Eric Gales Q&A

Talk about your latest tour in both Europe and the USA.

EG: This latest tour in Europe includes a group of dates that I’ve been looking forward to. The audience and my fans give us an insane amount of positive energy every single time they come to see us. I can’t wait. It’s going to be awesome.

What was it like to perform with Lauryn Hill at both the recent BET Awards and the GRAMMY Awards®?

EG: It was the honor of a lifetime to be part of the performance and lineup that was put together. The response from everyone since then has been life-changing. Lauryn Hill is a genius! Truly, it was a dream come true!

How fantastic is it to be part of the Red Hands project “Kinfolk” and its unprecedented climb to the top of both Billboard’s Gospel and Blues charts?

EG: The organic way the entire Red Hands and Eric Gales collaboration came together was so inspiring that it made all of us, as grown men, cry our eyes out. We were so emotionally engulfed in what we experienced at that moment. It was simply awesome! To witness history being made as the project reached the No. 1 spot on multiple Billboard charts was insane! I am beyond words.

How did you feel about the response to your recent Rick Beato interviews?

EG: I felt seen! From all the comments and reactions to the Rick Beato interview, I could tell that people were listening. I was able to share some great guitar tips and knowledge with everyone who was watching. I believe it most definitely elevated the awareness of who Eric Gales is and made my name more prominent.

Talk about your music.

EG: Trying to talk about my music is difficult because it is hard to express what it means to me. It is truly what I was put on this great Earth to do. I will say that it is always highly emotional.

Tell me how your music changes lives.

EG: I can only give my perspective based on what people have told me about how my music changed their outlook on certain things. People have also told me that when I performed a rendition of someone else’s music, they never imagined the song being done that way. Blues music touches everyone emotionally. If my music touches even one person, I am happy.

Talk about the history of blues music and how it has affected you.

EG: The history of blues goes back a long way. It originated in the Deep South of the United States in the late 1860s and emerged from the cultural and musical traditions of African Americans. It has a distinctive call-and-response pattern and a 12-bar chord structure. It remains one of the foundations of music around the world. I am elated to have such a hefty dose of blues as one of the ingredients that makes up who I am as an artist.

Talk about your proficiency in blues guitar and how you reached the level you are at today.

EG: I never gave up. It has always been an uphill battle. Honestly, I don’t really have a choice because this is all I know. I am a consummate musician through and through. I am constantly hearing things that inspire me, connecting with them, and applying them to my guitar playing. I grew up on this kind of music. I continue to strive as much as I can and let the rest handle itself.

Talk about all the different musical genres you want to be known for.

EG: I am inspired and influenced by all styles and kinds of music. If there is a way I can intertwine all of it somehow, I will. I am in this for the long haul, and my legacy will be very interesting.

What is the biggest influence on your music?

EG: It is hard to say what my biggest influence is. They are all important parts of the makeup of who EG is.

Who is your mentor?

EG: My brothers were my biggest mentors growing up. I love them all.

Talk about growing up.

EG: I grew up in a great household. Music was always being played and heard in some form. I cherish those memories.

Talk about how your childhood molded the person you are today.

EG: Simply being the baby of the family gave me a lot to soak up from everybody.

What are the most challenging things in your life?

EG: It is important for me to empower people and try to be the best version of myself that I can be. That is always challenging.

Your beautiful wife, Ladonna, has been a rock for you. How did you meet her?

EG: I met Ladonna at a festival here in Greensboro. I just knew she was going to be my wife! ❤️ She holds everything down for me. She could have given up, but she has been by my side at every turn. She is the best part of my life!

How has love changed your music?

EG: Love has given me a deeper perspective. It resonates in every chord I play.

Who was the first recording artist you remember hearing?

EG: The first recording artist I remember hearing was Albert King. He set the tone for what was to come for me as an artist.

Talk about some of the producers you have worked with.

EG: Since I started recording, I have worked with many incredible producers. Each of them brought something unique to every project, and I have a strong fondness for every last one of them, from A to Z.

You worked on the film “Sinners,” which received 16 Oscar nominations and won four awards. What does this mean to you?

EG: Yes, I was featured on the original motion picture score for “Sinners” alongside the genius composer Ludwig Göransson, who is known for his work on films such as “Black Panther” and “Oppenheimer.”

“Grand Closin’” features my guitar work as part of the bluesy finale of the film’s score. “Elijah” showcases my instrumental blues guitar skills and blends them with the orchestral score. Other collaborators included Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Lars Ulrich, who brought powerful riffs to the soundtrack of the Michael B. Jordan film.

This was a first for me. I was so excited to be part of this amazing film that I could hardly believe it.

What would you tell a young person starting out in the music business?

EG: That is such a deep question because today’s youth can bring many new ideas to the current music scene. I would tell a young musician starting out to never lose faith and to remember the very thing that inspired them in the first place. Stay laser-focused and keep a small but mighty circle of people around you.

Talk about your fans.

EG: The fans are everything! They are the fuel I need to drive this ship. My fans are extremely important to me.

What is the one thing you would say to your fans?

EG: I would simply tell my fans, “Thank you.”

What would you say about your fashion style?

EG: I am sure you can tell that I love fashion and style. My fashion style is just me. It can change from time to time, but it is always me. It all depends on what I am feeling.

How do you dress for the red carpet?

EG: That is an easy one. The red carpet is all about dressing to impress.

How do you prepare for a show?

EG: It is strange because most artists have an entire routine before a show. For me, preparing for a show is simple. I usually do nothing and remain silent most of the time.

If you could change one person’s life through your music, what would you tell them?

EG: Help yourself first because you cannot help anybody else if you cannot help yourself.

When did you know you wanted to pursue music as a career?

EG: With music all around me and hearing so many amazing artists, it hit me early. I knew I wanted to be a musician when I was 11 years old.

How has your family helped you throughout your career?

EG: I cannot say enough about my family. They have always been very supportive throughout my career.

If you were not a recording artist, what would you be doing?

EG: Music is in my blood, beginning with my grandfather and the church. I looked up to my dad, who was a truck driver, so perhaps that would have been my calling.

Tell me about some of the other projects you have worked on and what you have going on now.

EG: I was featured on Cory Henry’s album “Church,” which won a GRAMMY Award®. I have a very close friendship with Slash, who is an incredibly prolific guitarist. I have also worked with the Memphis hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia.

I was featured on Alexia Jayy’s breakout debut single, “Rent Free.” She was a winner on Season 29 of “The Voice.” I was also featured on Tank and the Bangas’ song “Ain’t That Deep.” I have done a lot of work with GRAMMY Award-winning producer Raphael Saadiq.

How does all this newfound fame feel?

EG: I am not sure I would call it newfound fame. Everybody else is just catching on. I am doing my best to stop and smell the flowers while I can.

In today’s politically divided country, what can you do through your music to help bring healing?

EG: To help heal this country, I have made the conscious decision to remain committed to what I have always been doing: playing my music one note at a time.

Where do you see your music in five years?

EG: I see myself continuing to do more with music outside the norm, such as movie scores and other projects that bring greater awareness to the legacy of Eric Gales.

Are you excited about the upcoming year?

EG: Yes, I am very excited about the upcoming year! If everything I have been blessed to experience this year is any indication of what is to come, I had better brace myself! Wow! LOL.

What is one thing anyone can do to change the world?

EG: Love one another. Treat each other with dignity and respect. And pray.