South African singer/songwriter Garett van der Spek, aka Gary V, utilizes a combination of guitars, electronica, and vocals to create an atmospheric yet structured sound. Born in Durban, South Africa, Spek was raised on the rock & roll records owned by his father. When he reached school, he eagerly formed his first band. It wasn't until he moved to America in 2000, however, that a career in music began to take shape. Soon after arriving in Seattle, he formed a three-piece punk band known as Koko & the Sweetmeats. Just as they had begun to build a local following, the bandmembers parted ways, setting the stage for Spek's solo career. Gary V's self-titled full-length saw release in 2016 via the ANTI- label.