Ghinzu

Ghinzu is a Belgian indie rock band from Brussels, formed in 1999. The group takes its name from a Japanese knife brand. It starts with musicians who have already spent several years on the Belgian rock scene before forming the band.

Line-up

The current line-up includes John Descamps, also known as John Stargasm, on vocals and keyboard, Mika Nagazaki on bass, Greg Remy on guitar, Antoine Michel on drums, and Jean Waterlot on keyboard and guitar. Former members include Kris Dane on keyboard and guitar, Fabrice Georges on drums, and Sanderson Poe on contrabass. Verified membership information also lists Fabrice George, Sanderson Poe, John Stargasm, Kris Dane, Antoine Michel, Jean Waterlot, Michaël Hasson, and Greg Remy among the band’s members.

Recordings and releases

The band’s first album, Electronic Jacuzzi, is released through the group’s own Dragoon label. Recorded across several sessions in spring and autumn 1999 and 2000, it contains 12 tracks and quickly sells several thousand copies. The album’s first singles are “Dolly Fisher” and “Electronic Jacuzzi”. “Dolly Fisher” is placed on the Radio 21 playlist before its release.

Ghinzu’s second album, Blow, is released in 2004. The album is also issued on the Atmospheriques label in France.

In 2026, the band releases W.O.W.A., preceded by the singles “Out of Control”, “Snow White” and “Forever”.

Live activity and reception

After the release of Electronic Jacuzzi, Ghinzu tours from 2000 to 2002, playing around 50 concerts and a mini-tour of Flanders. In 2003, the band tests new material at festivals including Nandrin Festival and Nuits Botaniques with Kris Dane as a multi-instrumentalist on stage. It is selected by RTBF to represent Belgium at Eurosonic in the Netherlands in January 2004. That same year, it sells out the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels in a joint bill with Girls in Hawaii and Sharko, and plays major Belgian festivals including Dour, Nandrin, VerdurRock and Pukkelpop.

The group later tours the Netherlands in early 2005 and plays another sold-out Ancienne Belgique show in Brussels. After a long break, it returns in June 2024 for three sold-out concerts at the Ancienne Belgique to mark 20 years of Blow. It then begins a European tour in June 2026.

Style

Ghinzu is described as alternative rock, with a sound that draws on groove, noise, piano, trash synths, no-wave melodies, breakbeats, speed-pop and contrasting guitar and double-bass textures. Its lyrics and stage presentation are associated with a sarcastic but tender outlook, social vignettes, and a controlled, jubilant form of anarchy.