Daily Inspiration: Meet Bazil Gillen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bazil Gillen. 

Hi Bazil, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I started drumming when I was 11 and was quick to identify myself as a musician shortly after. Since then, I’ve mostly unintentionally paved the way for a start to my career in Denver-playing gigs, session work/lessons, and I leave on my first tour here this November! 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Honestly, being able to make a living off music feels really good, so in that respect, yes and I’m so grateful to be playing so much these days. However, there are a lot of hurdles involved in being an artist/musician, and I believe many of them stem from self-doubt/comparison, feeling vulnerable in putting yourself out there, and fear of failure. I’ve learned it’s really important to simply enjoy making music for music’s sake, and not treat it too much as work or put too much reliance on it or pressure on yourself when things aren’t going exactly the way you want. Working in music can be tough both physically and emotionally, so it’s important to prioritize your health. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m mainly a gigging drummer but hope to gain more experience playing in studios and touring here soon. I’ll be transferring to MSU Denver in pursuit of a degree in jazz performance here next semester, which I’m really looking forward to, as I feel like it’s been so long since I’ve gotten guidance, I’ve just been playing out all the time. You can never stop learning with something like music, so I hope I get to study it more and more for the rest of my life. I often consider pursuing other careers and paths, and I still may do that, but music keeps calling to me for now, and it’s sure keeping me busy. 

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’m definitely willing to play for and with more people and to find where my true passion lies. It seems like I’ve been playing all sorts of styles lately but it would be nice to find a niche I really feel comfortable in. With that said it’s also so cool to be playing jazz and hip-hop one night and then pop-punk the next, and then funk or bluegrass or whatever else the night after that, and I’m grateful for all this exposure to stuff I wouldn’t normally play or listen to. If you need a drummer to collaborate with in person or remote shoot me a dm on insta! 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bazilxgillen/