes. I love to play with
different musicians; I mean anyone who can play any instrument decently
and can improvise is welcome to come up onstage and join me. When I was
in Gozo a few months ago I saw Tribali. I really enjoyed their show and
would like to do something with them.
Q. You seem
to be travelling a fair bit these days. Any destination you found more
enthralling than others?
I've just spent the last 3 months in Fiji working with some of the most
talented musicians I have ever worked with, which has been amazing. As I
said, I am in L.A. right now doing some work, then London and Malta.
Fiji is by far the coolest. The Fijians are kind of like the Maltese;
they are full of life and up for a good time. Viva Malta!
Q. I find
your music quite soothing and contemplative
(Thank you!
– Fraser).
Do you feel this is your forte or will you be exploring other avenues in
the future?
Great question! This EP turned out to have a soothing flavour to it, but
no, I don't intend it to always be like that. I do feel that it is my
forte, as at heart I am a folk musician, but I have also written upbeat,
funky, happy and also humorous songs. That side of me usually comes
through at my gigs and I plan to include more of that in the next
release, but at heart I’m folky!
Q. Aside
from releasing this CD, what else is planned for this year?
In some sense it's still very up in the air, depending on how things go
here in the US. I will be back in London soon, as I have a few gigs
lined up there. Then it’s off to Malta at the end of February. After
that, I plan to work on the next CD, probably in London. There are more
things still to be confirmed, but it’s best to log on to my websites for
news and updates.
Q. Besides
family and friends, what do you miss most being away from Malta?
I miss my family a lot, I will tell you that much! I call them almost
weekly when I come and love them all dearly. I love Malta and think it
is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and I especially
love Gozo! I miss the local food - tomatoes, melons, fish, my dad's
alljotta and my mum's shepherd's pie...he he!! I love Maltese olive oil
and the real honey you get (not that crappy granny's pride you find
everywhere)! My wish is that beautiful places like Ta Cenc, Selmun and
other untouched places in Gozo don't get bought up for development and
destroyed. Above all I miss the cultural heritage and sheer age of the
place; it is ancient and so alive with beautiful architecture and
character. Last but not least, I miss Twistees, the real Gozo gbejniet
and Maltese beer! Ta’ veru!
Recommended weblink:
www.frasergregory.com
