° Songwriter ° Producer ° Musician ° Guitar Tech °
Bassist for Future Leaders of the World . Guitarist and programmer for the Springfield, Missouri local favorites and regional rock band Formant
Erik McGreevy is, first and foremost, a student of sound. He studies the sounds of everyday life, he studies the sounds he makes with the instruments he plays, he studies the sounds made by other musicians as he records and produces their work. It’s always been this way. Whether at work or at home, around many or alone, McGreevy is always listening. What he listens to, and what he listens for, has taken him many places and borne many kinds of success.
McGreevy’s ear for sound, trained during 13 years of composing and playing six-string and bass guitar for bands such as Formant, The Horizon Is After Us, Poor Man’s Vision and Hindrance, has developed a style of playing that merges ambient sound with elements of rock and metal. The results are both acclaimed and influential. McGreevy was a recent finalist for Southwest Missouri’s best guitarist as voted by the readers of a local entertainment magazine. His peers have taken notice, too; McGreevy is often approached with stories of how his playing has influenced their work. At the same time, he has opened for nationally touring acts such as Otep, Spineshank, Skrape, Ill Nino and more. He has also caught the attention of Future Leaders of the World, having been named as their bassist for the band’s upcoming summer tour behind its new album, "Reveal".
Studying sound took McGreevy into the studio to refine his ear while playing, bringing him under the tutelage of Future Leaders of the World singer Phil Taylor as Taylor recorded and produced up-and-coming acts such as Tara James. He has also written songs and done music sampling work for musicians such as Mike Reid and Doug Broadway. Along the way, McGreevy has become proficient in the use of such programs as Adobe Audition, Pro Tools LE and HD, Fruity Loops, Cubase SX, Ableton Live and Sony Vegas.
McGreevy's attention to sound took him on tour as a guitar and microphone tech with rock bands such as Machina , giving him the chance to work with artists Phil Taylor and former Evanescence guitarist John LeCompt. He has sat in their studios, watched and helped them work and prepare for performances both recorded and live. His experience has taught him about recording techniques, professional live performances, and tuned his ear in ways that would otherwise be almost impossible.
Most importantly of all, studying sound doesn’t have to take McGreevy anywhere at all. It follows him wherever he goes, and it keeps him striving—striving to find a new sound, a better one, a complementary one. He believes any artist can always achieve more. It’s the belief that keeps him listening and working to improve his own songs, and hopefully yours too.
By: Chris Derosier @ The Four Four.com