(Featured photo courtesy Eric Kinlaw)
Eric Kinlaw and Marcus Barfield’s musical roots run deep.
Both of the members of forceghost have been making music since the 1980s, but they didn’t start collaborating as this duo until 2019. On Friday, March 1, they will launch their newest recording “unknowing the known” and will play selections from it starting at 8 p.m. at Grantski Records, 1151 Broad St.
“In essence, it’s about loss – picking up the pieces and finding a way to move on,” said Kinlaw about the album, which is available on streaming services as well as on vinyl, cassette and CD.
Kinlaw calls “unknowing the known” electronic psych rock, but he said it’s a culmination of a lifetime of influences of various styles of music for both of them.
Barfield wanted to be a heavy metal musician as a kid in the 1980s, but by the time he reached his 20s, he “started exploring everything rock, pop, jazz, folk everything. I definitely got hooked on jazz. I did a lot of jazzy things while I was playing rock. It’s been a hodgepodge of things,” he said.
Kinlaw’s musical aspirations began in concert band when he was 9, and he played in orchestras and concert bands through high school and college. While in high school, he also branched into rock.
At one time Barfield and Kinlaw played together in a jazz band performing Thelonious Monk songs.
Kinlaw said that he’d call his own particular style indie rock or experimental rock.
With this project, Barfield has explored a different area.
“We big time dive into electronics,” said Barfield who has been experimenting with a unique synth program that has created a sound that he’s really excited about.
“I think it will be interesting to people who like synth,” he said. “A lot of the music we love comes from the 80s, but we’re not trying to do a tribute. We bite off all the sounds — the 70s, 80s, 90s everything we’ve heard.”
The duo hope for a big crowd and promise to bring a good time.
“There’s a lot of ear candy, fun stuff,” said Kinlaw.
Also playing on the night are Rujen and Linear North. The doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at the door.
Other local dates including a performance at the Soul Bar on March 26.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
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