GEFRIN was an independent music project created by British songwriter and musician Rob Matthew Redhead in 2000. Based in rural Northumberland, the project grew out of Rob's love of 1960s and 1970s music, particularly The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who, The Byrds and The Moody Blues, alongside influences from David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Syd Barrett, Cat Stevens and Peter Gabriel.
Named after the ancient Anglo-Saxon settlement of Gefrin near Kirknewton, Northumberland, the project became a creative outlet for Rob's songwriting, recording and visual imagination. Using home recording technology, including the Roland VS-1680 digital workstation, Rob wrote, performed and recorded his own material, developing a distinctive mixture of melodic guitar pop, psychedelic influences, folk, classic pop and rock.
The first period of GEFRIN ran from 2000 to 2003, producing a substantial collection of original songs and albums. After a break, during which Rob explored puppetry, theatrical entertainment and returned to heavy metal with other projects, GEFRIN was revived in 2008. Further recordings followed, including material written and recorded during 2010 and 2011.
Across its eleven-year history, GEFRIN became a substantial independent musical archive, with ten albums and a wide variety of original compositions exploring everyday life, relationships, humour, society and personal experiences. Rob also developed artwork, imagery and videos to accompany the music, reflecting his wider creative interests and distinctive Rabbitman-inspired visual identity.
The final GEFRIN recordings were completed in 2011, bringing the project to a close. Today, the music forms part of the wider Rob Redhead Archives, documenting an important chapter in a musical journey that has encompassed heavy metal, psychedelic pop, folk, guitar rock and independent songwriting.
GEFRIN (2000–2011) – Written, performed and recorded by Rob Matthew Redhead.
