The Hype Machine
Josh Gura says: 'Go to Playlist.com and put me in your custom playlist!'








REPRENIZE

topic: the music of josh gura
author: josh gura

---

Reprenize is a stage name that came from my friend Chris from the band Suns Collide.

It was Max Roach who gave my first blessing, I met him on the Upper West Side in NYC in 1994, and he gave me a strong look in the eyes and told me "you will" be a music producer. I dont know how much I believe in the metaphysical, but he was right.

My first stuff consisted mainly of 4 track sketches with Revenge of the Ninj members Blaine Prescott and Ryan Lambert, as well as some stuff on my own. This is all pre-computer stuff, mind you. Once I figured out 'anybody' could do it on the computer, I started really cranking stuff out.

Not to contradict things I will say later, but I have to cite Mike Patton and Mr. Bungle as thoroughly infecting my brain and undeniably influencing my concept of expression.

The Reprenize project dates back to around y2k. Early projects included THE SEE SQUAT SEEDY, a comp I produced with the faculty of 155 avenue C, the famous/infamous squat-venue in New York City's Lower East Side. Songs on this album that I am attached to are "dirty little slut", "some stuff", "life is easy", and "dinosaur in your bedroom."

I had the proud opportunity to collaborate closely with Scott Sturgeon (The Stza) from Choking Victim/Leftöver Crack, and although it was short-lived, it was during that time that I completed what would long be my best known work "hoof to tha mouth" by our rap project "Madd Cowz." We made 3.5 songs before we parted ways, later briefly collaborating
on the "Crack Rock Steady Seven" project.

I never really listened to much of other people's music, and just came up with my own crazy brand of not-giving-a-fuck music. This way of going about things has bitten me in the ass more than once. When Matt Stone from South Park came to visit cause he heard I was doing interesting stuff, he asked me if i had ever listened to Ween, and at that point, I never had. That was in early 2001, Before 9-11. It should be noted that I refused to play him any of the songs I was working on (because I was afraid of rejection no doubt.) Rejection is one of my work (and my life's) enduring themes. The ween thing is funny, since I performed onstage with the band Dufus once, opening for Ween at Purchase College. I have collaborated with Seth Faergoalzia Hebert on a number of occasions, making some electronic numbers.

I generally resent the authority of others over me, and recognize myself as the supreme authority of my life and station. This little 'quirk' really doesnt sit well with many of the established conventions of society, namely mass media and little things like the music and art business.

In spite of my attempts at creating semi-original sounds, I am oft accused of sounding like other artists. Even artists I've never heard of. Similar influences maybe? I have been compared to Frank Zappa more times than I can remember, well before I ever became aware of his work. Also, with the advent of readily available music software in the fast paced fields of VST and DirectX DSP, I started enjoying non-linear editing and effect-use. Largely thanks to friends at big studios in NYC.

I should also add that one of my most important mentors (other than Hugh Mckay, Rene Ricard, and Mike Scott) would be Frank P. Comentale, the architect and designer of Chung King, the Hit Factory, 36 Chambers, Platinum Sound, etc. This man was/is always there whenever I have a question about anything regarding music or tech. I should also give a shout out to Jay Spears and Jeff Abell for all their help over the years. The first album I released was called "DMWMF" (Don't Mess With My Food) and it contained a group of songs that i felt belonged together. I let this one out in 2002, after hitchhiking across america, 'from one ear to the other,' and back. The title reflects an incident at a truck stop where this asshole grabbed a sandwich from out of my travel partner's hands and took a bite. The last two songs on that record were kind of unfinished, as if searching for a mate.

I ended up finding that mate in the form of mega-drummer Gigi Cano. Spending time around her really rubbed off on me, I think I really learned the value of rhythm from this lady. Big musical influence. Long story short, we broke up.

I never considered myself a vocalist. I probably make Bob Dylan's early vocal work sound like Maria Callas. I suppose my vocals are really sketches where some "cool" singer could fit, doing so much better. As I don't really consider myself a musician (because of my unwillingness to memorize art moves,) probably much of what I do could be done better by specialists in their particular field. My field, however, is pretty diverse. My goal tends to be pushing those boundaries further and further out. Part of my self-schooling has involved doing cover songs. I have done quite a few cover songs. If I am really obsessed on a song's sound, I might try and copy it to discover how the original might have been done.

My second musical release was another collection of songs, 2 cd's wide. I let this one out in 2004 I think. The packaging I designed got the attention of Google Software Engineer Tom Ritchford, (who I met during a show of my paintings and Teresa Vozniak's photographs at the Apocalypse Lounge on east 3rd street in NYC,) and I started editing and mastering his "openloop" project, as well as a few other projects of his.

As I started putting my attention into helping other people develop their art and tech, I fell back a bit in terms of productivity since probably 2003. My song output decreased by half during this time. In 2005, under the name "Josh Channel" I produced an entire film about squirrels; "200% TIREDER." I got a writeup in TimeOut New York, and this was the first notable moment in print I ever got. some recognition, but none yet for Reprenize.

I decided it was finally time to get a musical and or sonic education, so I started listening to the bands everyone accused me of sounding like. I thought maybe that act would provide me with clues that could lead me to discover what was trying to come out of me. this obviously incomplete or imperfect energy. I like it spontaneous...

(to be continued?)

--- 1_me_over_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
all_the_fag_joshgura_reprenize_bugk23609.mp3
Amazing_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
Ballad_joshgura_reprenize_stza.mp3
beatin_joshgura_reprenize_goodrow_155.mp3
black_eye_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
bunnies_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
cuz_im_bad_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
ed2_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
elected_again_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
fakeit_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
flubber_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
gigi_ryan_tim_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
girlfriend_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
Grubby_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
Halitosis_joshgura_reprenize_CHADMO.mp3
hickory_lung_joshgura_reprenize_revengeoftheninj.mp3
highest_towers__joshgura_reprenize.mp3
him__joshgura_reprenize.mp3
hoof_2_tha_mouth_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
hoof_instrumental_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
josh4_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
josh8_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
Josh_favorit_2002_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
joshiv_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
landothedead_joshgura_reprenize_bugk23609.mp3
Lemon_incest_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
lemon_milkshake_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
lies_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
lizard_girl_OGmix_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
maddcowz_intro_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
mohawk_joshgura_reprenize_FLY.mp3
philly_2004_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
pi_pi_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
Rabbit_Hole_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
receive_my_rod_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
saddest_little_man_reprenize_alessandramaria.mp3
skyblast_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
sneezing_song__joshgura_reprenize.mp3
squirrel_joshgura_reprenize_revengeoftheninj.mp3
staple_reprenize_tobygoodshank.mp3
star_world_reprenize_toby_goodshank.mp3
summer_rose_joshchannel_bugk23609.mp3
Verizon_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
wannabe_your_man_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
weird_waze_instrumental_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
work02_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
xanadu_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
amy_and_timber_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
aprils_intestinal_broom_reprenize.mp3
brick_fly_and_reprenize.mp3
dino_bedroom_reprenize.mp3
dont_mess_with_my_food_reprenize.mp3
firelord_cover_joshgura_reprenize.mp3
frank_comentale_sound_bite.mp3
G_and_reprenize.mp3
grubby_karaoke_reprenize.mp3
hand_of_god_reprenize.mp3

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