Psycho Gab, formed in early 2023, this five-piece, neo-soul band based in Tamaki Makaurau, the group claim to have cultivated a unique sound formed at the crossroads between soul, RnB, jazz and pop, leaving endless possibilities of smooth grooves up for exploration. Ridiculously accomplished musicians, who would not be out of place in a Washington DC late night jazz scene. Scatting around The Blues Alley or Birchmere in Alexandria.
The captivating thing about Psycho Gab, is the effortless fluidity between jazz, soul, (even beatnik vibes) and RnB, all held together with a sultry powerful vocal from Rosetta Stone. I don’t know who Psycho Gab’s members are, I’ve never met them, and I want them to remain a mystery, a collective mishmash of genres collating to well driven, well rehearsed, well executed, well managed hive mind for the musical theory purest.
Crazy Talk, confronts young relationships, co-dependency, taking in the world around you and being resilient when things don’t go to plan. There’s a university band feel about the EP, most notably on Orchid Samba, which shows a flex on guitar played by Max Henly and on drums played by Finn McNeill, this isn’t a negative remark but a homage to the naivety and raw talent that is amalgamated in Psycho Gab.
There are similarities Jazz fashion artists like Knower or Thumpasaurus, most notably on Orchid Samba, however, things can be brought down to a smooth, romantic lounge style with Masterpiece, “Falling in love with your best friend is so inconvenient and risky and off-script, but happens so naturally it’s pretty much impossible to avoid,” says Rosetta. “It first came to me as an acapella melody, before Caleb (Wong Keys and percussion) reharmonized the chords and we went through lots of different versions before settling on the lush RnB slow jam.”
Crazy Talk is released on July 12th and was written, recorded and mixed across Psycho Gab’s flats, Caleb and Orlando’s home studio – Bilbo’s Clubhouse, Big Fan during Caleb’s residency) and The Lab recording studio with award-winning engineer Olly Harmer.
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About the author Daniel Jones
Napoleon Baby is a song writing concoction of Antipodean and European inspired life. Presently residing in Tamaki Makaurau, playing songs about living in a different reality far away from the world. Influenced by from Nina Simone – Television, Edith Piaf – Queens of the Stone Age, Napoleon Baby will be playing shows across NZ and Australia in 2023. The debut album to be released later in 2023, with two more singles and accompanying music videos in May and June 2023.
