Geri X shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Geri , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What battle are you avoiding?
The never ending battle (which feels more like a Cold War) of over analyzing every single step and drawing a conclusion without even physically taking the first step. I get ahead of myself a lot, horse and carriage scenario, and I tend to get paralyzed by the idea of an outcome that’s all hypothetical. Its a daily practice in trying t9o get out of my own way.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Geri X and I am a musician. I call myself a professional sad person. I am first and foremost a story teller- started writing music when I was about 11 or 12 years old. Dropped out of high school and started touring and have been doing it ever since. I’ve released 15 records, all of them are honest stories about life and the human condition. Music is a form of therapy and has saved my life many times and I share my stories because I know I am not alone in it. Talk about the stuff that nobody is talking about! The elephant is much smaller and much less scary when it is out of my head in into the room. Does that make sense? idk. Id blame it on English being my second language, but honestly, I just kinda talk in circles and riddles regardless. Oh yeah, I’m from Bulgaria. And I love soup.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
My childhood trauma has been a silent passenger of mine always. I think we have suffered enough together. But we have also healed a lot of it together, and by together, I mean hand in hand with my depression, I’ve walked through every story and sung every dark corner into light. I think the fact that Im unafraid to talk about all of it is a testament that it’s time for it to be released out there into the wild. I don’t ned to write from pain, and I don’t need pain in order to be inspired or moved. It’s really a miraculous realization. Artists don’t need to suffer in order to make art.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
HA! So. Many. TIMES. But who hasn’t? If you really care about something, the highs are really high and the lows are very, very low. Multiple bad record deals, tour vans breaking on tour, starving on the road state to state show to show playing for 5 people and $6 in tips. Health problems, depression, breakups, self medicating, losing people, societal pressure, industry pressure, hell, just being a girl. All of it has brought me to my knees many times in the last 20 years of my career, but each time, music pulled my back out of it. And so here we are again, after what I thought would be a definite retirement, I’m back and inspired and writing and wanting to share with anyone who needs to hear it.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That record labels are the only way to measure success and that you’ve made it.
They have no idea what they are doing with artists, especially if they didn’t formulate them. The thing about music and art- it’s about the fans. That’s the only sovereign lighthouse, they are the church, they are the promise land, they are all there is. The people who connect to the art. They are the boss. And if they love your art and you, then labels have to let artists be themselves, because labels don’t know what fans want, and they will never be able to manipulate them into wanting something they don’t like. SO, ya. Im not bitter or anything haha, I just think we as artists, and our fans, as the literal reason we exist, should be the only ones who should make the decisions where they really matter for our careers.
Am I talking in circles yet? Sorry.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I was a really kind, honest, bleeding heart, loyal human who cared deeply about EVERYTHING. And that I worked hard. And that I made killer soup.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gerix0.bandcamp.com/album/the-lost-sessions
- Instagram: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.instagram.com/gerix/%3Fhl%3Den&ved=2ahUKEwjVzdi3956PAxVGM9AFHfVFN5EQFnoECHoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0eoWttAbgf4mXCuR6FT0UH
- Twitter: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://x.com/gerix_music&ved=2ahUKEwjVzdi3956PAxVGM9AFHfVFN5EQFnoECFQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3RpZ_1NridDW-JoeKi4504
- Facebook: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.facebook.com/GeriXofficial/&ved=2ahUKEwjVzdi3956PAxVGM9AFHfVFN5EQFnoECCkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2bVRummMw88UGyHjtLkXWu
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mybedroomsessions
- Soundcloud: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://soundcloud.com/GeriX&ved=2ahUKEwjVzdi3956PAxVGM9AFHfVFN5EQFnoECEQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2PrLNkLomn_66mVjLk2h_x
- Other: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geri_X
https://mendedheartsbygerix.etsy.com
Image Credits
Photos by Thomas Anomalous and Katie Talbert
