The One with Graehme Floyd

In this episode of Offbeat with Paul Hose, Paul is joined by guitarist, composer and educator Graehme Floyd. Graehme’s musical journey began at the age of eight with the piano. Five years later, everything changed when he discovered Metallica and made the move to guitar. Since then, he has developed an extensive musical vocabulary spanning classical and jazz theory, advanced improvisation, virtuoso technique, composition, music business and artist development. As a founding member of Opus Rex, Graehme’s path crossed with drummer Karl Sloman while teaching guitar at the Wizdom Music Academy in London, Ontario. After just a few months, Karl invited him to join the Rush and Dream Theater tribute project Falling into Infinity. That collaboration became the start of a long musical partnership, with Graehme and Karl going on to work together across a wide range of projects including an Elton John tribute act, jazz/funk group Silvermax, the musical Rent, and symphonic metal band Autocratic Oath. Graehme’s influences are equally broad, including John Petrucci, Kirk Hammett, Yngwie Malmsteen, Guthrie Govan, John Coltrane, J.S. Bach and RUSH. Paul and Graehme talk about studying music, developing as a musician, performing live and the realities of building a professional career in music. The conversation also turns to one of the industry’s persistent challenges: fair pay for professional musicians. What becomes particularly striking is just how similar the picture looks on both sides of the Atlantic. Despite working in different countries, Paul and Graehme find themselves comparing remarkably familiar experiences in the UK and Canada — from expectations placed on musicians to the economics of live performance. A wide-ranging conversation about musicianship, professionalism, learning, performance and the realities behind the stage. Offbeat with Paul Hose Real conversations. Creative minds. Unexpected stories. Connect with Graehme https://www.graehmefloyd.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/graehmefloyd