Greg Vacca Drops A Uniquely Conceptual And In-Depth LP
The latest album release from Greg Vacca runs the gamut of rock-backed soundscapes and songwriting, blended with elements of folk and singer-songwriter, and throughout it all, you get a robust sense of character, which is something you end up getting attached to a lot throughout the record's course.
This is an album that certainly speaks volumes for the artist, and there are certain elements about this record that give you the air of a live performance. It's not every track, but there are certain ones that really deliver this particular kind of energy that feels like the whole thing was recorded live on the floor, with everyone involved feeding off of each other the entire time.
The record is called Eve, and it certainly doesn't waste too much time kicking things off with its title track, which comes in with some amazing drum work, sort of opening up the door for the song, along with what I would consider to be experimental indie rock guitar styles that sort of swell into place. I dig this approach simply because it lets you pay more attention to the vocals and the lyrics, but it also gives the song this almost cinematic backbone at times.
The progression on this track is awesome and really sort of takes you on a little bit of a journey. There's a slight darkness to this single, and I like how that comes across, not overwhelmingly, but rather hinted at.
The song also showcases how Greg is able to open up those vocals and do different things. He's got a very unique vocal approach when he's singing in his regular voice, but when he hits those higher notes and is singing with his head voice, he uses his vocal as an instrument itself and creates these gorgeous melodies that go along with the song in ways that you don't expect.
Meanwhile, songs like "Hear It All" give you great, descriptive lyrics that get into some detail so that you can sort of paint a picture in your head as the song unfolds.
This, to me, is also a much more radio-friendly style single based in indie rock, but you can hear how Greg is definitely influenced by other stuff.
Throughout the record, you can hear elements of classic rock, indie rock, hints of alternative, and pop rock, along with this sort of late-'90s rock approach as well.
There are no two songs that are exactly alike. Each track on the record sort of has its own mood and feel to it.
Don't get me wrong, the whole thing is very consistent. There is a confluence that connects the songs together, and they feel like they all belong on the same record.
However, they do branch out in different directions and show how Greg is unafraid to be a little bit experimental and try different things, giving the record a lot of that character I mentioned earlier.
It's also cool because it sort of keeps you on your toes a little bit.
"Hey Love" is one of my favorite songs on the record because it's this clean, sort of radio-friendly folk-pop style ballad, but it does lean on a little bit of rock in its underbelly as well.
This, to me, was a little bit more stripped down but very catchy. The song absolutely shows how Greg also holds on to that pop sensibility when he wants to.
Again, a lot of the songs have that pop element to them. Sometimes they're more on the forefront, like on this track. Other times, they're buried a little bit so that you have a different kind of mood or emotion that is showcased up front.
"Darkness" is a pretty good example of exactly what I mean by that. The song is a little edgier, more theatrical, and even his vocals feel a bit more animated as he tells his story, once again in some great detail and description.
Because the record has a sort of eclectic approach at times, it is something that becomes quickly addictive.
By the time you get halfway through the record, you don't really know what to expect next. Or rather, you begin to expect the unexpected just a little bit.
A lot of the record feels almost like chapters in a book. They are almost serving as the soundtrack to certain chapters in Greg's life, possibly. Like diary entries.
You wouldn't skip chapters in a book, nor would I suggest skipping songs on this album.
This isn't just because of the conceptual feel behind it, but also because you aren't going to get the full spectrum of what the record offers unless you listen to the whole thing.
As I mentioned earlier, he's definitely not afraid to branch out there and do different things.
I think part of this comes from his slew of influences he probably holds close to his heart, letting him really come forth with an unafraid style of songwriting throughout the course of the album, and I feel like this is a record that is actually created with fewer boundaries than whatever you may be used to.
Certain songs are way catchier, other songs are way more theatrical or cinematic, but you're always getting something that feels authentic.
I think that's part of the importance of records like this one. When you listen to it, you feel like a lot of the songs came from some real place. This lets you connect with a lot of them more.
Meanwhile, songs like "Up" really deliver more of that live performance feel. It's got an almost blues-rock feel going on, with guitar tones that are slightly fuzzy and a little bit warm.
This also beckons some of that '90s rock I mentioned earlier.
The performance of the song is just about everything in cases like this. This is mainly because it puts you in the moment with the song. It feels like you're listening to that live recording, and it changes the vibe just a little bit.
Being put in the moment like that is a really interesting thing because you don't realize it until the song's over.
It's about that synergy or fluctuation of energy between the performers on the song.
This whole album has a lot to chew on, plenty to offer, loads of personality, and different levels of charisma. It's fully able to bring up and down these levels of intensity throughout its playthrough.
As far as I can tell, the record was inspired by the graphic art of illustrator and writer John Mungiello, which I found very intriguing.
What's more is that the record was recorded with Greg's nephews, Antonio and Alessio, which is really cool as well.
Between listening to the album, finding out that it was inspired by a graphic artist and illustrator, and the fact that it was recorded with his own nephews, I wanted to have a chat with Greg to find out more.
I wanted to dig in a little bit about how he was inspired to create this and how it all fell together, along with what might be coming up next.
So, while you listen to this record, have a read-through of our interview with Greg Vacca below.
Remember where you heard it first.
An Interview with Greg Vacca
Where did this record come from, and what is it about?
I met the graphic artist John Mungiello at work. We both love talking about creativity and the importance of feeding that impulse. Those talks rekindled my interest in songwriting that had fallen away in my life. John has told me that those conversations also sparked him to work on graphic novel writing. When he shared the story and early drawings of his novel, Eve, it inspired me to write a few songs. It wasn't long until I was piecing together enough musical ideas to kind of soundtrack the story. When I shared some of those ideas with John, he was very encouraging. From there, we both set off to finish the projects and roughly coordinate their releases.
Did you self-produce the release, or did you bring in an outside producer?
The album is very much a DIY project recorded in bedrooms and basements. I was into the idea of collaborating with other musicians, and a natural connection was my two nephews, who are both Berklee School of Music graduates. Antonio Mennonna, on drums, and Alessio Mennonna on bass. They are amazing musicians and great to work with!
Alessio had mentioned to me that he had an interest in producing, so we set off on arranging the songs and getting our parts recorded.
How did this all start for you as an artist?
I've been drawn to music for as long as I can remember. I always thought that there was something magical about a person's ability to create music. So, by the time I was a young teenager, my parents got me a guitar, and off I went trying to see if I could do it.
What are you performing on this record?
On this record, I play all of the guitar parts and sing. My nephew Antonio plays the drums, and his brother Alessio plays bass.
I didn't want to go too crazy with overdubs because it was always something that I wanted to play live in a power trio format.
Did you record this at a bigger studio, or a home DAW setup?
All basement and bedroom records using whatever we had available plugged into Apple laptops. At one point, Antonio was recording drum parts in LA while Alessio and I were getting our parts done in NJ.
I am hearing several approaches here! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
My biggest influence is Pete Townshend and The Who. John Mungiello had mentioned to me that he was thinking of some of the louder and rougher Neil Young material when he was drawing, so I also tried to capture some of that.
A few of my friends mentioned that they heard some Bowie and Zeppelin influences on the record, and I can definitely hear that as well.
Are you performing live right now, or is this a recording project?
We've been able to play the record as a whole live a couple of times, which was a lot of fun.
On other occasions, we've added a handful of these songs as a segment of a more conventional cover set of rock songs.
Now that this is out, what's next for you as an artist?
I'm currently working on new demos with the hope of getting another full album out in the next few months.
I know that John is working on a couple of books presently, so maybe some more opportunities for us to connect again creatively.
This was quite a release! Is there any advice you'd have for up-and-coming artists out there trying to get heard?
Honestly, I still get in my own way chasing too many specific sounds and ideas. That focused pursuit has its place, but ultimately, once you get your songs to a place where you like listening to them, then release them and then chase the next one.
And then talk to other creative people about what motivates them and keeps them engaged. Those conversations have always opened up so many positive experiences for me.
Before we go, is there anything you want to say or express to listeners or fans?
I'm truly thankful for anyone who listens and takes an interest. This particular project involved a lot of personal goals coming together – working with John, working with my family, playing the songs live, and seeing people react to them. It's all really meaningful for me.
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