Asklepius is a prog-rock trio from Detroit that features Justin Groppuso-Cook on keys, Matt Smiley on drums, and Dave Alpern on bass. The group has just released a new EP entitled “Relative to a Mood,” as well as a video for the track “Jubilation.” Featuring a soaring melody with an expansive arrangement, on the cut the band’s far-flung travels give way to a raucous joy.
Below, you can watch a video for the cut directed by Andrew Kaplowitz. Additionally, Justin and Dave took some time this week to answer our questions about “Relative to a Mood” and our current, dramatic state-of-affairs. You can check that out after video embed below…
LETV: You’ve got a new EP out Thursday and a new video here, all happening during very unprecedented times. Tell us what the past couple months have been like for you guys and how you take it all in as artists.
JGC: Before COVID broke out, we were in a solid groove – playing songs better than we ever had before as well as working out new material. Then, social distancing began, and we ended up not seeing each other until very recently. This was a little frustrating for me as I didn’t want to stop the momentum, but it was necessary. These past few months have given me time to be very introspective about my path as a musician, poet, healer, and human being. I tend to be pretty in tune in general, but doing so in such unprecedented times adds a whole new layer. I took this time to finish up lingering projects, fix up my house, get into a solid daily routine, and heal. I ended up being quite focused and creative during this time, which is something I am incredibly grateful for. I also spent a lot of time in ceremony and prayer. I work with various plant medicines, and my relationship with them has deepened during this time of rest and reflection; this, in turn, has helped me sort through a lot of my doubts and fears. Despite the chaos all around, I have found a stronghold within that has given me much strength and peace of mind.
DA: My short response to what the past few months have been like is this: quiet chaos. For context, I am a front of the house restaurant worker and live alone. That combination has forced me to spend A LOT of time reflecting on the almost daily changes in the narrative and landscape of these events. It has been worthwhile but taxing. Applying that to the concept of taking it in as an artist is actually not something I’ve spent too much time thinking about to be honest. I suppose thinking about it now, the main theme has been how stress stifles creativity. And normally I feel like I’m very creative in how I approach everything in life in terms of problem solving and expressing myself. So perhaps that thought then informs our stated purpose of this band, to heal.
LETV: Your sound seems like it’s based on pure chemistry, and has a lot of great elements to it (indie/jazz/soul) how did you guys find each other and where do you conjure up your inspiration.
JGC: Matt and I have known each other since 7th grade, and we have been playing music together ever since – that is where I believe so much of the chemistry has come from. We share similar music tastes, and our style of playing music has co-evolved together; from rhythm to phrasing, we inherently know how to play off one another. Asklepius is the culmination of that relationship. Then, Dave stepped in and found the groove pretty quickly. Our first practice together was quite an event! From that day forward, we just continued to meld our sound into what you hear today. I think of it as a kind of living, breathing organism that shapes us as much as we shape it.
I find inspiration all over the place. In addition to music, I also write poetry, and these two disciplines often inform one another. I am also a student of, for lack of a better word, “shamanic” practices, which involves a lot of musical elements. I wanted to incorporate these elements into Asklepius to create music that was more than just some form of entertainment; we genuinely want our music to heal and uplift the human spirit. There is literal “conjuring” going on when I compose some of these pieces. I get melodies in medicine ceremonies and translate them to piano. They are sacred gifts that I cherish, and I love to share them with the band as well as the world. I believe them to be sonic prayers with a unique kind of magic. When you believe your music is derived from a higher source, it’s hard not to find inspiration.
DA: I jumped in late to the game. Justin and Matt obviously had already laid most of the architecture. I just had to fit myself into that. The process was definitely eased by the amount of musical cuing that they had developed already. I simply had to listen. Even the first time that I came over to jam, before “joining” the band was a sure thing, following the break of the musical waves just happened naturally. And that I believe answers the question of where I draw my inspiration from: from them. All of my influences have already been internalized and incorporated into the spirit at the source of my playing. From there we kick out the jams, so to speak.
LETV: How does Detroit influence your sound? Who would you like to shout out?
JGC: I feel like Detroit – as a being – is this tension between beauty and struggle. I find that tension a lot in our music; it is catharsis. From the abandoned buildings, to the empty lots of regrowth forest, to the magnificent architecture and people who have survived it all, this spirit is embedded in what and how we play. Given the times we are living in, it is essential to note how Black people and culture have continuously shaped the sound and rhythm of Detroit. We do our best to respect and honor that. From the old, smokey jazz clubs, to the soul of Motown, to rave culture, and hip-hop legends such as Jay Dee (J Dilla): all of these influences make their way into our music in overt or subtle ways.
We also embody the raw passion of groups like the MC5. Though we are not necessarily a rock or punk band – which also have an intimate history with the city – I believe we as individuals embody that sort of “fuck the system” attitude. There are also a lot of our contemporaries – who I have the blessing to see live – that inspire me: Sacramento Knoxx, SUPERCOOLWICKED, Detroit Bureau of Sound, Bryce Detroit, We Are Culture Creators (super dope crew), Aja “Salakastar” Dier, Ahya Simone, Sasha Kashperko, and Kesswa to name a few. Honestly, there is so much great music happening in the city right now it’s kind of ridiculous. I could go on forever…
DA: I think that Detroit for me is more about honoring an incredible legacy of great music than anything else. Being from the area, not necessarily the city even, it just becomes a part of our blood. Motown, Iggy Pop, going to DEMF when it was called that (and was free!), it’s like I have this responsibility to put the same kind of heart into our music. As far as the scene today, it’s sooooo diverse. I really like the shows that we’ve played with Bave, Alluvial Fans and our friend Jake Schwandt. He does a lot of playing around town in various outfits and it’s all awesome. We had a show booked that was cancelled during the first week of the pandemic crisis with Dani Darling. I’m really looking forward to rebooking that show. Her voice is wonderful.
LETV: Lastly.. what gives you hope for the future, and hope for the future of the band?
JGC: I tend to be an optimistic person, and I refuse to lose hope in humanity. Though times are really wild at the moment, I feel this is a shift, a transformation that will fundamentally alter our country and the world. As I stated previously, I do a lot of work with plant medicines, and they truly love humans and want us to reclaim our lives and sacred purpose. I believe music plays a vital role in giving us the energy and spirit to make this shift happen. I keep saying this is the season finale of America – as in the Empire of – and things will never be the same; the veil has been lifted. This, ultimately, is a good thing. We desperately need change and a new way of being, a new way of communicating, and a new way of seeing ourselves within the world. I also believe we are being guided by a higher force that wants the best for this planet.
As for the band? We are just getting started. I believe we are cultivating a sound of the future, a battlecry for the human spirit. The newer stuff we have been working out is another evolution in our sound and identity. It is so uplifting and powerful – it shakes me to the core. I know that when others hear it, they too will feel this. I also feel like we are doing something truly unique. I realize a lot of bands say this, but I feel that we genuinely doing it, living it, breathing it. For me, Asklepius has always been more than just a band – it is a lifestyle, a way of being; as more people catch this wave, I believe something very miraculous will transpire. That spark is all I need to push forward.
DA: I think that the events of specifically the past few days have demonstrated that the human spirit is still VERY alive in a lot of us. I’m seeing people in my world learning, listening and helping in ways and volumes that I’ve never seen. We haven’t even hit the real hard parts yet, but together, we can get through this time by answering its call. So in terms of the band, I hope that our sound and message is helpful as well. We are about healing which is something that a lot of us will be needing to do. If we got it right, then our future is strong
