Music Star Kiri Gerbs Of Splitmind/Drumify On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Music Industry
An Interview With Guernslye Honoré
Build your own personal brand. This kind of ties in with the social media stuff but more generally just building your brand and communicating with your fanbase is crucial. That could be replying to people online or setting up and attending events to meet them, or really anything that builds relationships with the people that make this career possible.
As a part of our interview series with leaders, stars, and rising stars in the music industry, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Kiri Gerbs.
Native to Australia, Kiri Gerbs is a Billboard charting music producer/multi-instrumentalist. Kiri first gained traction on social media by posting entrancing guitar videos that went viral. He has worked with many artists including Autumn!, Rich Amiri, and Tory Lanez just to name a few.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit about your “origin story”. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. My parents started me young into music by putting me into violin lessons a bit before I turned 4. During school, I picked up playing guitar and trombone. I found producing in high school and just got obsessed with it. After school, I studied jazz guitar at University but I dropped out during my last year when my production career started to take off.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did your journey begin?
It started back with the violin lessons and developed from there. But in the end, I think it was just always what I loved doing and luckily enough other people liked listening.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Honestly, probably just joined the team over at Splitmind, they’ve really helped me pursue this career and push me to be better. I think finding a group of people that are motivated and compatible is really the biggest blessing so far in my career.
It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Probably something any producer can relate to and that’s just thinking my beats were good before they really were. I think it’s important to always believe in yourself but definitely not rushing into sending stuff to people before you’re ready is a funny mistake I made to look back on.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Grateful for the entire team over at Splitmind, but specifically Halfway for sure. He gave me a chance based on the music when I really had no credits or social media following. That was way back in mid 2021 and ever since then he’s really helped me develop my passion into a viable career.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
A couple artists whose projects I’m really excited to be working on are Kevin Powers and Jim Legxacy. Love both of their music so much and really looking forward to people hearing what we’ve been making. I’m also working on some music to put out under my name but that’s still a little while away, but definitely something that will come when it’s ready.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in music, film, and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
Absolutely, I think it’s one of my favorite things about the creative arts. I absolutely love when you can hear all the different influences that have been put into a piece of art. Working with people all round the world has always helped me stay inspired because there really are so many talented people everywhere.
As a successful music star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated? How do you overcome obstacles in your career?
Definitely, I’ve had ups and downs just like everyone else, whether that’s something internal or seeing numbers stop growing or even going down. I think every now and then it’s important to take time to reset and come back with a fresh point of view. That’s something that’s really helped me along the way.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
1 . Social media is really important in this day and age. Earlier this year I really started to put time into my social presence and it has honestly completely changed the trajectory of my career for the better.
2 . Building real relationships is key. Finding a group of people you work with consistently that you really enjoy being around is a real necessity. I found that and it really has made pursuing this career far more enjoyable and successful.
3 . Build your own personal brand. This kind of ties in with the social media stuff but more generally just building your brand and communicating with your fanbase is crucial. That could be replying to people online or setting up and attending events to meet them, or really anything that builds relationships with the people that make this career possible.
4 . Show your face. Putting a face to the music is also something I underestimated when I started. Having an image that people can associate with the music is really important.
5 . Work on projects you’re passionate about. This is something I’ve always done throughout my career but I think it’s important to say. All of the best music I’ve made has been things I’m passionate about and I think getting caught up in making things just because you think other people would like them is a real trap that lots of people get stuck in.
Can you share some insights into your creative process? How do you approach songwriting? How do you approach musical collaborations?
In terms of creative process, mine really varies a lot. Some days I just have an idea for drums, melody or lyrics that I start with and others I really just sit down with an instrument and mess around until something sticks. With songwriting, something I’ve put lots of work into recently is always having “moments” in my music, and by that I mean some kind of part of the song that really sticks with people. Collaboration is really my favorite thing about this whole job, getting to see other peoples work flow is always so fascinating to me. When I get in the room with someone new I usually like to try to adapt myself and my style into their process a bit more but it really depends on the person and the situation.
Your music has resonated with so many fans worldwide. What do you believe sets your music apart?
I honestly don’t know for sure. I just know that I put everything into the music I’m making and I’m grateful that people listen to the things I make.
How do you connect with your audience?
Social media has been massive for me for this, especially with being based in Adelaide where there’s not a massive scene for the music I make. I hope to start meeting more people as I begin to travel more.
With your busy schedule and demanding performances, how do you prioritize self-care and maintain a balance between your personal life and career in the music industry?
Honestly this is still something I’m working on, I feel as though I’m beginning to find a balance though by being more organized with my work. Also staying healthy, reading books and listening to podcasts has really helped I think.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
It’s gonna sound a bit simple but really just for everyone to be fair and kind with everything, whether that be on the business side or just generally. I know there’s always a lot of talk around bad deals in the music industry but it really is possible to have situations where everyone involved comes out better off. So yeah that would be it for me.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
Probably someone like Elon Musk, I’ve watched lots of podcasts recently and he always seems like he’d be a very interesting person to have a conversation with.
How can our readers continue to follow your work online?
My socials are @kirigerbs on all platforms. I’m pretty active over there so that would be the best way.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
About the interviewer: Guernslye Honoré, affectionately known as “Gee-Gee”, is an amalgamation of creativity, vision, and endless enthusiasm. She has elegantly twined the worlds of writing, acting, and digital marketing into an inspiring tapestry of achievement. As the creative genius at the heart of Esma Marketing & Publishing, she leads her team to unprecedented heights with her comprehensive understanding of the industry and her innate flair for innovation. Her boundless passion and sense of purpose radiate from every endeavor she undertakes, turning ideas into reality and creating a realm of infinite possibilities. A true dynamo, Gee-Gee’s name has become synonymous with inspirational leadership and the art of creating success.
