Interview - Gary Hector

The Caribbean and Americana / Country style music are not typically associated with each other, could you tell us who your main influences are and how you came to love and play this style of music?
Yes, I really don't know many folks at all in the region who listen or write songs in the Americana/Country genre. But there may be a few I'm not presently aware of. But sometimes it really feels like I'm in a scene of one. NATIONAL TRASH is my debut solo album release, but I've had nine previous albums with two bands I once led. Those were Rock n Roll albums, with influences like The Clash and The Rolling Stones . Once I went on this solo trip three and a half years ago , I just wrote an album checking out my singer songwriter elements, at the heart of it all is by main influence Bob Dylan, but then I went deep into the Country and American Songwriters like Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, Gram Parsons , Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn and the present brilliant ones like Sierra Ferrell, Jaime Wyatt, Hayes Carll and James McMurtry . Basically I said, ok, how can I turn myself on ?.. how can I not bore myself to death ? 

For those who have yet to hear your music, what can they expect from a Gary Hector track? Honest song writing. We got a saying in Trinidad and Tobago , " I sell it as I buy It " . This is what I got, and this is what I give to you, no costume jewellery , make up and trappings.

How do you decide on a theme for your songs, do you start with the music first or the lyrics? Well, I'm a Master Thief, so it depends on the heist. It could range from something I heard someone say , something I read, something I saw , or just plain old something popped into my head. I've done various ways before, music first , lyrics first , strum until something comes , plus I really respect song writing , so I try not to think I know what I'm doing.

I saw the video for Today I Ride Alone. It's a great video. How did you come up with the concept for it?
Well, that concept is all down to the brilliant Music Video Director Walt Lovelace. My long-Time music video collaborator. We work so well together, a simple short phone call, and it's 99% done . He asked if I could get a wooden rocking horse made , a good friend and his wife made it, and Walt shot all the background scenes and went on to capture the old movie scenes. Which reminds me, that Rocking Horse is still in my living room, but I've found a home for it at a friend's horse stables, it's true. 

You have a headline show coming up in April at Queen's Hall, is this part of a tour or a one off gig?
Yea Sunday 16th April, my concert NAKED at The Queen's Hall, Iconic venue here in Trinidad. It's my debut solo concert, and my first concert in three and a half years. So, it will be the first time I'm singing any of my solo album songs in public. The concert is also a fundraiser to help finance the recording of my follow up solo album in Connecticut ,USA in 2023. It is a One off gig, but it will also prepare me for future tours.

What plans do you have for the future?
Plans are overrated, but, first, The NAKED concert, then to record my follow up solo album , which I've already written . The album will be recorded in Connecticut, USA at Dirt Floor Recording Studio with producer and studio owner Eric Lichter. I will then try to find a Record Label to release it, and hopefully also management and tour booking .

And finally where can people find out more about Gary Hector and your music?
​It is available Online on all the various social media platforms , the NATIONAL TRASH album is also out on limited edition Ruby Red Vinyl , on Smelly Rick Records , Arizona, USA. My Linktree got all the links. https://linktr.ee/GARYHECTOR I