Exclusive Interview with David Garbers

Please describe to our audience how you came about on the music scene and what is the biggest difference between your first piece of music to your latest!

In the town of Gaborone, Botswana where music performances rarely happened, myself and my muso friends were constantly seeking that out. One day in ‘the city of dreams’ we heard a legend that Eric Clapton had performed at local Boipuso Hall in 1989 and I just couldn’t believe it, but turned out to be true! Back during apartheid in South Africa, it was a rare occasion where the unrest made the band travel up north of the border. Unfortunately to a young budding music lover, to this day Botswana has never drawn any other worldwide artist worth mentioning since. In the 00’s growing up I was inspired to play the guitar and a story like this made it feel that much closer to home. Music peers were hard to come by and plainly if you wanted to jam you would either teach someone else how to play, or seek the few like you, young or old who were interested too. Practice enough in a boring town and you’ll get a set together pretty quick. So we put on shows every now and then, as nobody was really doing it there they would often get a good turn out.

The first thing I ever wrote was a depressing song called ‘Regret’. It was about rejection, something I have intimately had to come to terms with more times than anything following this path in life. Needless to say, I don’t play that one for people. The latest song is one called ‘Existence’, a song reminding myself to look at the positives in things even when the good can be fleeting. The biggest difference I can say is predominantly the vocal and how my lyrics have become more hitting. As you develop as a writer, so does your voice and ability. Going back and singing old songs is kind of similar to returning to the confines of what you once created. Even if you can sing slightly better today, the old song still feels and sounds the same.

What are you doing to push a positive message into 2023!

That is a good question. I’m not sure If I have been pushing a positive message out there per say, at least not a negative one either. What I want to share is the success of when I won the green card lottery that has allowed me to move to the USA, forfilling my childhood dream I set when I was 10. At 18 I had enrolled to study audio engineering in California but it fell through as I couldn’t rent accomodation being foreign, it was a high risk for a landlord and they wouldn’t accept me so a week later I went back to Africa. From then on, I would enter the Diversity lottery 12 years in a row and just when I thought I was out of luck getting too old and losing belief, POW, this life pulled in sideways and surprised me. I would like to reiterate this point because I believe achieving our goals is completely doable and the ones that are relentless will get there. So, keep on trying in whatever you are doing, you can’t be lucky sitting on the side lines. Do it when the times are tough and be consistent! The lessons and troubles you overcome along the way are often the best part of the journey, tough times make good stories.

Are there any rituals you have developed over the years that are helpful for any upcoming changes happening?

I am songwriter and an eager audio buff, one thing that has really helped me is that fact that I have recorded every song and idea I have written since I was 15. In simple, as I have always done, if I come up with an idea that I enjoy, i’ll be like ah cool, then press record. Nowadays I have an enormous array of songs that accompany me through life that help me keep a good memory of my past, I have archived these works in my own personal library. This has made it easier for me to access the ideas and to stop me from forgetting. It can be really easy to forget stuff if you don’t have a recording, you may have the right chords but one slight change in rhythm or melody and you just won’t get it again. Having this still, I’m certain that a lot of these songs will have a better chance of finding their feet passed the stage of the demo. There are so many songs that I have held onto unreleased and I really want to change that going forward!

Could you talk about a success that happened this year that you would attribute to all your hard work?

l think this would be centered around my sound engineering over the passed year. I mixed a band called ‘Last in Line’ who are the surviving members of Dio,  they were touring the states and I worked with them in Golden, CO. It was an incredible experience working with such a powerful, tight and legendary band, the place was packed and the group were ecstatic with what I did. It’s definitely a day I won’t forget. I’m proud to say I was involved.

Could you talk about an obstacle that you persevered through?

The obstacles would entail differences in paths with band mates. It is hard to have a group of people all resonating with the same goal you have. Sometimes if you can’t find the correct member, you may be forced or obliged to get session musicians in to fill the spot. It is a great pleasure and honour to work with these players, however they may not care about your project the same way that you or your fans do. The biggest challenge I have had to face is probably paying money to perform music. I have lost money for years trying to play live and I would still say its worth it because I enjoy it. I have performed sets for 25 minutes that cost me more money than I can earn in a day. I may not be rich, but hey If you need some ‘exposure’ I’ve got a bit in the bank I could probably give you.

How do you think these experiences have helped you shape your career and approach your music?

For one, playing with session musicians that you respect and admire for their ability has a direct effect on the sound of your band, especially in a live scenario. Incredible players will always stand out, and if that’s your goal, try to get the good players on your team. I come to think of it like a rising tide raises all boats. Secondly, writing and recording with good musicians is important. This is most prominent when it comes to serving the initial idea you have for your song. It’s not only knowing how, but also when to play. Session players can often play less and it’s more impactful.

How do you continue to develop your community of fans over the years?

This is exceptionally tough, at least I think I struggle with it. Making multiple projects will spread out your audience which is like going back to the drawing board each time you start again with a new vision.  As an artist online you find yourself constantly bombarding your friends in your town to come to your shows every other week and usually they never do. So lately I’ve found its better to give them something they can engage with, be it a video or new music. Otherwise, in theory I believe the most effective way is to constantly play in different cities and countries, over saturation is a killer even for your closest friends. The goal is to find ways to reach new audiences while also opening for bigger artists.

Thank you for sharing all your music with us! Can you give us any exclusive on more music coming up?

What a pleasure, thanks for having me and thanks to the readers. There are no new releases announced just yet, but keep your eyes peeled on my website www.garbersmusic.com and you will see the latest on what Im getting up to.

YOU TUBE: www.youtube.com/@garbersmusic

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/davidgarbers/

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/garbersmusic

URL: www.garbersmusic.com

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/davidgarbers

End of Interview