GbClifford is an artistic entity dedicated to the exploration of sound and music, primarily operating within the realms of noise-guitar and sample/vocal processing. The project has also developed a secondary initiative characterised by sound collage techniques, integrating elements of emo and noise.
Can you tell us about the genesis of your project, GbClifford? What led to its inception, and how does it differ from your other projects?
This project came about when I felt that I was taking everything too seriously. I needed a new space to hide in. I liked the idea of finding places where I could be anyone and as vulnerable and open as I wanted. Not having to perceive myself, at least for a moment, as an individual or as a body with a certain expression is incredibly liberating.
The project embodies the belief that communal gatherings, rooted in shared experiences and values articulated through music, serve as vital spaces for cultivating safe and nurturing environments conducive to collective growth. Can you talk about the importance of communities and spaces where your project is presented?
The idea of community and background can be abstract. I like to think about music and art outside of competitive perception and rivalry. Individualism and hierarchy in music, or rather in the environment associated with it, is a path to losing the reason why I do it. That’s why it’s important to me. People and places that give us fulfillment through shared joy.
You address such themes as mental fragility, the quest for human belonging and the process of coping with trauma. How do you incorporate these themes into your work, and is art something cathartic for you?
I don’t separate myself from the content of my work. I see art as a means of expression. The themes I work with are things I try to capture and communicate, whether they are personal matters or how I perceive the world around me.
What is the role of performance and audience in this project?
I perceive some of my concerts as theatrical performances. The audience is always important. Ultimately, it’s about a shared experience and mutual reactions.
What are you currently working on and dreaming of?
I am currently preparing the release of an album that I am very excited about. It is called Mock the World 2gether. The title is closely related to what I dream of. I dream of a world without violence and war, without hatred, racism, sexism, imperialism, and capitalism. I will continue to try to live according to this dream of mine, but it is difficult to believe in any positive radical change.
Let’s hope for the best.
Interview Lucia Udvardyova
Photo Kristina Opalkova