Name: grentperez
Occupation: Producer, songwriter, vocalist
Nationality: Filipino
Recent release: grentperez's Trail Mix Tape is out via Fast Friends / Awal.

If you enjoyed this interview with grentperez and would like to find out more about his music, visit him on Instagram, Facebook, Soundcloud, and twitter.



Where does the impulse to create something come from for you? What role do often-quoted sources of inspiration like dreams, other forms of art, personal relationships, politics etc play?

My fountain of inspiration can come from many things, usually they place under random sporadic events like singing a random melody. Dreams also do definitely come into play, as I find I have very vivid, fun, life-like visions when I sleep.

Other sources could be from trying to write a song in relation to a movie I’m fond of. It’s a very fluid process at the moment so everything is a bit wishy-washy.

For you to get started, do there need to be concrete ideas – or what some have called a 'visualisation' of the finished work? What does the balance between planning and chance look like for you?

I am slowly building this ‘concrete idea’ when I start to write. But at the moment, I reckon it’s safe to say I like to let the song take the lead. The song really writes itself as it goes on, usually stemming from the melodies.

The main factors directing the plot would be the feel of the chords, rhythm and warmth of melody, and how I feel in the moment as well.

Is there a preparation phase for your process? Do you require your tools to be laid out in a particular way, for example, do you need to do 'research' or create 'early versions'?

Early versions are a necessity! I’d call myself a god if I could create a song perfect from its first draft haha! But I’m very grass roots when it comes to writing. I do prefer physically writing onto paper with my guitar at hand, but nothing much else …

Actually now come to think of it, I do like to be facing towards a window.

Do you have certain rituals to get you into the right mindset for creating? What role do certain foods or stimulants like coffee, lighting, scents, exercise or reading poetry play?

Have yet to experiment with this. Who knows, maybe 3 and a half strawberries might help to enter a transient state.

Although good lighting and a few push ups do help to stimulate this bean brain.

What do you start with? How difficult is that first line of text, the first note?

It’s usually chords, then melody, then lyrics but lately I’ve been trying to lead with pure melody first to try and break my repetition of guitar chords.

The first line is always difficult as writing music can be so broad, so hard to pinpoint exactly what you want.

When do the lyrics enter the picture? Where do they come from? Do lyrics need to grow together with the music or can they emerge from a place of their own?

On top of a lot of the factors that come with writing music, the flow, rhythm and percussive aspects that come with speech are always in priority when I’m writing. I just think how the song feels is so important.

The lyrics themselves however usually do come from a place of their own. I feel it’s gotta be able to sound decent no matter the instrumental.

What makes lyrics good in your opinion? What are your own ambitions and challenges in this regard?
 
Ah, like I’ve said above! The rhythm and flow of syllables as well as the percussive aspects of certain words make the lyrics all the more enjoyable to listen to. Other than that, I’d say very colourful descriptions and even words that create a very vivid atmosphere are tops.

My own personal challenge is to try and create a storyline within my work, something that people can grab onto. I don't know how good I’ve been doing so far, but oh well. A goal is a goal.

Once you've started, how does the work gradually emerge?

The speed often varies but it usually starts with a voice note of guitar and melodic mumbles, then moving into a word document of me trying to puzzle piece lyrics in.

Production on the other hand can either start from me or enter into producer mode, where I collaborate with someone to create what’s envisioned.

From then on it's just a matter of being creative and adding all the decorative bits to make it cool and stuff.

Many writers have claimed that as soon as they enter into the process, certain aspects of the narrative are out of their hands. Do you like to keep strict control over the process or is there a sense of following things where they lead you?

I can say that I do like to have a lot of control, but I also like to trust who I collaborate with to add a lot of their own flavour into the mix as well! I'm a very big gut feeling type of guy … that can be good and bad sometimes.

Often, while writing, new ideas and alternative roads will open themselves up, pulling and pushing the creator in a different direction. Does this happen to you, too, and how do you deal with it? What do you do with these ideas?

This happens quite a bit. Usually when this occurs I like to create alternate versions of the song to see what fits better. More often than not the song ends up getting mashed between the two (or more) ideas.

For example different verse lyrics can be mushed into existing ideas, or even put into different order. It can be annoying, but ultimately if it sounds good then you’re sweet.

There are many descriptions of the creative state. How would you describe it for you personally? Is there an element of spirituality to what you do?

Very weird to explain, so bare with me but it has a lot to do with feel … you ever get a sense of “yep … that’s the one right there”? If so, then that’s how I’ve been writing music haha!

Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later on? How much improvement and refinement do you personally allow until you're satisfied with a piece? What does this process look like in practise?

3-4 days without listening is a good amount of dead space to have fresh ears.

I also like to have my mates evaluate the song with me if I’m very unsure.

What's your take on the role and importance of production, including mixing and mastering for you personally? How involved do you get in this?

I like to be very involved in this, especially when it comes to finding certain sounds and tones! Little melodic ideas and layers can make something so simple sound so grand!

But the producers are usually gods at what they do and I’m just there for approval :D

After finishing a piece or album and releasing something into the world, there can be a sense of emptiness. Can you relate to this – and how do you return to the state of creativity after experiencing it?

There definitely is a state of emptiness after releasing, I like to fill this emptiness with working on my car, and hanging out with my girlfriend and mates. A few drinks can set the tone right.

Also, it’s kind of like a pat on the back. So I like whenever I can get stuff done.

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you personally feel as though writing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

I feel as though creative tasks and creating music in general is a pure extension of one's self, and I find that really cool as it shows off who you are even in the little things like word choice or melodic ideas. I reckon this comes to play into mundane activities as well, like normal conversation.

I like to think of writing music as to be directing a movie, in the sense of movie plot ideas never (usually) exist beforehand until the writer comes around and breathes it to life.