Meet GIFT

We need things to lift our spirits now and again. One of the best ways to do so is to give things to each other. With that in mind, I am happy to give the world these thoughtful words from an incredible group of NYC musicians. GIFT IS: TJ Freda - Vocals, Guitar Jessica Gurewitz - Synth + Guitar Alex Graber - Synth Kallan Campbell - Bass Jake Pflum - Drums. Together they make some of the most feel-good dream pop I have heard in a while.

In the latest interview, we get into all kinds of mischief and talk about their latest release. Have a look and get to know GIFT.

Two Truths and a Lie (answer key at bottom)

• Every member of the band enjoys the Grateful Dead

• Everyone in the band loves cilantro

• Our collective pre-show pump-up song is Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado ft. Timbaland

Would You Rather

be able to jump a hundred feet in the air, or make things move with your mind? What would you do?

Alex Graber: Jump 100 feet in the air. I’d hop myself over to Rockaway all summer.

Jessica Gurewitz: if you can make things move with your mind, wouldn’t that include yourself? So you could move yourself to rockaway and move the computer charger closer to you - more options. Plus jumping 100 feet in the air sounds like I would always be having to wear a helmet and that is just a hot head waiting to happen.

Some questions with GIFT

How do you keep the creative momentum of GIFT going during the current climate?

Jake Pflum: It’s given us all the opportunity to step back from the demand of live shows and really focus on developing ourselves, separately but together. I think we’re all getting better at our respective roles in the band as we have nothing but time on our hands to write new riffs, find interesting ways to record and demo, and we've planted a lot of new seeds for future songs lately.

TJ Freda: We have shifted 100% of our energy towards recording, which in the past was 50/50 (recording/live performance) It has been a nice change of pace working on only recording and writing. We figured out a great way to collaborate remotely and have been piecing together songs for an album.

Jessica Gurewitz: plus various contests and quests.

If you had to be on one reality TV show which one would it be? What would you do?

Jessica Gurewitz: extreme makeover: home edition — I would use a wrecking ball and go to town.

What was your most memorable performance, and why?

Alex Graber: GIFT’s first ever performance at Baby’s All Right. At the time I was the Production Manager at that venue, so I was super close and comfortable with the staff. My parents came to the show, a lot of friends showed up. Despite being extremely nervous, the whole night felt really special. After we finished our set I was on a major high.

TJ Freda: New Years set as our 2nd show was memorable too... def majorly high.

Jessica: New Year’s Eve was so much fun! I would say that the last show before the shutdown was amazing - we were all absolutely DIALED in and it was a great feeling

Was there a catalyst that brought GIFT together?

Kallan Campbell: Simply put, gravity! Similar taste in our love of life- which I think TJ was keen about. TJ ultimately brought us together. We all also had our prior connections through the music scene, which I think we all naturally gravitated towards each other as is. I’ve also known Alexandra for years from back in Utah and I met TJ at SXSW years ago too- then NY got us all in its gravitational pull!

TJ Freda: Gravity! Yes! I met all of GIFT in separate ways, Met Kallan years ago touring, met Alex and Jake when I first moved to New York, I joined a project playing drums Jake and Alex had started called BLOOM. And I started hanging out with Jessica a little while after that. Jessica joining GIFT was my favorite with it all coming together, we were out one night talking and I mentioned I wanted to start a project and she said “TJ, IF YOU ARE STARTING A BAND I AM GOING TO BE IN IT”

What is the best gift you ever received?

TJ Freda: I think it's only appropriate to say this band.

Jessica Gurewitz: my sister gave me an expired coupon for a slushie a few years ago

Do you have a piece of musical gear that you have been really into lately?

TJ Freda: We are all obsessed with gear and finding new sounds and instruments. We mostly text about gear in our group text. I recently got a Korg Juno-6 which is super fun.

Jessica Gurewitz: I’m frothing at the mouth thinking about the perfect triangle.. but it hasn’t presented itself to me yet.

What was the first musical project you were involved with? Has it shaped the music you are making today?

TJ Freda: I have had various projects in the past, most of them I was the primary songwriter/recorder. When I moved to NYC I decided to take some time to not have a musical project and just focus on writing with no direction. That led to wanting to start a band contrary to any band I had been in; I wanted to focus on letting go of pressure to write music and do the normal band structure. I wanted to focus on heavy improvisation, especially live. Which led to the bands namesake GIFT or being present :) . In the beginning we didn't practice songs, we just jammed and learned how to click with each other. It must have been 2 months of jamming before we started working on songs.

Alex Graber: My first ever band is called BLOOM. TJ and Jake are also members of that project, but we all play different instruments. Jessica took our band’s first ever press pics, so in some way it led us to GIFT. Even though the music is vastly different, I’m grateful that we had those experiences together to bring us to where we are now.

Kallan Campbell: Max Pain and the Groovies is my first, and now simultaneous, project. It definitely has shaped the way I play music, it has psychedelic elements like in GIFT so it’s a great way to keep the psychedelic muscle exercised. The Groovies are also childhood friends which I think has been our greatest attribute. I feel this same attribute with GIFT as well- a fortitude of camaraderie and the art of life.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

TJ Freda: We are working on an album right now, keep an eye out for a single coming this summer :)

Jessica: We’re GIFT