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Bath-based indie group Gum Soul release debut single 'Sour'

Posted on: 01 Aug 2018

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Having gotten together back in February, Gum Soul are proud to unveil their debut single, Sour, out today on all major online platforms. The track represents a strong start for the Bath-based four-piece, with strong indie riffs and a decidedly grungy undertone. We got the chance to chat with lead singer and guitarist Curtis Connor ahead of the release and discuss musical influences, the current state of Bristol's music scene and the band's goals for the future.

 

***Listen to 'Sour' via Soundcloud***

How long has Gum Soul been together and how did the band come about?

CC: Gum Soul began around February time 2018. It was initially a solo project of mine, however due to various circumstances, it was time to bring it to life. After rehearsing an initial set for around a month we played our first gig at Moles in Bath.

 

How would you describe your sound?

CC: Overall the sound is pretty guitar driven, very crunchy and hard-hitting at times. Morphing the presence of 90s grunge with an alternative indie twist.

 

Who would you identify as your musical inspirations? Are there any particular artists who’ve influenced your music directly?

CC: The band is inspired with quite a diverse range of music, from the likes of Alice in Chains, Nirvana, to Jeff Buckley, Drenge, Ty Segall, Queens of the Stone Age just to name a few. At the moment we’re really enjoying Shame’s new album, I would say at the moment that is probably one of our main influencers.

 

What genres do you feel influence Gum Soul’s music the most?

CC: Overall we would say grunge has a big influence on our sound, however we don’t want to be pigeonholed with that one vibe. So there are definitely other influences poking their heads through, definitely some indie/alternative, even some dark psychedelic stuff in one or two of the songs.

 

And what goals do you have for the future of the band? Is there anything in particular you’re working towards at this early stage?

CC: I think the goal for us is to get our music out there, to be able to play shows to people and for them to have a sick time. I think we definitely want to start getting on some good festival lineups, Citadel, for example, was one a few of us went to, watching guys like Goat Girl, Shame and Tame Impala made it clear that that’s what we want to be doing. Our Girl - if you ever read this we love your stuff and think we should work together.

 

‘Sour’ is due for release on 1st August – can you describe the creative process in making the track?

CC: Sour started off as just a few chords in my bedroom with a rough structure. I took it to a rehearsal, we jammed and it just kind of came out. Everything aside for the drums was recorded with an SM57 in my bedroom, along with a shit condenser for the vocals. I had a been mixing a demo, then was fortunate enough to have a friend in London that I could send to, to get up to that next level (Jack Gilbert, great guy, great producer). I think we’re really happy with how it has evolved and can’t wait for everyone to hear it.

 

Is this the first song you’ve officially released or have you produced original music before?

CC: This is our first proper release as a band, it’s been a long time coming. I’ve had demos floating around on my hard drive for a while so it’s been nice to finally get something solid down that we’re all proud of.

 

And do you have anything else in the works currently?

CC: We’re currently in the process of writing new material and getting a few gigs for after the release. We will soon be recording our next single (in an actual studio) during August, we’ve yet to decide on a proper name for it. But we want it to top the last.

 

Can you discuss any upcoming gigs/releases planned in the near future?

CC: At the moment we just have two gigs coming up, one in London at The Underbelly on the day of the single release. The next is looking likely we’ll be hitting up Bristol at Mr Wolf’s on the 14th August. Our aim at the minute is to get our single inside as many ears as possible.

 

What’s your take on the current music scene in the Bristol/Bath area?

CC: I think that it’s bustling at the moment. Bands like IDLES & Turbowolf are flying the flag for the area, representing unity and understanding. The majority of people within the scene aren’t looking to flee the area to play gigs, they get involved and help each other improve.

 

Are there any other local acts/artists that you’ve got your eye on at the moment?

CC: We can’t help but seem biased here because we’re mates with a lot the bands in the area, but bands like The Shuks, Farebrother and Kalpa are all hard-working people with some killer tunes.

 

Gum Soul's debut single, Sour, is out now on all major online platforms. For more information on the band or to follow future updates, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

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