When conventional genre labels fail to describe music, language must evolve. Andrew Dice takes what he can from daily life, reproducing sentimental snapshots of reality through an airy form of music he created called “flok.”

“People who still do folk music need a new sound,” Dice said. “Flok was created to be different. It took as long as a dream would take to create it. I was lying in bed about to pass out. I was thinking. It crossed my thoughts. And I wrote it down, scribbling it on a wall.”

Dice, also known as Green Gerry, is a California native who started taking music seriously in high school. Always musically inclined, he taught himself how to play the guitar, bass, piano and drums. He’s a one-man band that among his sources of inspiration counts friends, Radiohead and cicadas.

“Everything inspires me. I like trying to recreate anything I’ve seen – a dark tunnel, a really tall tree, a building,” he said. “I like recreating those feelings, and I like for people to be able to close their eyes, listen [to my music], and put themselves somewhere else.”

Dice is putting shows together where he can play outdoors and at abnormal locations.

“A venue is a venue. They’re pretty much the same anywhere you go,” he said. “[That's why] I want to play in odd places: an abandoned building, a trail by Oconee river on the edge of the water. There’s an elevator shaft that I like to play in. It has a really good acoustic sound.”

Dice likes to be different. Real. It’s his style. He believes other musicians should also remain natural.

“People get too overly obsessed with the [trends] and what they think is cool,” he said. “I try to be as honest as possible, because all that stuff, I really just don’t care for.”

Dice’s music is his way of understanding things around him.

“[My lyrics are just] the thoughts I have,” he said. “I have thoughts about any and everything. I ask a lot of questions. I ask myself questions, then I answer them. Nothing’s really that hard to figure out.”

Despite acknowledging what’s wrong in the people around him, Dice realizes that he too doesn’t have it all put together. His art then acts as his guide.

“Music to me is a very strict teacher. It’s one of those things that I love and hate at the same time, because it shows me what’s wrong with me. It’s my Adderall. It keeps me in check. Everyone has some type of ADD. Music reminds me of what I should be doing: music, writing and recording. [To disregard distractions and] get things done.”