Exclusive Interview with GREGORY LIOI

Rock and roll veteran and idealist Gregory Lioi. Driven by a passion for strong hooks and personal conviction. He challenges reality in a fractured world seen through social media on “Sometimes I Feel.” He sings “Where is the love?” in a radio-ready pop tenor as the song progresses from a catchy college-rock ditty to a dramatic indie-pop anthem. Check out the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
GREGORY LIOI: I was born in 1959 in a town called Bayonne, New Jersey. We moved to Jersey City, where I spent most of my formulative years. Directly to the east across the Hudson River is New York City. When my high school buddies and I boarded the Path Train and got off in Greenwich Village in the early 1970s, it awakened my cultural awareness. In Washington Park I was thrilled to see such an ethnically diverse mixture of musicians playing in public. I knew then that music was a vital, essential part of my own life.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
GREGORY LIOI: My “training” consisted of repeated listening to Bowie, Springsteen, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Talking Heads, Television, The Clash, Supertramp, The Who, Iggy Pop and many other rock icons. My guitar playing is self-taught, with the help of YouTube tutorial videos.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘GREGORY LIOI’?

GREGORY LIOI: Gregory’s the name given to me by my mother when I was born; she had a tremendous crush on the actor Gregory Peck. Lioi, from my father. For many years, I went by the name Gregory Lions because I liked the imagery of being a big cool cat. Most people have a really hard time pronouncing Lioi, something about 3 vowels in a row, and I was so tired of correcting them. To be honest, I had a lot of anger at my father for his shortcomings so I also wanted to spite him by discarding his name but I went back to my original name for the sake of truth. Truth is the ONLY authority. Coincidentally, Lioi rhymes with Bowie and David Bowie is one of my strongest influences. I admired his amazing lyrics and melodies. Bowie’s original works from albums like Space Oddity, Aladdin Sane, Man Who Sold the World et al are haunting and deep. Another David who has been a big influence on my music is David Byrne of Talking Heads. Albums like Remain in Light, Fear of Music and More Songs About Buildings and Governments are amazing in their complex musical arrangements and pithy messages.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
GREGORY LIOI: I hope that listeners feel the messages that my songs convey about social unrest, the horrors of a war minded mentality and the disillusionment that a shallow culture breeds. In Sometimes I Feel, I say “Trapped inside my cellphone screen, strangers populate my dreams…” and repeatedly ask “Where is the love?” because I truly believe that people need to realize life becomes meaningless when the focus is on material wealth and impressing others without appreciating the beauty of this consciousness we have.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as INDIE?
GREGORY LIOI:

Everyone has stories to tell based on their individual life experiences and shaped by their unique points of view. My development as a music maker comes from my strong desire to relate how I see the world to others in a memorable way. I have written and published books, I have tons of YouTube videos. I have performed stand-up comedy. I devote myself to songs because I feel they’re the best way to relate my thoughts in an easy to digest format.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
GREGORY LIOI: Music is the soundtrack of life! Songs take on lives of their own and never expire. Words are very powerful and have a direct influence on the way people think. I write my songs to influence the way people see the world. More importantly, to expose unfairness, injustices and hypocrisy perpetrated and perpetuated by those in power. It’s like sugar coating unpleasant medicine; I hope my songs do that in a pleasant to listen to way. Of course, music is also very sensual and good music resonates with a very instinctual part of human nature. I work hard to appeal to that; if I like the way my chord progressions feel, then that’s 50% of my song completed. The other 50% is memorable lyrics that speak to my audience.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
GREGORY LIOI: My songs are like fathering children; they take on lives of their own. It’s very fulfilling to get feedback from total strangers who say my songs moved them emotionally. I expect that each song I write will be a different experience. The fulfillment comes to me when I have a finished work that reflects what I was trying to say. I do expect more in the future, I want to create songs that challenge me to stretch and go beyond my comfort zone. I want to deliver epic anthems that live on long after I’m dead.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

GREGORY LIOI: I wrote “When We Die?” in response to my own frustration with imagining all the scenarios of an afterlife. It’s like wondering but not knowing what is inside a wrapped package. It could be something really cool or just nothing. But something magical took place when I recorded it. I abandoned any preconceived ideas I had and just played and the rawness of the song emerged on its own. When I was singing to my microphone alone in my studio; I honestly felt like I was being directed by some unlocked super power I didn’t even realize I had. I poured my soul into the song with no fear of failure whatsoever.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
GREGORY LIOI: Obscurity. It’s frustrating to know that my songs go unheard by that vast majority of listeners because I do not have a hype machine behind me. The major labels go hand in hand with the media to promote mediocre talent which sends them skyrocketing up the charts and into the collective consciousness of the listening public. I know that sounds bitter, or jealous or envious. I know there are so many talented artists that go unheard of though and that’s just the way things are. But I don’t despair. I create my songs because I have to. I know they’ll outlive me; my hope is that they reach people and influence them in a positive way.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

GREGORY LIOI: My song “When We Die?” got over 100,000 streams on Spotify in its first month. It was so simply produced, just me singing and playing my 12 string Martin guitar. I was thrilled because no one knew me; I had no hype machine but the song touched a lot of people; they related to it. I was thrilled. I discovered my secret super-hero power!

11. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

GREGORY LIOI: I have a thick skin. I repel negativity with my own positive power. I consider every criticism that’s flung my way. If there’s anything in it that I can learn from; I accept it. If it’s just hostility being spewed for no tangible reason, I laugh at it and toss it into the trash. You can’t please everyone and I really don’t want to. Listeners and followers are attracted to what they want to hear and enjoy listening to. That is how it is and how it will always be.