George Gachiri channels his eclectic interests and creative gusto into a brand new sub-genre that pays homage to past greats while still being as progressive and forward-thinking as possible. Former lead guitarist of the punk outfit, Dove Slimme, the multi-talented artist has decided to show off his skills in a solo project dubbed Hybrid Actuary. The rocker was even featured in alternative culture web magazine, Afropunk, which describes his project:-
The project, named after his side gig as an actuary, features the virtuoso nodding to metal legends like Kirk Hammett and Joe Satriani with odd bits of Van Halen effects-laden tapping thrown in for good measure. On tracks like ‘Love and Anxiety’, and the triumphant leads of ‘Woolly Mammoth’, Hybrid Actuary showcases his strong fretwork.
He has also been profiled in Audio Inferno, Nigeria’s premier African rock website.
UP caught up with George and talked Hybrid Actuary, the Kenyan rock scene, and everything in between.
You had a pretty impressive stint at Dove Slimme. What made you want to make music singularly rather than in a collective? Has your solo act been more fulfilling?
Thank you very much! Dove Slimme was an amazing experience and I am very close pals with the gang. I decided to pursue music singularly due to work commitments but also as a challenge to myself creatively. Being in a band has the added advantage of having shared creativity, which is amazing as it makes the creative process that much easier, especially where there is great chemistry and people can inspire each other. Following a singular path would be a way to see if I could tap into my own experience and observations and tell my story.
How would you describe your sound and style?
I would say that my sound is a reflection of how I am feeling at that point in time. Sometimes it can be aggressive, other times it can be soft, other times it can be ambiguous. But my default setting is heavy metal!
I would classify my style as progressive. Which according to me means that it can be anything. So long as it makes sense, sounds good and is authentic people can call it whatever they like.
Who are your major influences as a musician?
Definitely Avenged Sevenfold, Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani, Michael Angelo Batio, Gustavo Guerra, Steve Vai and Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders.
What are your thoughts on the local rock scene?
I think the scene is still evolving. Bands like Parking Lot Grass and Rush won awards last year, which is a huge boost to the scene. I believe the scene is growing and people just need to continue making more content.
Who would you love to collaborate with?
I would love to collaborate with Sauti Sol on a track; I think pushing the envelope and having them try some rock music would be interesting and different. Dela would also be another artist I would love to work with. Her voice is smooth and sultry.
Any forthcoming projects/albums on the way?
I am currently working with Saint Evo The Myth, he is launching his album this year called Jeru and my guitar will make some cameos on some of his tracks. I am also planning on launching an album this year called “The Way of the Hybrid”, some of the tracks on my SoundCloud page will make an appearance, as well as some new stuff. Pretty excited about that!
What’s on your current playlist? Which local acts would you recommend?
I’m on that Justin Bieber binge (haha!) and I love it. I’m also listening to The Prototypes, CrossFaith and Babymetal. Local artists I would recommend would be Parking Lot Grass, Mortal Soul , Kato Change and definitely Saint Evo.
Listen to Hybrid Actuary on SoundCloud
Like the Facebook page: Hybrid Actuary
Follow on Twitter: @Hybrid_Actuary
Photography by Migwa Nthiga of Magiq Lens Kenya
