The Kris Gruda Interview

Photo by: Steven Berbec

When did you first begin to fall in love with music, more specifically the guitar? Was this something that was relevant around your household growing up? Who were some of your earliest influences in your more formative years?

I fell in love with music as a child listening to the radio, I suppose and I started playing guitar in the 4th grade after briefly taking piano lessons. Something made me want to switch to guitar, though thankfully that was an option! I have one sister and I do not come from a musical family, but a music-appreciating family. I grew up hearing Motown, polka, pop and classical music around me. My earliest musical inspirations were hard rock and metal guitarists like Van Halen and Kirk Hammett, but I could barely play. I drifted into classic rock and blues as I got better at playing/hearing and eventually into more improvisational driven rock such as the Grateful Dead and Allman Bros. Soon after jazz/jazz-fusion, funk, experimental/avant-garde, punk, no-wave and so on.

When and where did you see your first show and what ultimately inspired you to pursue a life in music? Prior to becoming a solo musician, you participated in groups such as Action Sound Orchestra and Protrusions of Whatnot. Can you tell me about these projects?

Photo by: Steven Berbec

My first ever concert was Tiffany (the former teen pop icon) and my first rock concert was ZZ Top and The Black Crowes. One concert video that had a profound impact on me was Pink Floyd's - “Live at Pompeii”. It singlehandedly inspired me to become a performing sound experimenter. Check out that version of “Saucerful of Secrets”, way-out! Protrusions of Whatnot is an ongoing experimental duo project with Sean Russell Moore, (a.k.a. Spawn), who is a multi-instrumentalist and orchestra teacher. POW began as an outlet for whacky and often dissonant improvisation and it eventually became a recording project. Harrowingly high-larious stuff. The Action Sound Painting Orchestra is a conducted improvisation and electroacoustic ensemble created by Hal McGee. I participated in that long-running project at least once. Good times! Speaking of my old bands, folks can stream the Crater Tater album if they wanna rock. “Primera Musicka de Tater” is the one and I am mashed.

You’ve released a number of albums in the early years such as “The Cave and Thereabouts”, “Six Pack o’ MONK” and various collaborative efforts. Would you mind sharing some memories and thoughts on some of these releases and how much your approach and regard to creating music has changed since then?

”The Cave And Thereabouts” is a collection of self-recorded acoustic and electric guitar improvisations and manipulated tape music. It was released by Travis Johnson on the Ilse label and was an important signalling of my growing passion for creating unconventional improvised music. “Six Pack 'o MONK” was recorded in 2020. It contains 6 tunes by Thelonious Monk on solo acoustic guitar. We recorded 2 takes of each tune and I chose my favorites. Monk's music keeps on giving when it comes to melodies, variations and consistently unique self expression. I hear it as pure music as well as a window into the avant-garde. I love it.

Jumping ahead to your debut on Orcutt’s label, Palilalia Records, entitled “Plays For You” that was released last year. What did you ultimately want to achieve and express with this album? How did you initially meet Bill?

“Plays For You” was Bill Orcutt's idea and he chose all of its content. The audio was extracted from videos that I uploaded to my Instagram account during the lockdown in 2020/2021. I was putting up videos on a near-daily basis at that time and Bill told me it was almost like a diary to him. He told me that he wanted more people to hear my playing, hence the release. This project has been a total honor because I really enjoy Bill's music: from Harry Pussy to his electrifying duos w/Chris Corsano as well as Music For Four Guitars. We first met at the Big Ears Festival in 2023 after a James Blood Ulmer concert which was amazing!

I'd like to know some of the backstories to songs like “Vehicular Sound Collage”, “Safety Glasses Upside Down” and “Vote Him Out”. The album also includes covers from greats like Don Cherry, Coltrane and Monk. How much does jazz and those particular giants influence your music

“Vehicular Sound Collage” was executed on the side of the Blue Ridge Parkway in my car. It contains cassette tape sounds, a metronome, AM radio and acoustic guitar. “Safety Glasses Upside Down” is nonsensical fun, a play on the personal protective equipment that we wear inside of the kombucha factory. “Vote Him Out” is pretty self-explanatory and now can we please toss him in jail and out of the public eye forever? Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Thelonious Monk, Sun-Ra, Roland Kirk and John Coltrane are absolute heroes to so many, myself included!

Photo by: Michael Shanks

What are you most looking forward to this year? Is there anything else you would like to further share with the readers?

I am most looking forward to my next solo release entitled “Solos and a Sound Collage”, which is coming out later this year on Ramble Records. Also more recording, collaborating and performing for as long as possible. Follow me on social media for updates and stay tuned for a website, thank you!