South African singer/songwriter Garett van der Spek (aka
Gary V) utilizes a combination of guitars, electronica, and vocals to create an atmospheric yet structured sound. Born in Durban, South Africa, Spek was raised on the rock & roll records owned by his father. When he went to school, he eagerly formed his first band. It wasn't until he moved to America in 2000, however, that a career in music began to take shape. Soon after arriving in Seattle, he formed a three-piece punk band known as Koko & the Sweetmeats. Just as they had begun to build a local following, the bandmembers parted ways, setting the stage for Spek's solo career.
In 2014 he moved to Los Angeles, a city that would cultivate his enthusiasm for music through new creative contacts and an ever-growing audience. Initial live shows consisted of Spek on guitar and vocals backed by a drum machine and bass synth. However, as his popularity grew, he hired a drummer and a bassist in place of the machines. In the studio, Spek handled almost everything by himself until he was introduced to
Chris Woodhouse (
Ty Segall,
Wild Flag,
!!!), who undertook the production duties for his debut album.
Gary V's self-titled full-length saw release in 2016 via the ANTI label. He spent the next year on the road, both as a headliner and a supporting act, sharing the stage with
Guided by Voices,
Surfer Blood, and
Nada Surf, before heading back into the studio to begin work on his sophomore effort. The resulting Mamba, a more concept-driven outing, was recorded with producer
Chris Woodhouse (
Thee Oh Sees,
Ty Segall) and released in 2018. ~ Liam Martin