ON THE RISE
ORLANDO, Fla. — Everyone needs affirmation and that’s what Giles offers in his new single, ‘Alive’ which debuted on the Digital Radio Tracker Global Top 200 Airplay chart at No 116 on April 9.
A fast song that sends a message of hope and worthiness to everyone who listens, Giles released three versions on YouTube last month — including a visualizer version and a version that shows the lyrics. But to get a true measure of the artist’s talent, one really needs to listen to the unplugged version.
Recorded on a simple Canon camera, Giles plays the beat on the piano and sings the song without the fancy studio and digital enhancements that you see in the video or streaming version of the song. It leaves no doubt regarding Giles’ talent and the heart with which he spreads his message of encouragement and empowerment.
“That was my goal to let people know that I really do have some competence musically and that it’s not a bunch of studio tricks,” Giles said. “I wanted to showcase not only my musicianship and my ability to produce on a high level, but also my ability to rap on a high level and to sing on a high level and do the things that make me feel unique as an artist. I wanted to overdose on that a little bit, just really show the world what I had to offer. I didn't know at the time that this was going to be the single that I came out with, but I knew it was a possibility.”
Producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, audio engineer, arranger, and composer; Giles, formerly known as Vthov, has worked as pianist and lead musician on “What Does Freedom Mean” off the Soundtrack to the Oscar winning major motion picture "Twelve Years a Slave.” Giles has also worked as the principal arranger for Cody ChesnuTT's critically acclaimed sophomore album "Landing on 100.”
Giles said his previous stage name came from the nickname his friends gave him in school combining his first name, Alvin, with Beethoven, to come up with Vinthoven, then the shortened version Vthov.
When he decided to reboot his entertainment career, Giles decided to reboot completely and go with his surname instead of returning to that previous stage name. Now he just has to deal with people figuring out whether to pronounce his name with the hard “G” or the correct way with the soft “G,” like “Jiles.”
“I decided to rebrand and ‘Vthov’ was so hard for people to say and even if they heard it they couldn’t spell it, so it wasn’t easy to find my music just from hearing people talk about it,” Giles said. “So I did what any reasonable person would do and switched my name from one thing that was difficult to pronounce to something else that was difficult to pronounce. Now I’m dealing with the ramifications of that, but that is actually my surname so I’m a little less flexible.”
Now Giles is setting off with new music, including “Alive,” which was released in March, and another single coming out soon called “Grinders and Hustlers.”
Giles said when he plays “Alive” before a live audience, it’s fun to watch the awe on people’s faces when he plays with just a bassist and drummer and himself on the piano.
“This is my first time putting out music in a while so some people who are familiar of my artistry as a live performer have the sense of me covering other people’s music,” Giles said. “But they weren’t really familiar with what I could do as a song-writer. Some people who have never heard the song in its recorded form, their first interaction with the song is hearing me replicate it live without all the production elements. Just me playing the piano, sometimes with a drummer, and for them to have that response lets me know that irrespective of the production value, it’s a good song. It’s a strong, well-written song, and that’s all you could ever ask for as a song-writer.”
Giles said “Grinders and Hustlers” is another song with a message, honoring those who go out and work hard at whatever they do, whether they’re college students, contractors, or they work in a board room.
“I wanted those people to feel that their hard work is valued as well and it’s something they should be proud of,” he said. “And it’s something I’m proud of watching them excel in those areas. That’s kind of a twist on it, I’m saying something that’s been said before about acknowledging people who grind and people who hustle but I’m doing it through a different lens.”
Giles said he plans to continue performing and promoting and he may put these two singles with other music he’s preparing into an album soon.
Follow Giles on all social media and streaming platforms:
Website: https://gilesmusic.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Official_Giles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialGilesMusic
Instagram: http://instagram.com/officialgilesmusic/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialgilesmusic
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OfficialGilesMusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/68TzkIrPgDqHPko5ZHvxqV
Elvis Presley – ‘Mystery Train’
“My first love was Elvis, no question. In our house, we had a French-release compilation album of his songs called ‘Le Roi Du Rock ‘n’ Roll’. As a small kid, I was obsessed with ‘Mystery Train’. The way Elvis held his guitar like a gun and the percussive way he attacked the strings made me fall in love with the guitar. Many years later, I went busking around Europe on my motorbike with a tent and played my guitar in the streets. But it was all because of Elvis and those early Sun [Records] recordings – and ‘Mystery Train’ in particular.”
Blondie – ‘Autoamerican’
“There was an Our Price on Finchley Road, North London that I’d go to with my older brother and sister. That’s where I bought ‘Autoamerican’ in 1981. Blondie – what can you say? Apart from the fact that as a young boy, it was impossible not to be in love with Debbie Harry. I love the variety on this particular record – it goes through different genres. Years later, I saw Blondie play [in 2013] at a private function in New York with Kanye West. Debbie Harry was still magnetic.”
Queen, Wembley Stadium, 1986
“Queen were supported by INXS. It was before they released ‘Kick’ [in 1987]. I only went because it turned out my friend Kieran’s dad was a big-shot in the music industry and he got four tickets. I was around 17, it was a year after they played Live Aid and Queen were phenomenal.”
The Beatles – ‘Eleanor Rigby’
“All through our early teenage years, my younger brother and I were always at the top of the house listening to The Beatles. ‘Eleanor Rigby’ reminds me of the ‘80s and the views out of our house in London: looking at the grey, rain-drizzled skies. I always felt its melancholy, looking out of the window back then as a teenager. Not that I was unhappy, but I definitely responded to that in music.”
Ever meet Macca?
“I have met Paul McCartney and he was a complete gentleman. At a political party, we were watching the American election on TV and he came up to me and said [Lewis does a pitch-perfect Macca impersonation]: ‘Oh, you understand a bit or two about the TV, don’t you?’. And I just realised he’d seen me on TV and I melted. I went to bed grinning. That McCartney knows who I am is incredible. I was completely tongue-tied.”
David Bowie – ‘Heroes’
“I know 173 other people will probably also have picked ‘Heroes’ for this, but from the opening note, it’s just relentlessly brilliant. It’s the most evocative, triumphant, euphoric song – and unbelievably cool. The second album I ever owned was Bowie’s ‘Hunky Dory’ – and he’s remained a touchstone for me.”
The Rolling Stones – ‘Little T&A’
“I listen to the Stones a lot and I can never get ‘Little T&A ‘ out of my head. Keith Richards is quoted as calling the song ‘dumb’ and that it’s just about rock ‘n’ roll energy. It’s a celebration of carnality, I’m aware of that, but that’s the one that stays in my head!”
Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers – ‘Swing the Mood’
“I can’t fucking hear Jive Bunny again! But I don’t mean that in a pejorative way. When I was in my twenties, I would go out on my own dancing to old-school rock ‘n’ roll at rockabilly nights. Then Jive Bunny came out and cut up my favourite songs into snippets and put them into this endless [novelty] medley. And then it was never off the radio, so I’d have to put it into the Room 101 of music.”
Crazy P – ‘There’s a Better Place’
“It’s an ambient rave tune with a fantastic Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory sample. I’m just that age. I left school right into the dance culture of the ‘90s and that will still always get me up on the floor.”
The Weepies – ‘Gotta Have You’
“It reminds me of moving to LA as a family with my late wife Helen [McCrory]. My daughter was one year old and my son was about to be born. We were living in Venice Canals – and I was filming out there. We had a babysitter who was a 23-year-old roller-skating, already-Botoxed sunny Californian girl. We asked her, are you listening to any good music? She gave us two great bands. One is The Shins but the other was a lesser-known band called The Weepies. That song will always get me going.”
Elton John – ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’
“I can’t say I do karaoke but I will proudly divulge that I was at karaoke in Fulham Broadway once. I went in there with a friend and I got up and sang ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’ and I won a bottle of champagne for best karaoke of the evening! Very chuffed I was too. If I was back looking for another bottle of champers, I’d pick it again.”
Talk Talk – ‘It’s My Life’
“I was an ‘80s kid and I liked electronic music. I’ve always loved ‘It’s My Life’ and Andy Hollis’ vocals, as well as its slightly bombastic nature. Life’s what you make of it – seems like a good sentiment to have.”
Damian Lewis’ UK tour begins on October 2. His album ‘Sweet Chaos’ is out now via Thin Red Duke
