“The word ‘pop’ can oftentimes have negative connotations associated with it, but when it exists as a thread through more underground forms, it holds a certain level of intrigue that to me is strangely fascinating,” says Rob Garza, one half of internationally-acclaimed Thievery Corporation. Striking out on his own with his eponymous solo project GARZA, Rob knows a thing or two about skirting the pop label while existing within it. His new solo album Daydream Nation (release date: August 27, 2021 via Magnetic Moon Records) explores the myriad subgenres of pop – be it indie, electronic, atmospheric, or experimental pop. “Pop hearkens back to my early days and that spark of imagination that makes me want to discover what electronic and pop music can be.”
With Thievery Corporation’s touring temporarily sidelined during the pandemic (they’re currently back on the road, playing venues across the country), Rob took his stationary time in stride, diving into the studio to create Daydream Accelerator. Digging deep into his innate ability to create ambient textures and melodic harmony, he merged this with inspired performances by a wide range of dynamic new artists, challenging himself to compose a record that balances the rhythmic with the vocal. “This musical incarnation is important to me because it is something new and not just doing what I know,” he explains. “It is a musical statement, influenced by Serge Gainsbourg, Burt Bacharach, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Quincy Jones – other older artists working with younger talent.”
Featuring artists such as buzzing L.A.-based alternative singer EMELINE (“Future Comes Too Late”, “Something That’s Different”), critically-hailed Minneapolis indie rock band Enemy Planes (“Summer is Ours”, “We Want Blood”, “Way Out”), and Jamaican firebrand and Thievery Corporation vocalist Racquel Jones (“Talkin”), among others, this ten-track collection (co-produced with East Coast ensemble SMLE) percolates with a groove that bubbles underneath, uniting each of the tracks with an organic beat that syncs with its sonic textures.
Anchored by the percolating staccato rhythms of tech house stalwarts Walker and Royce andthe velvety vocals of Miami/LA chanteuse Calica, the focus track “Can’t Kill Me” delivers an infectious slice of techno pop that amplifies Garza’s kaleidosonic musical amalgam. “I’m creating new and exciting music with artists like Stee Downes (‘Letting Go’) and Fare (‘Swim to Shore‘),” he says, highlighting the other collaborations on the album. “This musical incarnation is important to me because it is something new and not just doing what I know.”
This exploratory nature ultimately led to the creation of the pioneering electronic musical outfit Thievery Corporation. In the late ‘90s, Thievery became renowned for their ability to blend sounds both underground and global, incorporating Brazilian, Jamaican, Indian and other world influences. Over the past 25 years, Rob has brought legends to his recordings with Thievery Corporation with the likes of David Byrne, Perry Farrell, The Flaming Lips and more. Beyond the studio, Garza has toured internationally for over two decades, headlining some of the most prestigious music festivals in the world and sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in music.
His music has appeared in countless soundtracks for film, television, and commercials, including his work with Thievery Corporation on the GRAMMY® award winning soundtrack Garden State. He wrote and recorded the score for Enter The Tomb – VR Experience Tutankhamun, which was nominated for a Positron Visionary Award at the Cannes Festival in 2020. While keeping active with all that, Rob also works to bring together music, culture and humanitarian work with his hands-on contributions to the World Food Programme’s efforts in Africa and Nepal.
Ready now for another new chapter of musical discovery and exploration, Rob has conjured up a new experience called GARZA, which builds upon his legacy with Thievery Corporation, but with a bit more of a modern edge. Born out of a desire to push his sonic boundaries, Garza incorporates new sounds with featured artists and collaborators plus an emphasis on incorporating current electronic music styles with new sounds and textures.
Always existing on the creative fringes of the pop paradigm, Rob finds this fertile musical netherworld a comfortable environment to reside. “This is a personal musical statement that delves into more pop territory without being mainstream,” he explains. “I find this to be a very inspiring sonic space.”
Daydream Accelerator will be released on August 27, 2021viaMagnetic Moon Records.
