Gary V

South African singer and songwriter Garett van der Spek, performing under the name Gary V, blends guitars, electronica, and vocals into a sound that feels both expansive and tightly constructed. Born in Durban, South Africa, he grew up immersed in the rock & roll collection belonging to his father. During his school years he quickly assembled his first band. Relocating to America in 2000 finally allowed a professional path in music to emerge. After settling in Seattle he put together the three-piece punk outfit Koko & the Sweetmeats. Once the group had started attracting local attention its members went separate ways, clearing space for Spek’s solo work.

He shifted to Los Angeles in 2014, where fresh musical connections and an expanding crowd helped deepen his commitment to the craft. Early performances featured only Spek handling guitar and vocals alongside a drum machine and bass synth. Rising interest prompted him to replace the electronics with a live drummer and bassist. In the recording studio he managed nearly every task until meeting producer Chris Woodhouse (Ty Segall, Wild Flag, !!!), who took charge of his first album. The self-titled Gary V appeared in 2016 on the ANTI label. The following year he toured steadily, both headlining and opening for Guided by Voices, Surfer Blood, and Nada Surf, before returning to the studio for his next project. That effort, the more concept-driven Mamba, was tracked again with Chris Woodhouse (Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall) and issued in 2018.