Grayson Gilmour
Tue 20 May 2008
Chapter ONE!
On the 2nd of June, Grayson Gilmour will release his fourth EP titled Chapters. EMJ talked with him about the new EP and his upcoming solo show, which will be his first in almost a year.
As a member of vibrant Wellington band So So Modern, many know Grayson Gilmour as the guy in the red jump suit. But somewhat away from the spotlight, Grayson has been crafting an illustrious solo career. Now up to EP number four, Chapters is the first release since his stunning full-length debut You Sleep, We Creep, released in late 2006.
Those who have followed Grayson’s solo career will recognise Chapters as being remarkably different from his previous work. “It’s my first ‘acoustic’ release,” explains Grayson, “I’ve kept clear of distortion and barely touched a piano.” Written and composed over the last six years, Chapters is drawn from “songs that either didn’t fit into the context of an album, or simply weren’t finished”. The title of the EP could also resurface in the future, Grayson says: “I’ve got plenty more up my sleeve, so who knows? Perhaps there’ll be a 2nd uh, chapter…in the Chapters series”.
Raised in Rotorua, schooled in Palmerston North and now living in Wellington, Grayson’s songs express and reflect on the people he’s met and the places he’s visited. “There’s a few personal tales in there, a reflection on the way I was raised with no religious convictions, a close call with some ‘unsavoury’ types on my way home in the wee hours and an unsettling correlation between social classes, social development and religion.” While admitting “Wellington is my favourite place to live”, he says “Berlin has shown a lot of promise…the people there are amazing; awake at all hours of the night and are up for anything”.
The last time Grayson was in Germany he had the honour of opening for musical mathematician Caribou. After technical glitches involving his iPod during sound check, his nerves of playing in front of such a large audience were overcome by worrying more about his gear; “It was packed with about 1000 people, but I just closed my eyes, did my thing and it went down a treat.”
Despite opening for Caribou, Grayson Gilmour has played very few live shows, he admits “I’m a weird one when it comes to playing live…I had to write three albums before I was convinced to play my first show.” He puts this down to being a perfectionist; “In some respects I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my music and when I play live I like to prepare a really good show/environment.”
His show on May 30 at Wellington’s San Fransisco Bathhouse will be a very special treat for all in attendance. Grayson hasn’t performed in New Zealand for almost a year, and is unlikely to perform again before he heads back to Europe with So So Modern. In the past, Grayson has taken to the stage alone, “stripping everything back to a bare-bones performance of vocals + piano or guitar”. However, for his upcoming Wellington performance he has put together a six piece band, who will accompany him for half the set.
He has kindly allowed us to provide a track from the upcoming Chapters EP for free download. (Limited time, get in quick)
Grayson Gilmour- Little Victories: MP3
Posted by Nick Fulton under New Zealand
