By Sara Busone.
RRX: Where do you see yourself next year? In the next five years?
AG: I’ve got some big dreams! In the next year, my band is releasing its first full-length album. My band is called From Starlight, for which I play lead guitar and sing backing vocals. We’ve worked hard and carefully thought out each of the ten songs that’ll be on the record. We’re pumped to book shows to support the album here in the Capital District but also all around the Northeast. We’ll definitely be hitting up spots in Boston, Montauk, Philly, Buffalo, and others. I/we feel very confident this album is going to take us places. So in the next five years I see me and my bandmates releasing more material, gigging more, collaborating with other bands, creating fun music videos, and so much more!
RRX: Who do you admire in your community, and why?
AG: The two people I admire most in my community are my amazing parents. They worked very hard and had to make a lot of sacrifices in order for me to be able to pursue music, let alone even play an instrument. When I was born, I came with very limited ability to use my arms and hands. The doctors told my parents that I would more than likely lead a normal life cognitively, socially, and professionally but would probably never be able to hold a pencil or play the violin. My mom had to give up her dream career in medicine, and my Dad had to work extra hard to support our family. After countless hours of occupational therapy both with professionals and with my mother, we achieved what we were told wouldn’t be possible. I can hold a pencil, and my first instrument was the violin! Later on, I transposed my violin skills to guitar! So I admire my parents for all of the love, hard work, and support they gave me growing up and continue to give me now!
RRX: Is there anyone who has passed that you feel you have immortalized in your work? If so, can you tell us a little about them?”
AG: I immortalized my late music teacher, Mr. Joe Gumpper, who died suddenly this past May. His enthusiasm and passion for empowering others through music was very inspiring to me and many others. He had a larger-than-life sort of personality that was captivating and infectiously motivating. He had a sort of dorky wit that never failed to give me and my peers a laugh. Throughout high school, I usually had him for homeroom followed by string orchestra rehearsal, and that was always a fantastic way to start my day. I’m grateful that my big sister and her daughter were also students of his on whom he made a mark as well. Whenever I’m out and about supporting my friends at their shows and open mics, I always channel my inner Mr. Gumpper and do my darndest to pass along the same enthusiasm and support he gave me, my family, and my peers.
RRX: Can you talk about your first love, especially if you did something cool to express that love? (No names needed.)
AG: I met my first love in high school when I was only 15. We connected over similar tastes in music, soccer, skiing, friends, family backgrounds, and dorkiness. We had a beautiful 13-year relationship before deciding that we’re more so high school besties as opposed to lifelong romantic partners. She and I still enjoy a close and proud friendship and co-parent three handsome cats that are brothers from the same litter. I wrote a song for my first love right after the Covid restrictions lifted. I titled it “Lifelong” and only played for her, family, and some gigs. I never got around to recording it, but I’m sure I will someday. The song is originally about my desire to marry my first love, but we never tied the knot. The song for me now is really about a friend’s lifelong commitment to a close friendship.
RRX: What do you think is the most poorly understood thing about music, or the music you play?
AG: I think the most poorly understood thing about music is how many people believe that to be a great musician you must have a natural God-given talent for it. While there may be some truth to that, I really feel it is actually one’s passion, discipline, and determination to continuously practice that will make them a great musician. I didn’t just pick up a guitar when I was 13 and play like Van Halen from the start. I started out by having to learn how to actually use my hands and arms first due to complications during my birth. Then I learned how to play violin, and later on I practiced guitar for upwards of four hours per day. All of that was instrumental (pun intended) in building me up into a good musician. I really don’t think my achievements come from some talent that was magically given to me at birth; it was passion, discipline, and determination. As with any other craft or career, your mastery of it depends on the time and energy you put into it. And once you’ve mastered your craft, you have to maintain it with even more practice. It’s “work,” but it’s fun for me because I’m exercising my passion.
RRX: Tell me about your most recent song, album, or video (you pick.) Tell me a story about what went into making it. Not a process, but a cool story that took place within the process.
AG: A recent song I’m very proud of is “One Chance” by my band From Starlight. It started out with our singer spontaneously chugging a couple chords on his guitar in a super catchy rhythm, and it raised all of our eyebrows. Once we heard it, we knew that needed to be the verse progression for a new song. Next we needed something to write lyrics about. I suggested that we write the lyrics about pursuing closure over a connection with someone from the past that you feel could have been a more-than-friends sort of situation. I shared the story of a particularly cool girl I met when I was in college and developed some feelings for, but I never pursued it further than a friendship. After graduating, I couldn’t stop wondering if her and I could have ever had something more. I did ultimately visit this girl out in Boston and told her about these hidden feelings I had and the confusion I was experiencing about them. Turns out she always saw me just as a friend. Upon learning that, I didn’t feel let down at all. I suddenly was overwhelmed with clarity. This girl and I are still friends, and we connect over fun things like skiing. So the song “One Chance” is about summoning the courage to open up to someone about how you feel when there may not be another opportunity to do so, with no particular expectation other than gaining some clarity. The way we recorded the song was fun and unique too. Even though I am the lead guitarist, it was our singer who tracked the lead guitar, and I tracked all of the rest. I see that as a testament to how we always do what will best serve the song and give equal credit to each member in the group regardless of who tracked what.
RRX: How does practice go? Is the road practice enough, or do you have a practice shack? If so, how does it look? What’s on the walls? What cool sh** is in there?
AG: I have a few fun practice spots! My housemates are also into music, and we have a rock cover band called Timeworn. Our basement is loaded with several guitars and basses, a drum kit, a bunch of amps, a PA, and a bar. Practice in that basement is done the old-fashioned way with everything cranked to 11 and ear protection on! We have a lot of fun in that basement and try our best to be mindful of quiet hours. My band From Starlight practices in our singer’s basement studio, and that’s a nice, professional setup with a somewhat spacious control room and sound room. Rehearsals in that space are much different from your classic garage or basement jams given that it’s a full-blown studio. When From Starlight rehearses, it is always done with in-ear monitoring with the metronome. Rehearsals to a metronome can be tough and rigid, but it’s really how a band gets particularly good and tight. When I’m practicing on my own, I really enjoy lounging in my screen porch with my acoustic guitar at dusk with gentle lights on and nature singing around me. It really gets me into a calm and focused zone. I usually start my practice sessions by singing a few covers I haven’t played in a while, then I’ll run through some scales and arpeggios, and then jump into new songs I’m trying to commit to memory. I find that by choosing acoustic over electric, I focus more on technique like finger placement and connecting notes with each other fluidly. Electric is fun but can allow for a bit of slop. Acoustic doesn’t let a player get away with anything!
