‘New Album’ is where a band or artist answers some questions about their latest release. Up next is Grayson Gilmour, who has a new album ‘Otherness’ due for release in July.
When/where was the new album recorded?
Aside from the drums and strings (which were recorded with James Goldsmith at the Blue Barn), I recorded much of the album at home in my studio. I’m lucky enough to have a space dedicated for music making.
Who produced/engineered the album? How did the tracks come together in the studio, or at home?
I usually write from my studio, building tracks out of samples from rough demos. I’ll try out different arrangements, swap out instruments and process sounds until I figure out what it was that I had in mind – this takes forever because I’m obsessed with exploring all the potential ways to present a song! ‘Remix, Rework & Rearrange’ was a mantra that I had posted in my studio
while this album was coming together. Once I’d settled on the track list for ‘Otherness’ I took my sessions to Simon Gooding (who I’d met at Roundhead studios in Auckland) and mixed the album with him in Wellington.
How did the songwriting happen? Are there any overall themes within the songs/album?
Much like how they came together! A gradual process/evolution over time, piecing ideas together until they form a song. The theme across ‘Otherness’ is basically shifting ones perspective for the better; seeing things differently, more positively. I think this came from dropping the anxiety of my 20’s and being ok with life!
Were you going for a different sound/approach on this album?
‘Focused’ would be the best way to put it. I’ve definitely expanded my sonic palette, but I chose to practise a little more restraint on this album when compared to Infinite Life! My last album relied quite heavily on samples/found-sounds/textures, and while the same could be said for
‘Otherness’ it’s different in that I made most of the sounds myself; self-sampling in a way! I also wrote string quartet arrangements for all the songs, which really transformed the recordings.
Was there any specific gear you used to capture that?
I picked up a secondhand ‘Tempest’ drum machine which I used to make tonnes of odd sounds/textures on the album – definitely not what it was designed for, but it sounds great to me!
Is there a particular single/track that you feel captures the essence of the album?
Probably the first single ‘Hundred Waters’ – it begins with the Tempest, ends with the string quartet and has all of the woozy signature sounds of the album within it. Plus a great beat from Cory Champion!
Is there a physical copy available? If not which digital platforms is it available on?
Yes! There are limited edition LPs available for pre-order which include bonus artwork/tracks. Also available on CD, a special Japan-only CD with remixes and all the usual digital formats.
Are you working on a video/videos for any of the songs?
Yes! Another animated 360° video with spatial audio for the next single/title track of the album, as a follow up to Hundred Waters. It’s being made by a great team of animators over in Taiwan!