gglum is an artist who has been on the radar for the last few years of her career, making it onto many a Spotify Editorial playlist alongside traction on BBC radio as well. Despite being in the early stages of her career, she has wielded her dreamy indie sound with finesse, delighting listeners with her experimental approach. gglum’s new record ‘The Garden Dream’ is out now.
Her music is a captivating blend of floaty DIY elements, weaving together to form a tapestry that resonates deeply with her audience. It’s the kind of sound that serves as the soundtrack to many a moment in life, often dreamlike as the title suggests. The production is often whimsical, and admittedly silly or light-hearted she told UNCLE, describing her creative process as a journey of pushing boundaries, aiming to find beauty in the unconventional and the imperfect.
In a recent conversation with UNCLE, gglum offered insights into her upcoming album and how it reflects the essence of the city that surrounds her. With UNCLE’s support, her artwork adorned the streets of London in tandem with the release. Through dreamy visuals and a commitment to doing things her own way, gglum continues to captivate indie enthusiasts with her unique style and authentic approach to music-making.
HOW DID THE NAME FOR YOUR LATEST RELEASE ‘THE GARDEN DREAM’ COME TO BE?
Originally I wanted to call it ‘Years of Slaughter’ but no one was really vibing with that so I decided that The Garden Dream would work. The album was accidentally quite inspired by a stint of bad dreams I was having, the main one being a dream I called The Garden Dream in which I was buried in a garden and tortured (pretty uplifting stuff).
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE ALBUM?
A bunch of janky sounds and pretty sounds coming together to make something in the middle. I wanted to make something I wasn’t really hearing anywhere else, pushing how ugly I could make things while still making it sound nice. It’s very honest I think.
HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM PREVIOUS RELEASES?
Up until this point I think I was still figuring out what I was doing but also releasing the songs as I went along. Everyone was watching me figure out how I wanted to write music in real time. This album feels like an accurate representation of what I like to write without trying to conform so much to what I think people want from me.
WHAT THEMES DO YOU TEND TO BE DRAWN TO IN YOUR MUSIC?
I’ve been told I tend to write quite violent lyrics alongside pretty songs which made me giggle. I hadn’t really noticed it before. I also think I write a lot about my desperate attempts at trying to connect to others – some successful and some not. It’s very much my diary and me trying to dissect my true feelings about things that you sometimes can’t tell people in your real life.
WHAT ROLE HAS MUSIC PLAYED IN YOUR LIFE?
Music has been at the core of my entire life. Everything else stems from it. All of my friendships, my hobbies, my work, my memories. It’s quite magical really. It’s made so much in my life to be grateful for and is probably the centre of all my happiness and suffering haha.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE ON ARTWORK/CREATIVES FOR SINGLES/ALBUMS?
A lot of it is just stuff that falls into place. If it feels right, then it feels right. I think overthinking those things can sometimes lead you to stray from what the music is meant to portray, although sometimes I wonder if that’s the right approach. I think I haven’t really locked in to what I want my visuals to be yet. Which is exciting because it means there’s a whole world of stuff to explore out there!
HOW DID COMING FROM LONDON IMPACT YOUR MUSIC?
I think growing up in London you don’t really realise how different it is from the rest of UK until you meet new people from outside of London. Everything is at your fingertips, there’s always an opportunity down the road, you just need to look for it. It can be as simple as making one friend at school that also likes to play music to open you up to a whole network of incredible people and places.
DOES THE CITY INSPIRE YOU OR INFLUENCE YOUR WORK?
I think I tend to write a lot about formative experiences of being a teenage rascal running around the city. I know a lot of people don’t agree but I love living in London. Although I’ve always lived here it still feels exciting, there’s always something new to do on your doorstop. The more memories you create, the more there is to write about I think.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC HOTSPOT IN LONDON?
I used to really love Ormside but I don’t really go out like that anymore haha. You know what, I’d have to say Railway Tavern in Tulse Hill. My favourite kind of gigs to go to are ones my friends are playing and I have so many fond memories of watching gigs there through the years. I’ll always bump into someone I know there so it feels like a cute little hub.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?
I’m going to be gigging a lot this year which I’m super excited for. I’ve been working a lot into making the live set more exciting for me and also hopefully the audience. It’ll be really nice to finally be playing my new music because I’ve been waiting so long for it.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED MUSICALLY?
The idea of being perceived is pretty freaky to me which is ironic considering the nature of doing music. I don’t mind if I’m not remembered at all, I’d just like to make music and have a good time.
