We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gingsu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, GINGSU thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

Given that we often struggle to make sense of our own place in the world, both sonically and thematically, the fact that we don’t always make sense to others should come as no surprise. Much of our development as a band hasn’t happened in spite of being misunderstood, but rather largely because we’ve embraced creating music on the outskirts of stylistic convention. Compared to most mainstream hard rock groups, we definitely lean more into progressive territory; however, we prefer to implement the “jargon”, so to speak, a bit differently from the modern artists to which we find ourselves frequently compared. When the intro of one of our songs kicks in, like that of “Law of the Tongue” or “Hurry Up and Wait”, the listener likes to think they know where the train is going – until they arrive at literally the next section and are met with some element pulled directly from an unrelated genre.

Though the idea of being mischaracterized can come off as somewhat negative, we don’t necessarily see it that way. In today’s aesthetic-obsessed landscape, one might even suggest that the absence of some kind of mischaracterization could actually indicate a lack of depth on the artist’s part.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

We are GINGSU, a burgeoning primal prog juggernaut hailing from Long Beach, CA. Formed in the summer of 2020, we’ve spent the last four years carving out our own niche in the California rock underground, releasing an EP, full length album, and a series of singles. Our proudest achievement to date is our most recent single, “Law of the Tongue”, which represents our “new frontier” – sleek production, more sophisticated arrangements, and dynamic, lyrical storytelling. In the months since its mid-December release, we’re relieved and grateful to have gathered enough reports suggesting that our fans overwhelmingly feel the same!

In addition to grinding away in the studio, we are active participants in the SoCal music community, frequently working alongside other amazing folks in the scene to organize shows all across the region. We’ve even hosted three festivals of our own at the likes of SOMA and Music Box, which highlighted some of the best and hardest working local bands we know.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Something that seems fundamentally difficult for many people to understand is why someone would continually pursue the path of most resistance. The starving, tortured soul might be the most enduring trope of the artist from the last few hundred years, and while the four of us are fortunately able to get by with our day jobs, it’s no secret that you have to sacrifice considerably in every department (time, money, professional opportunities, etc…) in order to pursue a discipline with a low rate of financial success. Of course, we’re not complaining by any means; after all, we chose to go all in on this project without hesitation. But it’s that sentiment right there – I don’t think the willingness (eagerness, even!) to do all this makes sense to a lot of people.

I’m reminded of a documentary on the world of skateboarding I saw many years ago, where one interviewee described the mindset of professional skateboarders as always seeking out “not the easiest way to do something, but the gnarliest way”. I think there’s some real overlap there, at least outside of the arena of more academic, institutionally-minded artistic pursuits. At the risk of sounding cliche, there’s a kind of thrill from taking the largely unpaved road, and a kind of tranquility in knowing that you committed to something long-term that wasn’t rooted in chasing status or wealth.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

This is a sort of a tie-in to the previous question, but a central force that keeps us together as a band. The goal is authenticity, plain and simple. We want to create music that genuinely excites us, and we want to unite around words that genuinely speak for us. We don’t want to sit around taking notes on the current musical landscape with the intention of approximating what’s most universally palatable. We don’t want to spend our time focusing on how to use our skills to become the easiest sell to some higher industry power. We welcome support, but at the end of the day, we’re doing this for us. We believe that what we have to give is worthwhile, and it will reach the people who are meant to be moved by it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wearegingsu.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearegingsu/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weareGINGSU/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wearegingsu
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4rvQicfW1YMiid7MIWvqZa

Image Credits

Nick Quinlan – All Photos