About G Clef Fusion

We sat down with Chuck Moyer, after a recent musical performance as G Clef Fusion, looking for some background insights into this local musician and his musical act.

Last year you were quite profuse with your musical releases, how did that feel?

• Yeah, I really felt the music flowing. I ended up releasing QB1-OS; a full-length CD/Album, and additionally Six EPs covering specific musical explorations and experiments such as improvisation, electronic, complex time signatures, situational music atmospheres, and even threw in a couple reinterpretation of classical pieces and even Christmas songs. I didn’t have to force any of it, so I just ran with it and took them where they wanted to go. And I think they all represent the vision and sound of G Clef Fusion well. I also wanted to establish that I am serious about creating this kind of music and committed to producing an artistic statement that is both copious and of quality.

How would you describe the style of music that G Clef Fusion is playing?

• In one word, I do think Fusion fits, I don’t exclude any influence but there are things I like and don’t like and that reflects in my writing and song selections. There are definite strong elements of rock and jazz like the traditional jazz-rock heyday of the early 70’s, but also elements of progressive rock and electronic music and even classical genres that I still listen to heavily. I like to think G Clef Fusion’s style and sound is a unique amalgamation of everything that I’ve heard, played, and studied up to the current point in time, and as such continues to fuse, evolve, and actually push a little on some real and arbitrary boundaries. I make an effort to have new music and releases be better than the ones before it in performance, composition, production quality and artistic surprise. I like my music to impact listeners on multiple levels; whether listening for just the energy or mood, or a deep active listen; picking up on all the nuances and articulations of the instruments playing or note selections, or just becoming lost in the musical landscape. 

How long have you been playing your instrument?

• For keyboards, I’d say I’ve been seriously back at it for about the last five years and just trying to get better. Prior to that I have been playing keyboards and bass off and on with various intensities since I was a teenager. Even had the 'piano lesson with the teacher that made you play what you didn’t like', and the 'band with friends in the basement', also the proverbial ‘trying to play and have full time ‘regular job’ to pay the bills’. So, I’ve been through a lot of phases, but more focused now.

Why instrumentals are the focus and solo artist over band members?

• I always felt instrumental music gave the listener the chance to create their own story or mood that that particular piece may inspire either repeatedly or dynamically - as influenced by the listener's mood, experience, setting, etc. I also think instrumental music lends itself to more experimentation, expansion on ideas and themes, certainly more than a minutely crafted pop song. I'm not trying to win a popularity contest; I just enjoy creating this kind of music and hope it finds an audience that can enjoy it too. With the times and what I'm trying to create with G Clef Fusion, the solo act is the current best vehicle to pursue and achieve that. I'm open to collaboration if it arises naturally, but right now I'm focused and happy with what I'm working on. 

What is unique about G Clef Fusion?

• Seeing a solo performer with an unusual instrument certainly gives a visual uniqueness. Sonically the use of synthesizers allows me to present and play in many unique and familiar timbres and sounds, presenting a kind of musical variety blended together. The song selections that I pick to perform or write are not something you hear very often - so they are fresh, but are still entertaining, interesting, complex, high energy, and challenging to play. I like it that way, and as such I would imagine there are others that feel the same.

Tell us about that unique instrument you play?

• Yeah, the Keytar. The Keytar has an interesting history along with its much-maligned status as a "keyboardist trying to be a guitarist". But some great keyboardists pioneered it. People like Keith Emerson with his ribbon controller, or the full fledge throw a strap on a keyboard by Edgar Winter and Jan Hammer. Even greats like Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Jean Michael Jarre slung Keytars. Heck even Lady Gaga has been seen using them. As a solo performer I took on that Keytar as a symbol of the past pushing boundaries and of the technical potential now available that I can do a lot with that one keyboard strapped around my neck. Of course, in the studio I use a whole complement of more traditional keyboards, synthesizers, and software as well.

What can people expect at a G Clef Fusion Performance?

• The music in the set is high energy and eclectic. It is not another acoustic singing duo set. It encourages active listening. There's more toe tapping than wild sonic explorations, so I still think it is very listenable and enjoyable for any audience with a little bit of an open mind and open ears. I mix in the set with my original material to showcase it and my performance of it and include cover songs that while familiar to some audiences are things that you may not have heard in a while or very often, so it is still fresh and new - if that is something you are looking for in your musical shows. 

What challenges do you see as a musician and with the type of music you perform?

• There are many things to lament about music today – and old and new artists are echoing it. Not sure there are even fixes for some of it. It may just be part of the evolution. Exposure is tough. The industry itself is geared toward repeating what is popular and the reinforcement through repetitive forced listening to embed certain music in people’s minds and all driven by the mightiest marketeers and big spenders. This leads to a homogeneous selection of many similar sounding tracks and artists. The “art” now is in repeating, not creativity or innovation. And this will only get worse (or be more reinforced) when the flood of AI created works really starts to flow. People now associate more with lyrical ideas than pure musical ones. Albums are ‘near-dead’ people are just not geared toward listening to an extended / extending music idea or even single artist for more than a few minutes let alone the commitment to listen to a 60+ minutes album from beginning to end in one sitting. Doesn’t anyone just put on an album, turn down the lights and just listen anymore?

• Sonically trying to create and produce a G CLEF FUSION style, composing, performing and releasing Instrumental music for listening, being a small budget, independent artist, and shouting out my music -from the obscure web-corner of the musical long-tail – are all cards stacked against me. But while this all does frustrate me; it does not deter me. This is the music I enjoy – not only composing, recording and performing, but also listening to, so there has to be others like me that would really enjoy this music, I just have to keep working to find them.  

What do you hope listeners take away after a G Clef Fusion show or performance?

• I hope listeners, either to live shows or released recordings, come away from the experience as Music Explorers. Go listen to more music, whether it is mine or someone else. Pass it on to friends, family co-workers, post on social media. Tell people and feedback to the artists what you liked and didn't like. Celebrate the infinite variety in the 12-step chromatic music scale. Challenge your ears and your mind. Let the music speak to you, all you have to do is listen.

What is next for Chuck Moyer / G Clef Fusion?

• First things first, there is the New CD dropping – Recondite Obbligato – 15 new tracks of high energy fusion
• For the time being, just keep going. I think I can continue the pace of a full album every year or so, supplemented with 4 or 5 EP releases in between CD releases. I also want to spend a significant amount of energy on getting better – so I’ll be looking for more ways to study and practice the craft. And to break the cycle of “doing the same thing and expecting different results”, I’ll have to look for new and better ways to get my music out there; live and otherwise, and find some simpatico listeners – or just get good enough that I can’t be ignored.