INTERVIEW: Gus Walker shares debut record

Based in The Netherlands, Gus Walker is an independent artist whose music is rooted in reggae and hip hop beats, delivering a pop-infused blend of genres that resonates with a universal message of love and unity. With his debut album, Pink Skies, Gus embarks on a musical journey that explores the complexities of life, inviting listeners to question the world around them and embrace diversity.

“Give You The Moon” opens the album with a soft trumpet arrangement that immediately sets a warm, inviting tone. As the bass joins in, followed by a snapping beat, the track transforms into a grooving reggae outing. Gus Walker’s vocals enter, blending rap and singing to create a captivating rhythmic experience. It’s a promising start to the record, offering a taste of the genre-blurring sound that defines Gus’s artistic vision.

“Come Find Me” further showcases Gus’s unique style. Here, he crafts an original fusion of reggae and hip hop, toeing the line between the two genres with finesse. Bright brass elements and smooth guitar skanks provide the backdrop for Gus’s catchy vocal melodies. The track is a stunning showcase of his ability to create infectious rhythms that breaks out of genre boundaries.

One of the album’s standout tracks is “Wave,” a spacey jam filled with immersive sonic textures and engaging rhythms. Gus Walker’s vocal performance shines as he delivers highly memorable melodies. The song’s production captures the essence of Gus’s music; warm, engaging and rhythmically rich. The album culminates with the title track, “Pink Skies,” a laid-back reggae-infused cut that exudes a sense of peace and hope. Gus’s vocals glide effortlessly over the delicate drums, subtle organ pulses and guitar plucks. It’s a timeless song that perfectly concludes his sensational debut record, leaving listeners with a feeling of optimism and unity.

The creation of Pink Skies was a collaborative effort, with Gus working closely with producers Boudewijn Pleij and Lauran Neerincx over a three-year period. The trio carefully crafted a fusion of reggae and hip-hop, infusing captivating lyrics with solid beats and delightful brass melodies. The album’s themes range from societal observations to personal reflections on love and growth. The record serves as a symbol of faith in a more just society and the preservation of hope in a world that sometimes feels chaotic.

In “Pink Skies,” Gus Walker delivers a genre-defying debut that defies easy categorization. His music is a testament to the power of blending genres to create something entirely new and inviting. With heartfelt lyrics, captivating melodies, and rhythms that compel you to move, “Pink Skies” is a remarkable introduction to an artist who encourages listeners to celebrate life and embrace the beauty of diversity. Gus Walker’s musical journey has just begun, and “Pink Skies” is a brilliant starting point.

We caught up with Gus Walker to find out more about his musical journey so far, his debut record Pink Skies and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Gus Walker below.

Hey Gus, how’s things?

I’m doing great, thanks! I feel really thankful for all the support I received on my debut album and I’m happy that it’s finally released and people are enjoying it.

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

I’d say that my earliest memory of making music is when I was around 12 years old when I started playing guitar and making beats. But to be honest, I can’t remember any better than music being a huge part of my life.

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from today?

I listen to a lot of music and to a lot of different styles as well, so it’s hard to just pick a few. Like, some of the fundamental artists for me are Bob Marley, Burning Spear, J. Cole and 2Pac. Those are always on my rotation. But, currently, I’m listening a lot to Tinariwen, Marcus Gad, and Clinton Fearon, to name a few.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

I think I take inspiration from all sorts of things in life. I always try to keep my eyes and mind open to observe the things life has to offer. In particular, I love to take a walk on the beach and just let my thoughts spin, these are moments where I get inspired a lot. But I also get inspired when I’m just hanging out with friends or something like that. Inspiration doesn’t really come from a specific source for me, I’d say.

What do you love about the Amsterdam music scene?

I love that there’s a big variety of artists here, making the scene a colourful and inspirational place. I don’t know any better, so it’s hard for me to point out specific things. I’d love to explore other local scenes throughout to world to compare.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

I think the perfect setting would be where my listeners feel most comfortable and open-minded themselves, so they can really dive into the music and let it hit them. I think that setting would be different for everyone. The ideal setting for myself to listen to the album is while being around nature. On the beach with my headphones, watching the sunset, that’s my ideal setting because it makes me feel free.

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

Before making this album, I was part of different musical projects, so I’ve been making, releasing and performing songs for almost 10 years now. I think my biggest evolution as an artist is that now I sing a lot more than before. I started rapping when I was around 15 and would rap over all kinds of music. Slowly I started singing more and for this album I really felt comfortable to reach a new level in my vocal skillset. I also noticed that when I was writing songs for this album, ideas came up as melodies instead of rap flows. That being said, hiphop still is an important part of my sound and inspiration, but I feel that now I just have a more wide vocal sound and skillset than before.

How did you find making your debut album ‘Pink Skies’?

I absolutely loved it. Me and Boudewijn Pleij (producer) worked on it for about 3 years and we really took our time and carefully crafted our sound and message. It was amazing to slowly see everything come together and I’m really proud of how it turned out. Many people worked on this and I feel lucky to have all these amazing musicians and creatives take part in creating this album. Of course, the process was tough at times as well, but overcoming those is also what made the process so rewarding. Looking back on this journey, it really just flowed organically, it was a beautiful experience.

Were there any challenges in making a full-length release for the first time?

I’d say the biggest challenge was to be patient and trust the process. Sometimes we got stuck with a certain track or verse so we had to adapt the workflow a bit. For some other tunes, it really took multiple completely different versions before it sounded exactly the way we wanted. We made over 40 songs and choosing which ones were going on the album was tough as well, but like I said, I’m really happy with how things turned out.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

I’d say that my main message on the album is for people to take a break and check in with themselves a bit more. I feel like we live in a really fast-paced era with lots of information and it seems like there’s almost no time to really just sit and think a bit, we just keep on going and going. I think it’s healthy to just go off-grid every once in a while to check in with how you really feel about things in your life before moving further. Create a peaceful environment for yourself to reflect a bit and think for yourself.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

Like I said, I listen a lot to music and also to many different artists, but just this morning, so recently, I have listened to Marcus Gad, SZA and Kendrick Lamar.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

I just hope that people get inspired by it in any way possible. That they get something out of it that works for them. That’s different for every listener and I just hope that my album resonates with them. Even though it may be only 1 line on the album that hits somebody, I’d be happy. I hope that they listen to it open-mindedly and let the music hit. I put my heart and soul in every single track and I hope I can touch people with it.

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

I’ve been a fan of Burning Spear as long as I can remember, his music was the first music I heard back when I was little, in my dad’s car. I saw him live for the first time last year at Rototom Festival in Spain and it was truly amazing. The grooves, the heaviness, the tightness of the band. It was a magical experience for me that made a huge impact both musically as well as spiritually.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

Oooof, these are really hard to pick. My dream festival would be somewhere on a beach with palm trees and mountains around it, like a nice little bay somewhere. I definitely want to perform in such a place myself, haha. Apart from that, the 3 artists I think I would pick would be Burning Spear, Frank Ocean, and Stephen Marley. I never saw those last two live and I would absolutely love to see them play at my own festival!

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

I think the most important thing is to be yourself. To do what you love, what you feel, and express yourself straight from the heart. Believe in your own vision and go after it. Don’t stop.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?

My main priority is to play live shows with the band, so we’re currently working on our live set and have a couple of shows lined up here in the coming months. Also, I’m working on setting up shows outside of The Netherlands for next year. I would love to come and play shows in the UK as well. Playing live on stage is the best feeling there is!

Listen to Pink Skies below