Experimental Rock with Gingsu
Photo by Wendy Rosales (@y.d.n.e.w)
Gingsu is a genre-bending, experimental alternative rock-fueled band from Long Beach, California. The band is former alumni singer Quinlny Seely, guitarist James Packes, drummer Caleb Paust, and bassist Michael Aripez.
The legacy of Gingsu the genre-bending/ experimental alt-rock band dates back to 2020 when Seely embarked on a personal quest after graduating from CSULB, as a dream project to explore new horizons of life.
His journey began when he met Caleb Paust through a Facebook group dedicated to assembling dedicated musicians. Despite initial hesitancy, Paust was drawn into the idea of forming with Seely after he listened to the demo tapes given to him.
Then later Seely went on to talk to James Packes who had egaredly wanted to be in a band with for years. The bassist Michael Aripez then later joined through Paust, solidifying their lineup. Aripez became an important key to what Gingsu needed and marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of Gingsu, after parting ways with their previous bassist.
“The artists that we would compare ourselves to the most, like the loosest terms are kind of immediately rejected by people. I think this speaks about the variety in our music. So we have a lot of individual influences that go into our collective sound. But because there are so many influences, it's really hard for me to to to kind of sum up the sound in general. We've used quite a few labels. We used “Genre Fuck” for a while, which to me, is probably still the most accurate right now and progressive alternative rock” Paust explains.
Photos by Wendy Rosales (@y.d.n.e.w)
Their first-ever show happened in Long Beach playing at a local park that they “can't fully recall the name of” the band says. The nerves amongst them all grew even if they didn’t know who would be at the show. The band collectively says this was a moment they knew they wanted to continue to pursue live performances.
The band's unique sound has grown and gained popularity, particularly in cities like San Diego, where they have had tremendous support for the DIY music scene. The band's reach has gone beyond California now.
Their music has helped them play all over including a mini four-date tour in New York in October and just a few months later in Northern California at the top of 2024.
These experiences have marked significant milestones for the band.
Aripez says “Going to New York was a significant moment for us and it put in perspective what we want to continue to gain from all hard work. The crowds were a fueling full force behind the energy of these shows”
Gingsu's story serves as a testament to the power of passion and perseverance in the pursuit of the musical journey. The band is expected to release a third album later in the year as they have newly worked with producer Matt Norman who has helped them create with higher-quality equipment.
Photo by Wendy Rosales (@y.d.n.e.w)