Exclusive Interview with GUS WALKER

Gus Walker is a Dutch indie artist. His music is a blend of influences with a solid basis of reggae and hip-hop sounds that is modern, catchy, and instantly identifiable. Gus analyzes the difficulties of life with an open-minded message of love and unity in his music. Gus Walker consistently speaks from the heart and is not hesitant to explore new musical territory. He encourages listeners to think independently, to examine the world critically, and to be receptive to what is different; without preconceived notions. Gus, accompanied by his live band, creates an intimate sense of community and celebration with his audience when performing on stage. Their performances are both spirited and seductive, like a pleasant summer breeze.

Boudewijn Pleij produced his debut single, Come Find Me, a pop reggae track with hip-hop undertones, released in 2022. The song encourages people to join and be vulnerable with one another. Pink Skies, the debut album by Gus Walker, is scheduled for release in 2023. Check out the song and the exclusive interview with Gus Walker below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

GUS WALKER: I was born and raised in Leiden, Netherlands. Basically, I’ve been in love with music all my life and started writing my own songs around 12 years old. Playing guitar, making beats, rapping, singing, and all that. I never stopped doing that and later on, I became part of a band and we played many shows all over the country for 7 years. I really love being on stage. About 3 years ago I started writing my upcoming album “Pink Skies”, which will be released later this year.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

GUS WALKER: I taught myself how to produce, and write songs, and how to rap. I then just practiced a lot and made lots and lots of songs. I’ve also had singing & guitar lessons. Due to these lessons, my passion grew even further and I could take my productions to a new level.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences?

GUS WALKER: My first musical influence is ‘Burning Spear’ – my father always listened to his live albums in the car, so ever since I can remember I’ve listened to reggae music. Later, I started listening to a lot of hip-hop, mostly 2Pac, Biggie, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar. I would say my main musical influences are reggae and hip-hop artists, but I listen to a lot of different genres. Lately, I’ve been listening a lot to African music, such as Tinariwen, Ali Farka Touré and Salif Keita.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

GUS WALKER: I would describe my sound as a warm and energetic blend of reggae and hip-hop. The key elements in my music are from those genres. The skank and basslines from reggae music, with the drum groove and energy from hip-hop. I also work a lot with brass musicians, so that is a key musical element as well. And of course the lyrics. I always speak from the heart.

5. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?

GUS WALKER:

I think everyone should be free to interpret art in general in their own personal way. It’s all about feeling it, from both sides. The most important and beautiful thing about music is the resonation between the artist and the people. If they feel it, they feel it. That’s what matters the most to me, people feeling my craft.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

GUS WALKER:

For me personally, art in general is a mirror to society. It shows you what world we live in and what we could do to improve ourselves. For me, it provides a bit of a bird-eye view of life, both spiritually as well as politically and culturally.
That’s why music plays such a massive role in my vision of the world. Many of my standpoints in life go hand-in-hand with songs I listen to a lot.
For my own music, I also translate my feelings and vision of society directly into my songs. Music is my main outlet to reflect on the world. Both making it, as well as listening to it. Without music, I wouldn’t be who I am for sure.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

GUS WALKER:

My music always gives me fulfillment because I can musically express myself in ways I can’t do in another way. So making a song is already fulfilling. But when playing live on stage and building an energetic bomb together with the crowd is even more fulfilling. It’s beautiful to share your music on stage, especially when you see it resonating with people and they give you that energy back. That’s the best thing.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

GUS WALKER: I don’t have a specific way of creating songs. I always collaborate with my dear friend Boudewijn Pleij, a very talented producer and keyboard player. We’ve been working together for a long time. But the creative process is always different. For this album, we had multiple workflows. I produced some demos myself, which Boudewijn then produced further, but we also did a lot of creation together, where he is just making a beat and I am writing lyrics. It always just flowed naturally, we’re a great team.

Sometimes I first make a beat and the lyrics are suddenly in my head. Other times, I’m just walking on the beach and get a lyrical idea and make a beat to match that. It’s always different, but collaborating definitely is the most fun part of making music. As I said I work a lot with Boudewijn Pleij, but I also make a lot of music with Lauran Neerincx and David van den Beld.

9. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?

GUS WALKER: Playing my music in front of a live audience is the most beautiful thing for me, because its energy is just magical. It feels like this busy world we live in just pauses for a moment and we all come together; the band and the crowd. Just being in the present, enjoying and celebrating life. That synergy is beautiful. Of course that magical feeling also happens in the studio when a track just suddenly hits that spot, but for me playing live is the best thing.

10. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

GUS WALKER: For me, social media is just a tool to reach a bigger audience as an artist, personally I don’t use it that much. I think social media has great advantages for society and people, but we’ve been drowning a bit in it.