At the end of every year, I check my Spotify Wrapped to see who and what we listened to the most. Without fail, ever since discovering him in 2019, Still Woozy has been at the top of the list for my most listened to songs and artists. Sven Eric Gamsky, better known as singer and songwriter Still Woozy, makes what has been described as “psychedelic bedroom-pop” with the purpose of helping people, in his own words, “get a little break from yourself or whatever you need.” For those uninitiated, this description is very apt. Still Woozy is best known for his hit “Goodie Bag” which embodies “getting a little break” with its lazy electronic melody and lightly sung lyrics.
One of the things that drew me to Still Woozy, besides his music, was the art on his albums. The colorful, strange, shaky drawings somehow perfectly encapsulated the feel of the music as a whole and each single they were attached to. The artwork is actually done by Gamsky’s fiancé, Amiya Jahn-Tietz. In an interview for Ladygunn Magazine, Gamsky said that sometimes he’ll see a drawing his fiancé has done and will write a song about it, but other times he will already have a plan in mind. He noted that he has a similar approach when writing music where he doesn’t always start with the same instrument. Varying approaches make for a more dynamic album where the songs sound like distinct entities.
Like many creatives, when Gamsky is intrinsically motivated, he finds it easier to be creative. Due to his success, Gamsky spent a lot of time on tour, giving him less time and motivation to create. However, during the pandemic, Gamsky was free to spend more time on new music. While he is signed to a label, Gamsky is his own producer so he is able to make the creative choices for his music. This allowed him to experiment with new, genre-bending sounds that suit his specific style. Gamsky has known he wanted to make music since he was seven, and now his dream is a reality. Still Woozy's passion for making music and cultivating a safe and calm space for the listener permeates into each song. The positive intention behind the lyrics and the music sets Still Woozy apart.
https://kcsufm.com/2020/09/the-bigger-picture-a-look-into-still-woozys-process-and-new-single-bs/
http://www.ladygunn.com/music/still-woozy-interview/
I think this is so interesting, I think when creatives really just enjoy their work intrinsically like this, it makes the work so much better. I also just love when you can tell the relationships that exist to make each album possible with albums. Like the fact that he knows and has a relationship with the person who did the album art shows just how he genuinely sees music as just another part of his life along with his personal relationships.
ReplyDeleteI love that he gets inspiration for his music from his fiance's art. I also think it's cool that he's his own producer. I often find that with artists who are their own producer, there is a lot more creative freedom for the artist, thus producing a more unique piece of music.
ReplyDeleteYou may have just given me a new favorite artist! I love learning about people who truly enjoy their work, and this was such a delightful read with so many fun facts. I just listened to some of his music while writing this and I can attest to the positive effect of the sound!
ReplyDeleteI've only listened to Goodie Bag by Still Woozy but now I am much more interested in the artist. I think it's so cool that he uses his fiance's art to help him write music. I feel like there is a lot of examples of using other people's art to create some of your own.
ReplyDeleteI also really like the art on his albums, and I think it is so cool how his wife is included in his creative process. I feel like a lot of the time, album covers or music videos are like guidelines for how the artist wants listeners to interpret their music, and I love when the music and the art compliment and add to one another.
ReplyDeleteI love Still Woozy! He is one of my favorites, especially as warmer weather starts to come around. Wolfcat has to be one of my favorite songs, and you can’t go wrong with goodie bag. I knew that his partner designed the covers of his album, but I thought it was interesting how he would often write songs based on the artwork. That act really demonstrates his creativity, and how he is able to create such a unique sound from equally unique art.
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