Album Review — GRiZ Finally Returns from Hiatus with “GEMiNI EP”

GRiZ

“GEMiNI EP,” our first taste of new GRiZ since he announced his indefinite hiatus around 18 (but who’s counting) months ago, was released on March 23, 2025. From the very first notes “GEMiNI EP,” the new project had me smiling, just so happy that he’s back. I won’t lie — I may have even gotten the chills when “Found Your Love” kicked in, its soulful melody and signature saxophone throwing it back to the early, funky GRiZ days.

READ: Review — Icelantic’s 13th Annual Winter on The Rocks Brought the Heat with a Side of Funk

The sheer amount of horn and high-intensity bass on this EP immediately made me feel this intense need to hear it live. I can already picture the energy, the GRiZ fam, and, of course, the mind-blowing lasers lighting up the night.

GRiZ may have been on PTO for the past year and a half, but this EP proves that he hasn’t taken a break from listening, creating and evolving as an artist. “GEMiNi EP” sees him weaving his signature funky, jam-filled grooves with fresh beats and modern bass drops, keeping his sound both timeless and current.

From the smooth, slow intro of “Found Your Love” to the final notes of “Til The Color Fades,” the EP flows effortlessly. In between, “Take Me Home” and “2-Step Nassau” take you on an upbeat, intergalactic, headbanging ride — packed with the futuristic funk that GRiZ has mastered over the years. And of course, the saxophone never misses.

The instrumental parts of the EP brought me back to albums like Say It Loud and Mad Liberation, which are heavily rooted in funk and electro-soul and showcase GRiZ’s love for feel-good energy and smooth melodies mixed with bass and brass. These albums were anthems of a time when GRiZ was building his reputation as the master of funk-infused electronic music, and they still hold a special place in my heart. 

“GEMiNI EP” also reminds me of GRiZ’s more recent album, Rainbow Brain, that came out in 2021 when he started to lend his music towards a more intergalactic vibe with futuristic sounds and fresh bass drops. With its reliance on horns coupled with huge, bass-driven melodies, GRiz’s sound remains unmistakable, despite its evolving factors.

Full disclosure, if it’s not obvious by now, I am a GRiZ fan and have been since I first heard his music over a decade ago. His ability to blend live musical performances with electronic sounds and exhibitions captivated me and I have been in love with his music since I first heard the notes of his saxophone wash over me.

I played this EP three times straight and then proceeded to listen back to the older albums of GRiZ that it reminded me of. I love that it brought me back to listening to old tracks and albums that I love. So, shoutout to GRiZ for 13 minutes and 15 seconds of fresh, funky, feel-good music. Welcome back.