New Year, New Grabbitz: Dive Into the Artistic Transformation of His New Era

2 hours ago 5

After the release of “Blood On My Hands,” Grabbitz swung by to talk about the inspiration behind his recent creative and personal reset.

Grabbitz is one of bass music’s most recognizable vocalists, and his intricate sound design has elevated his status as a dynamic force in the producing world. But after a decade of releasing rock-infused, vocal-driven records spanning many subgenres, the artist is returning to the highly technical, production-forward roots that inspired his early music and put him on the map.

Grabbitz ushered in this transformative new chapter by wiping his socials, sporting a new buzz cut, and releasing “Blood On My Hands.” The single is built by meticulously layered textures and rhythms, and is both a return to his original artistic approach and a nod to the new heights he’s reaching for.

“A decade ago, there was a moment where bass music inspired me so profoundly that I dropped everything to chase it,” he said. “Now, after all the places it has taken me, that moment happened again.”

While he’s building momentum around this new era, Grabbitz insightfully shared his reasons behind this dramatic revamp, the lessons he’s learned as a musician, and what’s next for him. Listen to “Blood On My Hands” on your preferred streaming platform, and read on for the conversation!

Stream Grabbitz – “Blood On My Hands” on Spotify:

You took “new year, new me” seriously this year with a full reboot of your brand – scrapping your social media, chopping off your hair, and releasing a new single that’s different from most of your catalog. What inspired you to do a full creative and personal reset at this point in your career?

I just had a vision for this next era of music and visuals, and I wanted to fully commit to it. I saw myself with short hair, I saw the content refined, I heard music that was chaotic and beautiful. I was re-inspired by the ruleless and distorted nature of bass music.

In cinema, chopping one’s hair off symbolizes radical transformation and the shedding of one’s previous identity. How did cutting your signature long hair become a symbolic part of this new chapter for you?

I think the drastic physical change and its theatrical reveal both play into the musical and visual style I’m going for and what I’ve been inspired by lately. So seeing it in the mirror every day helped me get in the right headspace to commit to the vision.

Also, I hated inhaling my own hair when I took a deep breath while singing on stage, and it happened a lot. Crisis averted.

Your symbol has always been a blue butterfly. How does the idea of metamorphosis reflect what this reset means to you personally and creatively to you?

I feel like we all go through many metamorphoses, so yes. In a very poetic way, it fits perfectly. The world is new and scary, but you’ve grown a set of wings; you’ll figure it out.

Now that you’ve stripped back the identity you’ve built over the last decade, what do you feel are the most essential elements that define you as a musician?

I think it’s just dedication to the craft, always remaining a student, and always making an accurate representation of what I hear in my head. The rest – singer, producer, etc – all fall under the umbrella of that conquest.

Is there anything you learned about yourself through this process, beyond your work as a musician?

To just have fun with it. Not just in music, but in life. Go after what excites you most.

Your latest single, “Blood On My Hands,” is a heavy bass and production-forward tune. How does your approach to production and sound design differ in this era compared to your previous work?

I think the main difference is that now, all of my tools are much sharper, so I’m better at making things come to life. From bizarre and complex ideas to simple ones (which are, most times, more difficult). Everything is intentional.

Are there any lessons from your past vocal-driven and rock-influenced projects you are bringing into this new phase?

I think with each subsequent chapter of work I make, my taste becomes more refined, for better or worse, subjectively. So I’ll always tastefully cherry-pick any influences from my past work and apply it now as needed.

What can your long-time fans expect from your music and performances going forward?

My long-time fans know I will always work hard to create the most enjoyable listening and set experiences for them. Now, that effort has been reinvigorated and enhanced. The music will be unapologetic. The performances are a mixture of bass music riotry, cathartic live moments, and senseless fun. We’re trying to world-build and keep evolving both.

Looking ahead, what do you hope to achieve with this next chapter in terms of artistic growth and legacy?

I’m not thinking about legacy, but artistic growth is a high mountain I have dedicated my entire life to climbing.