13: Greg Nahabedian (Dérive) & DIY Ethics in 2017

09.12.2017 - By Craig Bidiman Play

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This week is a real fun and lively chat with musician, Greg Nahabedian, of the art-punk/hardcore band, Dérive. Greg is an incredibly interesting human being and a multi-talented musician, who also teaches piano to people of all ages.

Greg and their fiancee, Chelsea, came over to my apartment to record this episode, and we got into a lot of different topics - from Greg's early days breaking into the music industry as a drummer-for-hire, to attending Hampshire College for music composition, and into their life as a DIY punk artist traveling the country on self-booked tours. We also get into a bit of faith, queer issues, as well as why piano and classical music isn't dead! You also get to hear a lot of music from his band's new album, "Instantly Black the Goodness," so get ready for some tunes on this one!

EPISODE NOTES:

(NOTE: Visit craigbidiman.com/edupunxpod for full links and images.)

- You can check out Greg's brilliant undergrad thesis/melologue, by visiting their bandcamp page at gregnahabedian.bandcamp.com. This is truly one of the most unique pieces of music you'll hear.

- There is also a video of them performing the entire melologue with an orchestra they put together.

- Greg, Chelsea, and I get into the complexities of identifying as a queer person while functioning and presenting in a hetero relationship, something I have written about in the past!

- Since we're both fans of the band, mewithoutYou, I knew it was only a matter of time before we were discussing Sufism and the part it plays in the band's fourth album, "It’s all Crazy! It's All False! It's All a Dream!," as well as in Greg's life.

- Listen to more classical music like Charles Mingus, George Crumb, Philip Glass, and Meredith Monk.

- Greg attended the independent, collaborative high school, the Pinkerton Academy.

- In keeping with the tradition of using unique artworks as inspiration, Greg remembers the widely imaginative “Blood and Guts in High School,” by Kathy Acker, as a book that sticks out most vividly to them.

- Greg urges folks to check out "Atlas: An Opera in Three Parts," by Meredith Monk.

MUSIC NOTE:

- This week's music is provided by Greg's band, Dérive, and its new album, "Instantly Black the Goodness," which was released on August 25 through Howling Frequencies Records.

- You can stream and download the album for FREE on the band's bandcamp account at derive.bandcamp.com!

- If physical music is your thing, you can snag a vinyl copy, a CD, or a cassette through Howling Frequencies Records - which is a label started by the drummer of Dérive, Paul DeGrandpre. The label has already released new tunes from Space Camp, Perennial, and the new release is this Friday with Paul's new sludge band, Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean. For more information, definitely check out howlingfrequency.bandcamp.com!

ADVERTISING NOTE:

- I hyped up BoyNirvana.com, which is the freelance art-creation service that Greg's fiancee, Chelsea, offers. If you need any unique merch and/or flyering work done for your band, organization, or office, reach out to Chelsea at BoyNirvana.com!