Fantastically Harsh: Remembering Orlando artist Tony Garan | Arts Tales + Interviews | Orlando

I will not be the perfect individual to write down about artist Tony Garan; we weren’t particularly shut. However Tony was one in all Orlando’s friendliest freaks — a real artist, underground agitator and delicate soul. And although I hadn’t seen him in fairly a while previous to his recent passing, we all the time appeared to be on the identical wavelength once we did join.

The primary piece I wrote for the Orlando Weekly was a primer on musicians who represented the spirit of Orlando’s DIY-underground circa-1996. After all, Tony was included by way of his ongoing experimental-electronic venture Precise Wounds. I bear in mind he invited me over to his home to do an impromptu interview for the story. As we sat in his bed room studio, we bonded over our shared love of synths, samplers and industrial music.

Because the years glided by, I principally stored in contact with Tony by way of his social-media updates. Whether or not exhibiting his paintings all around the metropolis, reissuing Precise Wounds albums or posting about his ardour for skateboarding — he all the time appeared to be whirlwind of exercise.

We lastly did reconnect in 2018 after I started to file my very own music once more; Tony despatched me a “care package deal” together with a few of his newer music and postcard artwork — together with hand-written notes and flyers.

Life all the time bought in the way in which of attending to know Tony higher. But I continued to deeply admire his dedication to get his artwork out into the world it doesn’t matter what — even when the trouble spent exponentially outweighed any (rational) return on funding.

I nonetheless have the Precise Wounds cassette Tony initially gave me all these years in the past, full with handmade liner-notes and paintings. Within the Weekly article, I famous Tony’s music was “fantastically harsh, and at instances, simply stunning.” And from what I’ve heard from others, this might simply describe Tony, too.

He’ll definitely be missed.