Dear readers, in this article we have the pleasure to offer you an interview with a UK composer who mixes Prog with Avant-Garde Classical. We welcome Lewis Gill.
Hi Lewis how are you?
“Feeling very positive and excited about my new album, very keen to promote it and get it out there“
Your style incorporates Prog and Avant-Garde Classical, where does your passion for these sounds come from?
“The passion goes back a long way. I was hugely impacted by progressive rock when I was a teenager – all the usual suspects: Floyd, Crimson, Supertramp, Yes, Genesis (for some reason I neglected ELP but now worship their 1970s output). I was the proud and slightly obsessive owner of virtually all the albums by those bands, the passion for prog was huge! Then I heard Ligeti whilst watching 2001: A Space Odyseey and had my mind blown, I did not realise that classical music could be so abstract and far out, I think I connected Ligeti to Floyd Saucerful title track because of the trippy nature of it. Then I heard Webern and was mind blown again and then Stockhausen and was completely drawn in to his fascinating and bizarre sound world.All this whilst still loving Prog. So the passion stems generally from hearing certain pieces and tracks within those two genres and experiencing a deep significance within the music.“
Your new album ‘Redeemer’ was released on May 22, 2024, how would you describe this new work?
“I like to think it sits in the middle of Avant Garde Classical and Prog. I suppose my use of odd time signatures and odd syncopations comes form Gentle Giant, Crimson, UK etc. The textures and compositional techniques (occasional serialism,chance method etc) come from Stockhausen, Nono and Webern. The repetitive nature of some pieces comes from
Reich and Glass. Its a (hopefully) well balanced and maybe even innovative fusion of modern classical and prog.“
9 tracks markedly influenced by modern Prog and Avant-Garde, how does the creative process of your music come about?
“The more proggy stuff usually starts with searching for intersting melodies and chords on the guitar, it might be an arpeggio that sparks more ideas for harmony and layering counterpoint. Then I usually experiment till I find the right combination of instruments, I write on the guitar but not FOR the guitar generally. The less proggy stuff often starts
with a tone row (like Schoenberg used) which I manipulate to form melodies and chords until I get something satisfying. I will often just lie in bed imagining combinations of sounds and then run to my laptop when a eureka moment occurs – lol.“
Is your solo project only studio-based or do you have live dates planned in the near future?
“Strictly studio based, a lot of my stuff would require a fairly big ensemble to perform and I do not have the resources or financial backing to make that happen. One day it could happen though under different circumstances. For now I am essentially a studio composer“
How do you think the way of gigging has changed since the 90s? What has changed for you?
“The last time I gigged was IN the 90s so I can not really draw a comparison to todays gigging ways. I was in a prog band with Tony Harn called Lifebox who you may have heard of, we played some small venues around 98/99, theres been nothing since then.“
Throughout your career you have worked with different projects, what can you tell us about these experiences?
“They have all been musically educational, the first band I was in (Cheeky Atom) was with 3 other guys who were a lot older and much more experienced than I was. I quickly got to grips with the democracy of writing and improved as a guitar player because the other guitar player (Ian Simpson) was so much better, it kept me on my toes and compelled me
to practice. Later projects (Psychiatric Challenge) encouraged me to think more about textures than virtuosity“
You are a musician with years of experience behind you, how has your style evolved over the years?
“I think my style has matured, I am a lot less insecure about my capabilities and much more cerebal as a writer/composer, this should reflect in my present style. It was pretty cliched to begin with, more or less wanting to sound like my heroes. Now I like to think the only style I have is MY style“
What advice would you give to young artists approaching music with more elaborate sounds like yours?
“Do not stop ! If you have a vision then persevere till that vision manifests.“
Do you have any other activities or artistic passions outside music?
“I love astronomy, it actually inspires the musical side of things in me“
I thank Lewis Gill for the interview and wish him all the best in the continuation of his artistic career.
