Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I was born in Santa Monica. Ca. Then moved around a bit once I left home at 16. I ended up in Manhattan Beach in the early to late nineties then moved to Park City, Utah in 1998 where I still live. I got my first interest in music when my cousin Barry DeVorzon (Rhythm of The Rain 1954) took me to a recording studio to watch The Association record at an early age. Then when I was 12, I heard Creams live version of Crossroads on the radio and right there and then I hade my mother take me to Ernie Balls Guitars on Ventura Blvd. in Encino and walk out with my first Pre-CBS Stratocaster which I still have today.
Q: And what other artists have you found yourself listening to lately?
A: I’m a bit of an odd duck. I don’t like most of the new music today, too formulaic and tunes of autotune. So I still listen to Hendrix and the great blues artists of the ‘50s. (The Three Kings) and back to Blind Lemon Jefferson at Robert Johnson. I am studying Blues Harp with David Barrett and he’s got me listening to Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, James Cotton and the like. The more current artists that I dig is Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Greta Van Fleet. I am also a big fan of Chris Cornell.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: Number one is and always will be Jimi Hendrix, then Eric Clapton, The Yardbirds, The Stones and The Beatles.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Mellow Drama’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Yes. Up until; my mid-forties I was an undiagnosed Bi-Polar 1 with Mania. I was very aggressive and had a very diverse life, I founded and sold four businesses, competed in Equestrian events from 9 to 14, then got into Motocross which I turned pro at 15, and then had quite the career in Ski Racing, Ski Coaching. I also raced bicycles from 12 to 50 years old. I’m just bringing this all up to lay the foundation of my constant mania, which made me very hard to live with. I burned through three marriages before I was finally diagnosed and put on the right cocktail of drugs. I’ve been married to my fourth wife Elizabeth for 18 years. Anyway, to finally answer your question, I wrote Melodrama in the third person on what it must have been like to be in an relationship with me both plutonic and intimate. U was very unstable, aggressive and had many affairs during my first three marriages, I was
A “Jerk” as my sister finally confided to me recently.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: My first Album Destiny Road is being released May 12th. We are currently in the studio recording tracks for my second album, never give up which I hope to have released in the late fall or early winter of this year. My partner Chris Zoupa (Teramaze, Melbourne Australia) and I have been writing up a storm, We have all 14 of Never Give Up songs in demo format and a are a good way into having 10 songs written for the third album, yet to be named.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: I tell true heartfelt stories that I hope my audience will feel a connection with. I don’t just write about relationships a personal struggles but have many humorous and lighthearted stories that come from my life experiences as in my song Yosemite about a backpacking trip that went horribly wrong but in a very funny way. I also write about history as in Hadrian’s wall where a tell the story of a roman slave and his life building the 70 mile long wall in Britain. Let’s leave it to say there will be a lot of surprises for my audience and I hope fans in the next two albums. As for my sound I can’t escape it, I’ve formed my style out of the 60’s. 70’s and 80’s. The best way to describe my sound is classic rock with current undertones.
Q: 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?
A: Undefined. Right bow I’m an Indie artist with about 18,000 Spotify listeners, I’m hoping down the road I will have hundreds of thousands of followers and that my music will support me and my wife as I turn into my seventies next year.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: Chris and I have it down to a science, we use each other’s strengths in our writing process. I will come up with a guitar rhythm and melodies then Chris takes my ideas and puts them into a proper format and writes bridges, Pre-choruses and whatever is needed to fill out the song and then together we woodshed the lyrics and melodies until we have a finished song. Chris will arrange the song in Guitar Pro and then we take that demo to the band so they can contribute their parts, next stop is the studio, we always start with Bob’s drum part and build out from there with the final part being the lead and background vocals.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: My mental struggles and a life strewn with broken relationships, but now I;m on eveb keel and life is good.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: All my achievements and successes, and most certainly the last eighteen years with my supportive and wonderful wife, Dr. Elizabeth Dranow. Just as a note she is 17 years younger than me a keeps me on my toes.
Follow Gary Dranow:
Spotify – SoundCloud – YouTube – Facebook – Instagram – Website