Having fronted and written for the band Sencha through his high school years, Adelaide based artist Reuben Gore is now producing music as a solo musician. His debut release 'Live Your Life' marks the first of many tracks that have been in the works for the past two years. Tomatrax caught up with Reuben to ask a few questions.
You've just released your debut solo single, what's it like to have it out?It's great to see some traction and positive reviews. I'd worked on the song for a year, making little tweaks when I had time whilst also finishing my final year at school. It's still early days for the release, but every week something interesting has happened whether it be a chance to play live, or exposure through radio and online media.
What made you pick 'Live your Life' as your first single?It's an energetic track that represents my sound of dark pop/rock. I feel the song has a unique story, which is explored further in the video clip.
Are there any plans for an album?I have plenty of material, but it will be on an EP first.
You previously played in Sencha, how does playing solo compare to being in a band?Being a solo artist requires so much drive. For my live shows I do have a drummer, bass player and guitarist, which allows me to maintain the layered feel of my songs when playing to crowds.
What made you decide to record the song in the spare room of your house?It's enjoyable being able to tweak my tracks over an extended period of time as I find inspiration. I also live in the Adelaide Hills and have nice views out my windows that make the recording experience very therapeutic.
What's the music scene in Adelaide like?Tkay Maidza, Tkay Maidza and Tkay Maidza. Oh and there's this guy called Motez who did a collab with Tkay Maidza.
You are also involved in various multimedia projects, how does this compare to making music?It's beneficial because it saves me having to deal with or pay for graphics and videos. It's all done in the same spare room.
Do you ever listen to your own music?I can't really listen to Live Your Life anymore after mixing it for a year and sitting through the mastering process. I do however listen to the stuff I did in Sencha and there are songs on that EP that I would definitely consider redoing for a future release. I also go through my backlog of songs that I wrote over the course of my time at high school and every now and then I will hear one with a new set of ears and see if there is anything I could do to improve it.
What music do you listen to?Radiohead and Gorillaz, in anticipation of their album releases this year. Tame Impala, The Rubens, Big Scary, Electric Guest, Gengahr, Metronomy. I'm also doing a lot of sampling on my songs at the moment, so listening to The Avalanches and Primal Scream.
What do you have planned now that your single is out?I've got some Gigs planned for the next few months including at the Producers Hotel for RAW: Adelaide. I've also got a remix for Live Your Life being worked on by another Adelaide artist. On top of that I'm sorting out some follow up tracks which I'm pretty happy with.
Check out Reuben Gore's website to find out more!