We’re exactly one month away from the release of The Garden Dream, the debut album from rising UK artist gglum.
There’s sure to be a level of anticipation for any musician making their debut, but if the singles gglum has released so far are anything to go by, we’re in for an absolute treat.
First there was the lead single Do You See Me Different?, an atmospheric track about life’s confusion featuring Kamal. Glue followed, before gglum solidified what’s sure to be a breakout album with most recent single Eating Rust.
That song, with its punchy percussion and lo-fi feel, forms part of The Garden Dream’s broader 13-song tracklist, which gglum describes as “a kind of fever dream.”
With a new single under her belt and in anticipation of The Garden Dream (set for release on March 29), we caught up with gglum for a chat about Eating Rust, dreams as a source of inspiration, and “exist[ing] in a funny little musical bubble.”
Catch our full interview with gglum below, and scroll down to listen to her new single Eating Rust.
HAPPY: What are you up to today?
GGLUM: My flatmate is coming back from being in Canada for the last two weeks so I’ve decorated the flat with bunting and balloons to welcome her back. I’m waiting on the sofa right now because I have no idea when she’s returning.
HAPPY: Tell us a little about where you live, what’s the scene like?
GGLUM: I live in London which is very much home to me. I’m a bit more of a hermit these days but I do like going to the pub and seeing my friends play gigs. All of my friends are musicians so I exist in a funny little musical bubble.
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HAPPY: Could you share a bit more about what inspired the creation of your latest single, “Eating Rust,” and how it captures the overall vibe and theme of your upcoming album, “The Garden Dream”?
GGLUM: Eating Rust was the second song I made when I’d decided I was going to make an album and the first one that we knew was going to be on it.
The Glow Pt.2 album by The Microphones was a huge inspiration which is why Eating Rust is full of Nylon string guitars, janky percussion and out of tune accordion. When we made it it felt like the anchor point for everything else.
HAPPY: Your previous single, ‘Glue,’ touched on the struggles of wanting to mend a broken relationship. How does ‘Eating Rust’ continue to explore the themes of relationships and personal experiences in your unique way?
GGLUM: Eating Rust is almost like the step past wanting to fix it. It’s the stark realisation that the relationship has been rotting you from the moment it started and the realisation of how much damage it has caused to you.
Its like that whole boiling frog thing but instead of actually being boiled alive you hop out and realise that everything you held on to didn’t exist. Unfortunately I think a lot of people can relate to that “bubble being burst” moment.
HAPPY: You mentioned that ‘Eating Rust’ is about a period where you sought someone’s love and approval unsuccessfully. Could you share a bit more about how this experience inspired the dream that led to the creation of the entire album?
GGLUM: I’m a strong believer that dreams are your subconscious trying to have a little chat with you.
I think all the stuff I wrote about in this album were things I never dealt with at the time and my dreams were screaming at me that I had unfinished business.
Writing this album was a way for me to work through some of the stuff I never dealt with and the dreams really helped guide me in the right direction.
HAPPY: Your collaboration with producer Karma Kid seems like it was a crucial part of shaping ‘The Garden Dream.’ How did this collaboration influence the overall sound, and did it bring about any surprises or challenges that stood out to you?
GGLUM: Karma Kid and I really clicked musically from the first time I worked with him. He is willing to try anything and has always seemed to really understand how my influences inspire me.
I think collaborating with each other allowed this project to be cohesive and tell a story. He’s very passionate about projects telling a story and flowing in the best way they can. The only challenge was the waiting game to release it once we’d finished the project.
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HAPPY: The idea of reaching out to your past self and confronting lingering unease in ‘The Garden Dream’ is intriguing. Can you share a bit about the personal growth and self-discovery reflected in the album, and how it might differ from your earlier works?
GGLUM: I feel like before I was writing from a place of still being slightly in it. Still struggling through those situations in the moment.
Writing The Garden Dream was an opportunity to look back on those situations and recognise the effect it has on me now.
I think maybe it was the first time I allowed myself to mourn for my teenage self now that I’m an adult and can see these things from a distance.
I think it now comes from a more peaceful place. I know that I can channel these difficult feelings into my writing and then get that catharsis so that my day to day life can be calm and happy.
HAPPY: Congratulations on signing with Secretly Canadian! That’s a significant step. How has this partnership influenced your approach to making music, and have there been any standout opportunities or moments since the signing?
GGLUM: Weirdly, I now feel more free to experiment and do what I want. They’re never pushy, they are just passionate about music and want to help assist their artists with whatever their vision is.
I think the main stand out moment was when I showed them the album and they didn’t try to convince me to do something different. It was an amazing feeling for the album to be accepted just as it was, I think it was quite validating.
HAPPY: Lastly, what makes you happy?
Going to the pub with friends, baths, Summer, Sundays and Ragu.
