I Stepped Out of My Comfort Zone and Felt at Home with GRiZ

By Liliana Rivera
Music Journalist

With a combination of something old and something new, DJ and music producer GRiZ has officially turned me on to the EDM wave. His unconventional sound of funk and electronic is something fresh and distinct within the overhaul of music available to us.

GRiZ is no ordinary producer. While his shows are artfully crafted and every element matches cohesively to create a stunning production, GRiZ plays both saxophone and piano. Once being part of a jazz band and now seeing this sound brought to life in a way that I’ve never heard before truly blew my mind. The word talent feels subpar to describe GRiZ. Needless to say, I drank the kool-aid.

His music transported me when I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to watch his live set at Emo’s in Austin. I had been having a pretty terrible week, like almost every student due to midterms. I was stressed and unbelievably broken and this show took me to a different time and feeling that I haven’t felt in a while. GRiZ made me fall in love with music again. Although, I say that after every concert I go to, but this experience was definitely different. It wasn’t just a show, it was a true jaw dropping production. His visuals were wild cartoons, more accurately described as Doug (the 90’s cartoon) taking a trip through a lava lamp. His saxophone skills had me shook. His light show was trippy and psychedelic and only added to the talent he presented. To say that I had fun is an insult, because fun is around a six and I easily had a nine on the fun meter.

Putting his performance into words feels like I’m doing him injustice, because I was taken aback by how incredible it really was. Keep in mind, this show was me stepping far out of my comfort zone, and I encourage you to do the same. I grew up listening to groups like Kool + the Gang, Earth, Wind, and Fire, KC & the Sunshine Band, and GRiZ’s music brought back a nostalgic feeling of what I feel my parents were listening to back in the day with a modern twist and making it relevant to me.

Good Will Prevail, his latest album, was released on Sept. 23. He wrote on his website before it debuted:

“This year has been particularly difficult. Too many times I’ve felt sick to my stomach watching the news or talking with my friends about what’s going on in the world. It seems like I can’t get a break from bad news. All this senseless violence, political unrest, cultural tension … got me feelin down..and often…helpless.
I ask myself often what I can do to help out. So, I wrote this album as a reminder to me and to you that there is SO MUCH GOOD in this world! I urge you, focus on our collective LOVE and RIGHTEOUSNESS. It’s up to us to keep that alive. Keep your head held high. I know things look real real bad right now, but no matter how dark it may seem or how discouraged you may feel, never ever give up!
don’t curse the darkness, be a light,
Good Will Prevail!
<3 G”

His music shined a light on a pretty terrible week I was having, and this post he shared gave me a hopeful tomorrow.

Good Will Prevail is available on major streaming sites and SoundCloud. 10/10 would recommend.

Featured image courtesy of GRiZ’s Facebook.