Exploring the Journey of Independent Hip-Hop Artist Gavin Perri

Photo Credit: Paul Monahas of PMPX Media

I conducted an interview with emerging hip-hop artist Gavin Perri, during which we discussed his upbringing, musical journey, and his interests. I hope you find this read enjoyable!

Amit Ahuja: Let’s start at the beginning — tell us about where you grew up. What was your hometown like, and what kind of environment did you call home during your early years? Was it a small, tight-knit community where everyone knew each other, or a lively city full of movement and change? What are some of your fondest memories from growing up there? We’d love to hear about the people, traditions, or everyday moments that helped shape who you are today. How do you think your upbringing and community influenced your perspective on life or the path you eventually chose?

Gavin Perri: I grew up in Lancaster, PA, so there’s not a ton going on here usually. You have to go find it. By 10 or 11, I found the local punk scene, and that’s where things really started to change for me. It was definitely a super close community of people. Some of my favorite memories are just taking the bus into the city and record shopping or skating with my friends. I was in like a million punk bands so there are a lot of fond memories there as well. I think growing up in that scene just made me really fond of the DIY and indie route as an artist. I don’t need a label or anything like that to make my art and share it with the world.

Amit Ahuja: Let’s start from the very beginning of your musical journey—can you recall a specific moment, experience, or influence that first ignited your passion for music? Whether it was a performance, a particular song, a mentor, or even a personal challenge, what was it that made you realize music would become such an important part of your life? How did that defining moment shape the direction you’ve taken since, both creatively and personally, and how has it continued to influence your evolution as an artist?

Gavin Perri: My Dad was obsessed with KISS, so that got passed down to me. I remember waiting to be home alone so I could blast their music and put on little concerts for myself, pretending I was Paul Stanley, haha. I got my first drum set at five and beat the hell out of it, then my friend gave me my first guitar and showed me some chords at ten. Ever since then, I have spent my days writing my silly little songs.

Amit Ahuja: What initially drew you into the hiphop & funk, both in terms of musical composition and visual or aesthetic style?

Gavin Perri: Hip Hop and Funk, I feel, are just such freeing genres of music. Just speak what’s on your mind, even if it’s painful BUT… YA GAHTA DANCE!! I love that a lot about it. Even if things are painful, let’s dance and wear fun clothes, and speak our truth to anyone who is listening. That’s what drew me in the most. Sly Stone, Wu-Tang Clan, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are probably my biggest influences in terms of Hip-Hop and Funk. Being able to set such powerful lyrics to beautiful music is incredible to me.

Amit Ahuja: What first drew you to becoming an artist?

Gavin Perri: What drew me in was the freedom I felt in entertaining and getting out of my head ya know? I’ve always loved to make people laugh, so if I wasn’t doing music I’d probably be a comedian of sum sorts. Rapping felt natural because I can be silly, dance around, and also speak on sum real feelings I wouldn’t normally have otherwise.

Amit Ahuja: Are there any songs or artists that have personally resonated with you and inspired your journey into learning music and starting this band?

Gavin Perri: I always say my music is equal parts Wu Tang Clan and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Beautiful guitars and melodies mixed with hard hitting boom bap drums. My favorite song is Walk by Blind Melon, which is where my folk influences sneak in.

Amit Ahuja: What’s been the most formidable challenge you’ve faced as an artist so far?

How would you describe your style?

Gavin Perri: When I was younger the hardest part was actually keeping a band together haha. We were all pretty wild, so they never lasted. Now that I’m a solo artist, things are smoother for me. I mostly work with my producer and he gets me and my sound. Shoutout Logan I luv you 5ever. Also check out his band The Poorly Made Clones, they’re great!!

Amit Ahuja: I’d love to dive deeper into the creative and emotional journeys behind some of your songs. Could you share the inspiration, personal stories, or themes that influenced the writing and production of tracks like Looking Stupid, Petite Falling Small, and the other tracks you have in your discography?

Gavin Perri: I always say Funky Folky Boom Bap. Kinda just every genre I put in my songs.

Gavin Perri: Looking Stupid came from a tough time when I was struggling to stay sober and just be a person more or less. It’s about that feeling when everyone knows you’re not doing good and you know it too.

Gavin Perri: Pettibone is for my brother and my best friend who are both mechanics. I’ve always admired the simple life they carved out in that and part of me wishes I was able to do the same… but I have silly lil dreams always pulling me away haha.

Gavin Perri: Falling Small felt hopeful, it’s just me saying “times are tuff but I'm gonna be okay."

Amit Ahuja: What were the ideas or experiences that shaped these songs, and what do they mean to you as a band now that they’ve been released and shared with listeners?"

Gavin Perri: My songs def take new meaning as time goes on. Pettibone is one feeling and meaning that stays the same tho, but most of my tracks shift as the seasons roll by for me. But at the core they’re all just me working through my feelings hoping someone out there feels the same ya know.

Amit Ahuja: If you had the incredible opportunity to open for any band or embark on a two-month tour, which artists would you be most excited to travel and perform with—and why?

Gavin Perri: Definitely Medium Build. He is an incredible artist from Alaska. He makes really beautiful music. Both times I’ve seen I just cried like a baby haha. I think style-wise we’re a little different, but I think my folkier stuff could really appeal to his audience.

Amit Ahuja: What inspires you as an artist?

Gavin Perri: Love and pain the most. But just about anything can make me write a song. If it’s a feeling, I’ll probably write about it haha.

Amit Ahuja: What drives your passion for creating music?

Gavin Perri: What drives me most is that I can’t do anything else but music. It’s kind of all I know. I don’t have a backup plan or anything, just art. And it can be a lil scary sometimes, but I do luv it and believe in myself, so those feelings are pretty fleeting. I know this is what I was born to do.

Amit Ahuja: Are there particular people, works, or events that inspire you?

Gavin Perri: As i said Wu Tang Clan and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Other artists for me would be Kid Cudi, Mac Miller, Elton John and Jay Dilla. A lot of the experiences I’ve had in life also play a really big role as well, especially navigating sobriety and growing up. Those challenges are always in the back of my mind when writing.

Amit Ahuja: How do you keep your creativity or motivation alive?

Gavin Perri: Honestly, it’s not too hard for me to stay creative. My life’s messy enough there’s always something to write about haha. Plus, I've got years of songs to rework and pull from, and I love producing for my friends, so the ideas never really stop.

Amit Ahuja: If you could swap lives with any musician for a day, who would it be and why?

Gavin Perri: I would say Marc Bolan from T. REX. In all honesty his music is what taught me to write a song. Before that I kinda just wrote little punk songs. And then I found him and fell in love with his music. His music taught me how to write a hook which is something I’m still really big on. I’m a sucker for a good hook. Life was kinda like black and white and T. REX gave it color at the time anyway.

Amit Ahuja: What’s your guilty pleasure song that you secretly love?

Gavin Perri: I’m not sure if I have any guilty pleasures. I love all music, I always say if it makes me feel ill like it. I like Adele a lot but everyone does haha. I listen to a TON of 2010’s pop music, is that guilty haha?

Amit Ahuja: If your music were a food, what would it taste like?

Gavin Perri: As a big foodie, I LOVE this question!! I would say cereal!! Just so many choices and options. That’s kinda how my music is. Whatever I’m feeling that day is what my music is. I would say specifically fruity pebbles bc I luv colors.

Amit Ahuja: What insights or recommendations do you have for musicians who face rejection or experience setbacks in their careers? Specifically, how can these artists cope with disappointment and use those challenges as steppingstones for future growth?

Gavin Perri: Don’t stop. Write a million songs, then a million more. They won’t all be great, but even the bad ones can lead to something later. If you take your time and care for your art, that will shine through. Don’t let the world of rejection make you forget your art matters.

Amit Ahuja: When you create music, does it feel more like a form of release, a journey of self-discovery, or a confrontation with something deeper inside you? Or a combination of all three?

Gavin Perri: I think my music is more of a release of whatever feeling I can get out and I see my music as a way to confront my feelings in a healthy way. So a little of both for sure

Amit Ahuja: Is there a message you hope fans walk away with after listening to your music, or do you prefer to leave it open to interpretation?

Gavin Perri: I want my music to be hopeful and full of life and love. To let people know things are gonna be okay, just love and care for the world around you and things will fall into place, that’s my message

Amit Ahuja: I would love to hear about any exciting music you have on the horizon! What are you looking forward to the most?

Gavin Perri: I have a new single coming out called We Gon B Alright. It is kinda like my whole message to the world, honestly. Then another single called French Bread, which is just a silly one. I have a few short songs, or two boom bap tracks, that I want to release as an EP soon, and I’m working on another folk EP, which will likely be out sometime in the Fall.

Amit Ahuja: Who are three individuals who have had a significant impact on your life—personally or professionally—and how have they influenced your journey?

Gavin Perri: God, my producer, and my dog. And of course, my family and friends. My faith is a significant part of my life and undoubtedly influences my music. My producer was the one who really pushed me into taking hip hop seriously, so I’m really grateful for that. And my dog, he’s just my bestie and has been with me through everything. I love him dearly.

Amit Ahuja: What kinds of TV shows, movies, books, or podcasts do you all connect with—and what is it about them that draws you in? Is it the storytelling, character development, the themes they explore, or just the overall craft?

Gavin Perri: I watch a lot of cartoons, Regular Show the most. For movies it’s a tie between Purple Rain and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I like silly a lot but also deep storytelling. I think that’s a balance I’m always trying to find in my music.

Amit Ahuja: How do you define happiness in your life, and how does that connect to your vision of success?

Gavin Perri: I define happiness as a strong foundation in my faith and the world around me, knowing how much I love and care for it. The people in my life know how much I love them as well. I wanna take my music to a place where everyone I love can be taken care of. And I can take care of anyone who needs help.

Amit Ahuja: Are there any particular hobbies, passions, or interests outside of your involvement with music that really energize or excite you—things that you love to spend time on or that bring you a sense of purpose or joy when you're not immersed in your musical pursuits?

Gavin Perri: I like to paint a lot; that’s a big thing to me. I have synesthesia, so I see and feel music in colors and images. So it really correlates in my music and inspires that. I also record and produce music for my friends.

Amit Ahuja: Can you share your personal experiences with mental health challenges? What coping strategies, tools, or support systems have helped you most? Additionally, what advice or insights would you offer to others your age who might be going through similar struggles?

Gavin Perri: I’ve definitely struggled with mental health and substance abuse issues. What’s helped me is my faith, community, meditation, and prayer. Community is huge, once you build a support system it’s easier to reach out for the help you need as opposed to just trying to manage it all yourself. Meditation, to me, is about listening to God, and prayer is about speaking to Him. My best advice is to find faith in something bigger than yourself, lean on community, and don’t be afraid to take your time. Life’s messy, but love can carry you through it.

Amit Ahuja: What message would you share with humanity if you had the world’s attention for five minutes?

Gavin Perri: I don't even need 5, haha. I would say take your time, this isn’t a race. Love yourself and others and care for the world around you.

Amit Ahuja: Thank you, Gavin Perri, for sharing your story with us today.

Photo Credit: Paul Monahas of PMPX Media

Please be sure to explore Gavin Perri's music by visiting the link provided below to his Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/gavinperrimusic?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadnaqwb9-m5_PAGhR7dFa0LkSVTULWXPY4yXVnWwTnxfg37AJ7HH0bnE7puwQ_aem_au0I5EVMUzbHq0yae-2ceA

***All photographs are credited to Paul Monahas of PMPX Media, and all videos to Gavin Perri, unless otherwise indicated.***