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Josh Garza is best known as the drummer of Secret Machines and EFG and for his contributions to major motion picture soundtracks like Across the Universe. His professional style is a unique homage to the drummers who came before him combined with his own talent and interpretation of the material. Secret Machines recently reunited, which has prompted many to look closer at where Garza has been and how he's progressed over the years.
The Latest from the Secret Machines
The most recent album started long before its release date. In 2010, Secret Machines recorded some of the material that ended up on the final release, which has undeniably given the record a sense of nostalgia for the band's long-time fans. Garza's contributions are made possible by his creative choice of equipment as well as his years of experience.
When he talks about his influences, one of the first names that pops up is John Bonham. In fact, Garza goes so far as to liken Bonham on drums to Hendrix on guitar. Garza's Tama kit, with its two 16" floor toms, a 14" rack tom, and a 28" bass drum, is the same size as Bonham's. Garza remarked that Bonham's drums are tuned high, which is how he arrived at the ideal metrics for his own tunings. He wants a tight batter head and a loose resonant head for his kicks, a combination that ends up giving him his signature sound.
Striking Out: The History of Josh Garza
Originally from Dallas, Josh Garza has lived in the Big Apple and the City of Angels. He's explored the world in much the same way he's explored music. While he's happy to absorb the best parts of other talented musicians in his field, he's by no means a carbon copy of any of his peers. All his life, he was determined not to let fear hold him back. Part of his bravery comes from feeling free to experiment with everything from his image to his production quality.
When he started the Secret Machines in his home city, he had a simple strategy for success. With every song, he wanted to get as deep as he could into the sound, parse it out, extract the best parts, and then crank it all up to 11. When he talks about his style compared to his influencers, he says, "Of course, my drumming doesn't sound exactly like Bonham-it sounds like Josh Garza-but it's from that same school. One of my secret weapons is to dig deep, find the cannon sound, turn it up, and not be scared. I think that's paid off for me."
In the past two decades, Garza has written and recorded songs for a variety of projects. His first attempts were in the early 1990s and, since then, musicians and music-lovers of every variety of perked up upon hearing the explosive beats. His first official band was Comet, formed in 1993 when Garza was just 17 years old. For the next four years, they would play in Dallas and release three albums. Garza learned invaluable lessons over that time, including the kind of person he wanted to be and what kinds of steps he needed to take to get there. Comet, which was a mix of pop and rock, gave him a chance to play with genres to see where they meshed. The freeform quality was one that he enjoyed, and one that you can see emulated in bands like EFG and Secret Machines. With every passing milestone, Garza was hungry for more.
The trio of Secret Machines, Brandon Curtis, Benjamin Curtis, and Josh Garza started in 2000 in Dallas. They would play and record for the next seven years before Benjamin decided to leave the band. In 2010, the group officially disbanded so the musicians could pursue their individual dreams. However, even when the band split up, their bonds did not. Between the fan base that the group had built up and the relationship between Brandon and Josh, it set the stage for a future reunion.
Across the Universe
In the intervening years between Secret Machine, Garza tackled several new challenges, including breaking into the world of movies. Across the Universe was a masterpiece of musical magic, one that would showcase the songs of the Beatles in a way that had never been done before. In 2007, audiences were treated to appearances by stars like Joe Cocker and Salma Hayak. Out of the 34 tracks in Julie Taylor's film, Josh Garza performed "I Am the Walrus" with Bono. He also played the drums for "Flying" and "Blue Jay Way. "This hit movie was a huge opportunity for Garza. He was honored to be asked to update the sounds of some of the most moving songs by the Fab Four.
Afterwards, he formed EFG with Imaad Wasif. From 2011 to 2016, Garza supplied the drumbeats for three albums. Once the band had run its course, Garza had no regrets. He had not only built up a name for himself, but he also had the impeccable reputation that he had always wanted. It was time to go back to his roots.
Accomplishments, Awards, and Recognitions
Josh Garza contributed to five albums, 10 singles, and a DVD called Marfa Mystery Lights when he was with Secret Machines. Esquire named him Drummer of the Year, and Modern Drummer featured his tale about how he shaped his sound and made it in a sometimes-cut-throat industry. He's become an inspiration to young drummers in much the same way that John Bonham was an inspiration for him.
Those who think of Garza as one of their influencers typically know him as more than just a rock drummer. Even when he was a teenager, he didn't feel pigeonholed in one genre or another. It was much the same when he lived in Dallas: he knew he wanted to live in other cities to get a sense of what he really wanted. Being on the coast taught him that there's no 'right' answer for everyone. When Garza incorporates elements of pop or dreamy, eerie elements, he's doing so to push the boundaries of how people think about music. He's asking people to take a journey with him and giving them enough dimension that they want to come back to the same song again and again.
Challenging perceptions isn't a new concept in the musical world, which is why Garza is so proud to have done something that was both different and appreciated by the people around him. He's steadfast about producing music that authentically expresses his point of view. His hard work and creativity have meant that listeners everywhere can discover new facets of his genius with every new song.
Garza has built his career on everything from big band hits to obscure B-sides. Besides Bonham, he's credited Buddy Rich for helping to lead him to the right sound. Ultimately, he wants modern audiences to see how and where old-school music played a direct impact on what they're listening to today, thus connecting with music on a whole new level. Garza is honored when bands like King of Leon or Sun Pickups list Garza's work as being influential to the band. It's all a part of a circle that he's happy to be a part of.
It's not always easy to diverge from the popular sounds of the day. It's not always clear if fans will understand that the music isn't being produced to shock them, only to give them a new definition of what sound can be. From the boldest of songs to the subtlest of ballads, Josh Garza's drumming encourages listeners to dissect a tune down to its core elements, only to be surprised at just how much there is to find there.
