Gigantis is easily one of the hardest working bands throughout the Bay Area that I have ever come across. There is something very special about this group of East Bay natives, now calling Oakland home, that makes them an infectious band on so many levels. I have had the pleasure of sharing a stage with these people and let me tell you something.......their music gets under your skin and makes you have to move. There's no other option. They focus very heavily on the feel of every song, but without taking any showmanship or talent away. Plus, they are the coolest people to talk to after a show so if you get the chance, make sure you say high after watching them play and see for yourselves.
This now comes as no surprise, but this East Bay outfit has found a way to turn their never ending hard work into a chore-less effort. There have been times in my own writing where I was no longer doing it for fun and started doing it because I needed it done yesterday. I don't feel like Gigantis ever suffers from that problem. They are a very genuine, fun loving group of musicians and friends that have turned work into play while keeping the quality of music they write at an all time high. The type of music they create surrounds you with these very inviting, very cosmic, and very catchy grooves that keeps your toe tapping throughout one of their live sets. They tend to keep you hooked from the first note, and it seems to be working for them.
Gigantis is a force to be taken seriously, but not too seriously because it would take away from who they are as people. I feel this band has a very simple concept with deep meaning; Write simple music with very memorable/catchy rhythms that make people want to move their asses and get down with the funk they are bringing, and they continue to do it night after night. I got to chat with Annessa, one of the members of Gigantis, the other day about the band, how it came to be, and her completely understandable obsession with Freddie Mercury. Enjoy!
This now comes as no surprise, but this East Bay outfit has found a way to turn their never ending hard work into a chore-less effort. There have been times in my own writing where I was no longer doing it for fun and started doing it because I needed it done yesterday. I don't feel like Gigantis ever suffers from that problem. They are a very genuine, fun loving group of musicians and friends that have turned work into play while keeping the quality of music they write at an all time high. The type of music they create surrounds you with these very inviting, very cosmic, and very catchy grooves that keeps your toe tapping throughout one of their live sets. They tend to keep you hooked from the first note, and it seems to be working for them.
Gigantis is a force to be taken seriously, but not too seriously because it would take away from who they are as people. I feel this band has a very simple concept with deep meaning; Write simple music with very memorable/catchy rhythms that make people want to move their asses and get down with the funk they are bringing, and they continue to do it night after night. I got to chat with Annessa, one of the members of Gigantis, the other day about the band, how it came to be, and her completely understandable obsession with Freddie Mercury. Enjoy!
What is your name and role in Gigantis?
"My name is Annessa Karate.
First and foremost, I'm the story teller, also commonly referred to as the vocalist. I write lyrics, and I also contribute a little percussion here and there. I do most of the booking, manage the web site, make fliers, merch, etc. Most of the things you'd have a manager do, I do."
And where are you based out of?
"Some might say "Titian" and that's not entirely incorrect... Although we started rehearsing in Concord, we're in Oakland now and our members are scattered across the East Bay. "
How did the band get created and what did you hope to achieve?
"Gigantis was the second coming of a former project. Once the first group was disbanded, most of us got back together with the intention of forming a band without boundaries - One where we could write and play whatever we were feeling in that very moment. The focus was to not limit ourselves to one genre and to allow our diverse musical backgrounds and influences to come together organically. "
If you could describe your band in only one word, what word would you use?
"Idiosyncratic."
When/why did you start playing music?
"I loved all performance art growing up - theater, dance, singing, etc. My best friend, Ali, and I would spend the days making rhymes and acting out our favorite songs and movie scenes. I never realized (until right now) how much sense it makes I ended up singing for a band - which pretty much encompasses all of those things in one role.
I joined my first band in my mid 20's. My friend Tyler and I would sit around making songs and goofing off while he played guitar. Then one day I showed up to his place and there was a bass player and a drummer ready to go. It was a total surprise, but a welcomed one."
Who/what band has been your biggest musical influence? Are they still an influence in your playing today?
"My band mates for sure. We're a family and, even though we have our ups and downs, we keep each other motivated. It's easy to feel a little burnt out when so many hours go into a project, but the boys keep making me get my ass into that studio week after week, so it's definitely those dudes."
"My name is Annessa Karate.
First and foremost, I'm the story teller, also commonly referred to as the vocalist. I write lyrics, and I also contribute a little percussion here and there. I do most of the booking, manage the web site, make fliers, merch, etc. Most of the things you'd have a manager do, I do."
And where are you based out of?
"Some might say "Titian" and that's not entirely incorrect... Although we started rehearsing in Concord, we're in Oakland now and our members are scattered across the East Bay. "
How did the band get created and what did you hope to achieve?
"Gigantis was the second coming of a former project. Once the first group was disbanded, most of us got back together with the intention of forming a band without boundaries - One where we could write and play whatever we were feeling in that very moment. The focus was to not limit ourselves to one genre and to allow our diverse musical backgrounds and influences to come together organically. "
If you could describe your band in only one word, what word would you use?
"Idiosyncratic."
When/why did you start playing music?
"I loved all performance art growing up - theater, dance, singing, etc. My best friend, Ali, and I would spend the days making rhymes and acting out our favorite songs and movie scenes. I never realized (until right now) how much sense it makes I ended up singing for a band - which pretty much encompasses all of those things in one role.
I joined my first band in my mid 20's. My friend Tyler and I would sit around making songs and goofing off while he played guitar. Then one day I showed up to his place and there was a bass player and a drummer ready to go. It was a total surprise, but a welcomed one."
Who/what band has been your biggest musical influence? Are they still an influence in your playing today?
"My band mates for sure. We're a family and, even though we have our ups and downs, we keep each other motivated. It's easy to feel a little burnt out when so many hours go into a project, but the boys keep making me get my ass into that studio week after week, so it's definitely those dudes."
Building off very tantalizing and space funk fueled grooves throughout songs like "Drone" ,off their full EP, I feel you really get a sense of where they are coming from the best. Searing and soul wrenching guitar riffs and didgeridoos come at you from every possible angle to totally surround every inch of your being, and with songs like "Thick Skin" kicking off their EP, you leave wanting more. The song has this building anticipation that starts in the begging drum beat and takes you to clear to the end of the journey.
With an almost "space cowboy" sound that works great around the open intergalactic campfire, clean bass and drum lines that help bring the pulse of the song forward with every note played and a brass section that creates a fullness of rich and funky tones that boosts each song to such great heights, Gigantis is in a class all their own. It's an almost surreal experience to sit down with a good pair of head phones, crank these tunes to 11 and just let go for the next twenty-nine minuets. (Which, by the way, I "HIGHLY" recommend that you do.)
With an almost "space cowboy" sound that works great around the open intergalactic campfire, clean bass and drum lines that help bring the pulse of the song forward with every note played and a brass section that creates a fullness of rich and funky tones that boosts each song to such great heights, Gigantis is in a class all their own. It's an almost surreal experience to sit down with a good pair of head phones, crank these tunes to 11 and just let go for the next twenty-nine minuets. (Which, by the way, I "HIGHLY" recommend that you do.)
What's your favorite song that you have written? What drove you to write it?
"The song that holds the most emotion for me is "Saturn - Light Lasts Forever". It's dedicated to and inspired by one of my best friends - Nicia, her mother - Carolyn and her son - Ozzy. Carolyn passed away while Nicia was pregnant with Ozzy, the first grandchild in their family. As I was on my way to the hospital to meet baby Ozzy for the first time, I was overwhelmed by the reality of Carolyn's untimely passing and that's when I had the realization - Even though Carolyn couldn't be there in that moment, she was there. Not just in spirit, but also physically - The matter and particles that had once been part of her were part of her daughter and now part of her grandson. She was certainly there in that moment and would always be there... her light energy carried on...and that was comforting."
What's one album you could never get tired of listening to? Why?
"Let's see, I had Rancid's "Let's Go" in my car CD player for forever as a teenager. I will occasionally still listen to it cause it brings back so many good memories :) Right now, it's Thee Oh Sees "Warm Slime"."
If you could jam with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? Explain
"Freddy Mercury. If anyone needs an explanation for that they can go funk themselves ;)
Don't stop me now, I'm havin' such a good time! I'm havin' a ball!"
Favorite concert that you have attended:
"Probably the Murder City Devils @ The ShowBox in Seattle, WA. It was a secret show announced that day and the first venue they'd played in 5 years. The room was underground and every mother lover in the place new single word to every single song. We drank whiskey and danced til we were black and blue."
Best band moment, on or off stage:
"Oh gosh, there are so many running through my mind....I'd like to say pretty much anytime we're on the road in the band van. It's jibber jabber and shenanigans right out of the gates."
Where do you see yourself 2 years from now and where do you see yourself in 5 years?
"In 2 years, I'd like to be at SXSW.
In 5 years, I'd probably say raising a family band somewhere near Sacramento? Hahaha Who effing knows! I've never made these predictions correctly..."
So who are some bands that you play around your area with?
"The Stone Foxes, Forrest Day, Massive Delicious, Arden Park Roots, Lavish Green, Burnt, ZuhG, Planting Seeds, Overland, Swoon, Element of Soul, Bully West, Mourning Mountains, Royal Jelly Jive... to name a few :) "
Where can people go to follow your progress and find your music?
Gigantismusic.com, gigantismusic.bandcamp.com or follow us on facebook.com/gigantismusic
Anything else you would like to say before you go?
"Boobs. (☆)(☆) Oh, and thanks Jacob! "
The pleasure was all mine, Annessa.
Last question: If you could have written any song in history, which one would you choose and why?
"Under Pressure - Bowie + Mercury... then Vanilla Ice. "
"The song that holds the most emotion for me is "Saturn - Light Lasts Forever". It's dedicated to and inspired by one of my best friends - Nicia, her mother - Carolyn and her son - Ozzy. Carolyn passed away while Nicia was pregnant with Ozzy, the first grandchild in their family. As I was on my way to the hospital to meet baby Ozzy for the first time, I was overwhelmed by the reality of Carolyn's untimely passing and that's when I had the realization - Even though Carolyn couldn't be there in that moment, she was there. Not just in spirit, but also physically - The matter and particles that had once been part of her were part of her daughter and now part of her grandson. She was certainly there in that moment and would always be there... her light energy carried on...and that was comforting."
What's one album you could never get tired of listening to? Why?
"Let's see, I had Rancid's "Let's Go" in my car CD player for forever as a teenager. I will occasionally still listen to it cause it brings back so many good memories :) Right now, it's Thee Oh Sees "Warm Slime"."
If you could jam with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? Explain
"Freddy Mercury. If anyone needs an explanation for that they can go funk themselves ;)
Don't stop me now, I'm havin' such a good time! I'm havin' a ball!"
Favorite concert that you have attended:
"Probably the Murder City Devils @ The ShowBox in Seattle, WA. It was a secret show announced that day and the first venue they'd played in 5 years. The room was underground and every mother lover in the place new single word to every single song. We drank whiskey and danced til we were black and blue."
Best band moment, on or off stage:
"Oh gosh, there are so many running through my mind....I'd like to say pretty much anytime we're on the road in the band van. It's jibber jabber and shenanigans right out of the gates."
Where do you see yourself 2 years from now and where do you see yourself in 5 years?
"In 2 years, I'd like to be at SXSW.
In 5 years, I'd probably say raising a family band somewhere near Sacramento? Hahaha Who effing knows! I've never made these predictions correctly..."
So who are some bands that you play around your area with?
"The Stone Foxes, Forrest Day, Massive Delicious, Arden Park Roots, Lavish Green, Burnt, ZuhG, Planting Seeds, Overland, Swoon, Element of Soul, Bully West, Mourning Mountains, Royal Jelly Jive... to name a few :) "
Where can people go to follow your progress and find your music?
Gigantismusic.com, gigantismusic.bandcamp.com or follow us on facebook.com/gigantismusic
Anything else you would like to say before you go?
"Boobs. (☆)(☆) Oh, and thanks Jacob! "
The pleasure was all mine, Annessa.
Last question: If you could have written any song in history, which one would you choose and why?
"Under Pressure - Bowie + Mercury... then Vanilla Ice. "
Bottom line, Gigantis is a great local band with a lot of potential. They've created a sound that's all their own and have the following to back it. The music is very organic yet tight. It has room to breath when it's needed, which makes them able to adapt to any setting. Talent runs deep in this band that I am lucky to have come across. Without Gigantis and everyone in it, I would not have felt that much needed sense of community in our local music scene. Thank you for being so supportive over the years and keep spreading the word of the Giant Space Mantis!
Make sure you go and check them out today!
If you would like to be featured on SF Solid Gold, please go to the contact page in the top left corner and fill out a contact form with links to your music and all social media that you have. I look forward to hearing from you all and hope to make this website a safe place for music to be reviewed and shared. Cheers!
Written by: Jacob Schmidt