Canadian progressive rockers Gravelle-Perinbam have a delivered an impactful new single titled Beyond The Cage of Silence. This power duo shared a few moments of their time to discuss the new release, what’s been going on since the last time we spoke, the impossible task of choosing a favorite song, and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
It’s been a while since we last spoke. Can you tell us what you’ve been up to in the meantime?
JDP: I can’t remember when exactly we last spoke. Most recently, we were blown away by the positive response to our last release, a cover of the Monkees ‘Pleasant Valley Sunday’. Within a short period of time we get over 75000 views and many great comments! Now we’ve just released the video for our 2nd original song Beyond the Cage of Silence, which will appeal to fans of progressive rock. For the video we really had to shorten the song from its full 9 1/2 minute length but the full version is available on all major music platforms here. We’ve also got a couple of covers that we’re currently working on.
Rob: I remember, it was during this Jan, 2022 interview . At the time we had just released our cover of Saga’s Mouse In a Maze. We’ve put out a few songs since then, including the Pleasant Valley Sunday cover that John alluded to, as well as the first two parts of the “Silence” trilogy, namely Black Veil of Silence and Beyond the Cage of Silence.
AI (aka Artificial Intelligence aka Chat GPT 4.0)… How is it changing the music world? What are your thoughts about this new trend?
JDP: Although I’ve heard of the technology, I haven’t had time or inclination to explore it – too busy making music the old-fashioned way! To me, the general idea, if I understand correctly, seems a bit contradictory as it pertains to human self expression. That said, I don’t know much about it and maybe I’m basing my opinion on an incorrect assumption.
Rob: I don’t think we’ve even begun to grasp all of the ramifications of AI, whether in music writing, video production, or in the world in general. I think that it will probably become another tool in artists’ arsenal much in the same way that other technological advancements have in the past. Just look at home-based recording. I never would have imagined that I would have more tracks available to me on my PC than the best studios of the 80s.
I’m excited to see where it goes. Like all technology, it can be used for good or evil. Think of auto-tune; it’s helped a lot of terrible singers sound like they can hold a tune. Back when I was first starting out in music, Milli Vanilli was our version of that. People were up in arms when they found our that the people who they thought were the artists were nothing more than models. I wonder how people would feel finding out that their favorite artist can barely sing?
Not that AI is going to follow the same path as auto-tune did. Hopefully it will be used to open up new avenues of creativity and in the generation of sounds that we haven’t experienced yet. At least, that’s where I hope it will go.
Can you choose a favorite song of all time? Or is this an impossible task? If yes, what’s the song? If no, what’s your current Top 3?
JDP: Sorry, for me that’s an impossible task! There are so many great artists and songs, and it really just depends on what I feel like listening to at any given time. I would need a top 10000!
Rob: I once managed to compile a list of my top 20 albums, but choosing individual songs is really difficult. I can say that Tom Sawyer and Subdivisions by Rush are songs that I never grow tired of. I have a great affinity for Cirice, by Ghost. I think it’s my favorite video of all time as well. That’s 3 songs right there. If you take a look at my covers, both under my own name and within Gravelle-Perinbam, I think you’ll get a taste of my favorite songs there.
What about this project makes you most proud? Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?
JDP: As I mentioned, seeing the response to our last release, Pleasant Valley Sunday, really blew me away. I’m humbled to see that the video reached over 75000 people!
My goal with this and every release is simply to keep making great music and videos, and continually improve my capabilities in all areas. The fact that people actually seem to like what we are doing is a huge bonus.
Rob: I certainly am quite proud of Beyond the Veil of Silence, in terms of writing, performance, and production. It’s a trifecta of goodness!
We weren’t trying to accomplish anything in particular with this release, other than deliver the best darned song we could, which is always the goal. The difference this time around is I really think we got about as close to realizing the sound we had in our heads on the track as we ever have.
I really feel that it’s a special song, and I’m not alone in that. I read a review stating that “it touches the depth of the soul” or something to that effect.
What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?
JDP: That’s a tough one. I don’t know where the inspiration comes from – probably subconsciously from everything we experience or sense, whether real or imagined. I wrote the Sudden Thunder song ‘Watch You Walk Away” while stopped at traffic lights – I sung it into a portable recorder and completed a rough musical arrangement when I got home. I’ve written other material in the process of trying out a new instrument or piece of gear.
Rob: I love the process of creation, from the initial spark to the finished product. As a kid I was heavily into drawing, but eventually, music become my preferred form of artistic expression. I find every aspect of music really challenging, which pushes me to strive to continually improve.
If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.
JDP: There are so many great artists that I can’t single out any particular one.
Rob: I get to collaborate with multi-instrumentalist John Perinbam all the time! Why would I need to get anyone else involved? The fact is that, before John and I started releasing material under the Gravelle-Perinbam moniker, I did need help from of a lot of different musicians. It was also fun to work with local artists that I admired. Never tried to get anyone super famous involved though. The closest I got to that was to get the original artists to listen to my rendition of their song. I managed to get a copy of Mouse In a Maze to Michael Saddler of Saga. He seemed to like it, saying that it was “well done” and “intense”.
What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?
JDP: Hah, the last song I listened to is the next Gravelle-Perinbam tune I’m working on. I’ll leave it at that so as to keep the surprise intact when we release it.
Favourite all time bands / artists would be The Beatles, Gentle Giant, Renaissance (just to avoid confusion, I’m talking about the British progressive rock band), Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Blue Oyster Cult and many many others. Again it really depends on what I feel like listening to at any given moment.
Rob: The last song I listened to was The Hives – Countdown to Shutdown. I have an affinity for Swedish bands it seems, especially The Hives, Ghost, and Avatar.
My favorite bands are Rush, Saga, Maiden, Priest, Metallica, Megadeth, Rammstein, Dream Theater, and the aforementioned Swedish bands.
Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?
JDP: Check out our web site gravelleperinbam.com. We’re also active on social media – links are on the web site.
Rob: We’ve got videos for all our songs on YouTube. We’re always posting to Facebook as well.
I appreciate Your time. Want to say or plug any other projects before we part ways?
JDP: Thanks ever so much for having us. Very much appreciated.
Sure, if you don’t mind. Our band Ivory Knight is at ivoryknight.net. Additionally, my web site johnperinbam.com still includes other projects Rob and I have collaborated on in the past, including Knightfall (which was produced by Jeff Waters of Annihilator), Dr. Squish, and Sudden Thunder. We haven’t had time to move those projects over to gravelleperinbam.com. Additionally, fans of classic heavy metal may want to check out my work with Ottawa’s Enforcer, also on my web site here.
Rob: I have my own website as well, robgravelle.com, although I’ll admit that most of my posts are about Gravelle-Perinbam. I don’t really have the time, or inclination, to do any solo stuff beyond that.
