Garrett Anthony Rice talks albums, authenticity, and the music business

Episode 005 – Garrett Anthony Rice | MAKE // BREAK

Garrett Anthony Rice is an Irish songwriter whose double album Equinox has already drawn early praise as one of the most ambitious debuts of the decade. Recorded across Ireland and the UK with producer Chris Potter (The Verve, The Rolling Stones), the record spans 18 songs that move from swamp blues slide guitar to Britpop shimmer and politically charged anthems. Singles like “Eden,” “I Found Myself Today,” and “Property” show the range: gospel haze, anti-war urgency, and a re-framing of Syd Barrett’s legacy. On MAKE // BREAK, Garrett speaks candidly about craft, industry saturation, and his belief that music must carry both truth and weight. He pushes back against formula and fleeting trends, pointing instead to Dylan, Bowie, and Ashcroft as reminders of how songs can change lives. It’s a grounded, passionate look at what it means to create art with conviction in a crowded, uncertain era.

👀 What you’ll hear • Break down Garrett Anthony Rice’s creative process and how Equinox sets up future albums already in the works • Call out the formulaic “two-chord clones” dominating airwaves and why true artistry comes from somewhere deeper • Debate streaming saturation, shocking Spotify stats, and what it really takes to find an audience today • Explore DIY promotion, relentless posting, and how persistence plus authenticity can cut through the noise • Highlight the holy trinity of artist income streams: touring, merch, and sync opportunities beyond streaming pennies • Share advice on balancing business and creativity without losing the magic that makes songs matter

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction and the joy of songwriting

01:00 Writing Equinox and future albums

04:00 Breaking clichés in the acoustic scene

07:30 Influences from Bowie to Ashcroft and Hendrix

12:00 Honest critique of modern rap vs the 90s

17:00 Spotify saturation and shocking streaming stats

22:00 First album, Chris Potter, and DIY promotion

27:00 Perseverance lessons from Taylor Swift to Sabrina Carpenter

32:00 Treating music as a business without losing heart

38:00 Chasing money vs chasing meaning in art

41:00 Music as escape, identity, and cultural connection

47:00 Blues roots, influences, and carrying forward tradition

52:00 Passing the gift of music to the next generation

57:00 Final reflections and looking ahead

🔗 Guest Links

https://linktr.ee/garrettanthonyrice

https://instagram.com/garrettanthonyrice

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Kw1ZbSdRWH7SSSPb6PrnY?si=6op2u1gKQk6Fe_1w0CFGPw

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more conversations and drop a comment: should artists chase streams or focus on the holy trinity of touring, merch, and sync?

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #Rice #MusicBusiness