This post was updated Nov. 16 at 8:07 p.m.
Ahead of a hometown performance, GUNNAR marks his first tour as a headliner.
The 24-year-old musician from Newport Beach, California, is approaching the end of his “Upside Down Tour” in promotion of his album “SUNFADED.” GUNNAR has previously opened for artists such as Maroon 5 and Gwen Stefani.
Ahead of his tour’s final show at The Echo on Nov. 20, GUNNAR spoke with the Daily Bruin’s Reid Sperisen about his latest music and his experiences on the road.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Daily Bruin: You released your second album, “SUNFADED,” back in June. How did the writing and recording process for that album differ from your first album, “Best Mistake”?
GUNNAR: My “Best Mistake” album was a departure, and a full angsty push away from what I’ve been doing since I was a teenager, or what I’ve been forced to do, which was super down-the-middle pop. I toured that album for two years, and I ended up going on tour of Maroon 5 in the summer before I wrote this project. I went out on the road, and I played these songs that I love and that had this attitude and that were made for the live shows. And ironically, the songs that resonated with me and the crowd the most each night, made me feel the most authentic, were the ones that were a little bit more pop-feeling. I came home from that tour, and just had this crystal-clear vision on the music that I wanted to make, and I got into the studio and spent about two to three months writing the album that’s now “SUNFADED,” which is a good blend between pop and rock.
DB: One of the singles from the album is the second track, “Upside Down,” and you’re also currently on the “Upside Down Tour.” What is it about that song that stands out to you from the album, or that compelled you to want to name the tour after it?
GUNNAR: The album’s called “SUNFADED” because how I felt in my life lately was just a little burnt out, and sun faded of everything that I’ve been experiencing in LA. When I wrote “Upside Down,” I always knew that that song was going to be the face of this record. That song resonated with me more than a lot of songs I’ve ever written, and I just knew it was something special. I wanted the tour to be a bit chaotic and be a bit loose and real and raw, and so I felt like naming it the “Upside Down Tour” just felt the most appropriate.
DB: When you comment on that loose and raw feeling, has there been a different approach at all in your performance style or instrumentation on this tour compared to your past live performances?
GUNNAR: I’ve really only ever opened up for other artists, and it’s an amazing thing – and you get a great opportunity to show your artistry in front of a new audience – but it’s a different performance, right? It’s like you’re selling yourself. You’ve got 30 minutes or whatever it is to go play. I’ve got to do a cover because I’ve got to try to rope people in with something that they know, because they don’t know me. I can’t talk too much because people don’t know me, and they don’t care. They just want to hear music. This was the first tour that… I’m the headliner, and it’s been so special because I’ve been able to really slow things down and be more free flowing, rather than just everything feeling super scripted, which it has in the past.
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DB: Have there been any songs that you’ve had an unexpected reaction from audiences for?
GUNNAR: My song, “Bitter” – we close our show with it. When that song hit by the end of the night and the end of each show, people are so excited for that song, and it’s been really cool to see. Everyone around me has loved that song since the jump. It’s always been, I wouldn’t say the top of my list, since I created the project. But now, after seeing how people respond to it and the life that it’s got in the live setting, it’s definitely poked its head out toward me.
DB: You have the performance coming up here in LA on Nov. 20. How are you feeling about that hometown show, being from Newport Beach?
GUNNAR: LA and New York are usually tough markets. It’s very industry-esque, so you have a lot of people in the room who kind of chitter-chatter, and sometimes it takes the intimacy away a little bit. But to be honest, I’m really excited for this LA show. I think there’s going to be an incredible group of people there. The fans that I know well that are coming from LA are amazing people. It’s a great way to end a tour in your hometown – and it’s such a music-centric city, there’s always shows and there’s always artists and music going on. It might be incredible, it might be not, but I’m really excited.
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