Nicholas Gunn has been pushing the boundaries of Electronic Music, raising the bar with captivating productions that have attracted attention from genre enthusiasts around the globe. Known for a style that uniquely blends elements from the Ambient, Chill House, and Trance genres, Nicholas Gunn’s productions deliver uplifting and inspiring listening experiences that continue to solidify his name as one to watch closely as he keeps collaborating with top-tier names and releasing powerful new productions.
Now, Nicholas Gunn is here to talk about his journey into music, giving us a glimpse into the story behind this talented Producer and Composer. As he shares his musical influences and teases fans with details on upcoming projects, Nicholas Gunn delves into his artistic evolution, presenting an insight into his long-standing career within music.
Hello Nicholas, how are you today?
I am well, thanks for asking!
Can you take us back to the beginning of your musical journey? How did you discover your passion for music, and what inspired you to pursue it as a career?
My Grandfather was a professional guitar player. When I was 6 my parents wanted to keep the music in the family and asked me what instrument I would like to play. I had seen this guy playing the flute on the TV the night before (James Galway), so I said the flute. My teacher, Mick Judson from The Royal Marines Band, gave me a great head start by enrolling me in The Royal Academy of Music. Later, I took up drums (kit) so I had this exposure to melody and rhythm at a very young age. I was music, I knew nothing else. It seemed apparent that my path would be music. I never questioned it and I saw the world through the lens of music.
What were some of the key musical influences and experiences that shaped your artistic direction and inspired you to pursue a career in Electronic music?
Electronic Music came far later in my career – I started with acoustic music. Using my flute, percussion, and organic sounds to create my own unique world music vibe. That shaped me. When I first started recording, electronic music was just being born. Synths like the Roland D-50 and Yamaha DX7 were commonplace, and I used them in my recordings. By the time 1999 rolled around I had already sold millions of records and I was deeply engrained in my original sound. But like everything, times change and so do genres. World Music was on the decline, and I remember standing on the dance club floor in 2001 saying to myself “I love this and why can’t I do this kind of music?”. It wasn’t until 2016, until I had the confidence and made that transition.
As an artist with a deep connection to nature and its influence on your music, how do you incorporate these elements into your compositions and connect with your audience on a deeper level?
Frequency is everywhere. I have always been hypersensitive to hearing music in everything. When I am in nature, I hear a symphony of sound. It’s just a part of who I am. Is my connection to nature and my ability to convey it musically, authentic? It would seem so, according to how I have made people feel. I don’t question or analyze, I just dive in.
Collaboration seems to be an integral part of your career, how have collaborations influenced your growth as an artist and impacted your creative vision?
Only in my recent electronic career. Even though all my previous works are composed and produced by me, I started writing lyrics and top lines only a few years ago and that took off fast. I learned quickly that songwriters, alone, are extremely underpaid and underappreciated so I choose to collab to have more skin and awareness in the game.
As an artist who has delved into various genres like Experimental, Ambient, Chill House, and Trance, how do you navigate the creative process to maintain your unique style while exploring different musical territories?
My style is in my songwriting. I believe you can hear me in everything, at least the fans tell me that. I’ve always said that it’s about the song and that the production and sound design support the song, not the other way around. Become a great songwriter and you can transcend genre. That’s a winning formula, I believe.
In your musical journey, how would you characterize the evolution of your sound and artistic expression? How have you personally developed and navigated the ever-changing terrain of the Electronic music industry?
The greatest evolution an artist can make is mastering the spaces in between the notes. I feel I’ve become quite good at that in recent years. I’ve simplified some aspects of my productions to allow the song to breathe. That’s a technique that you can take with you, no matter what genre. But overall, Electronic gave me an entirely new production style to learn. New techniques (modern techniques) that simply made me a better Producer. It’s been a daunting learning curve, in all honesty. But I’ve done the homework and I’m very proud of where I now find myself as a Producer and Composer.
Looking back at your career spanning several decades, what have been the most significant milestones or defining moments that shaped your artistic evolution?
Losing everything. Success is something we miss (at times) because we work so hard for success that when it arrives, it’s overlooked by our ego. It’s when we fail and lose the success that the pain and loss, like anything in life, is somewhat unbearable. I’ve been humbled many times by this industry and understand the immense importance of musical legacy. Success is fleeting and it won’t last. What lasts is musical integrity and legacy.
What have been some of the most significant challenges or obstacles you’ve faced along your career, and how have you overcome them to continue pursuing your passion for music?
For the most part, every music artist has the same major obstacles. Maintaining a sustainable living as a musician and balancing rejection. Mine have been no different. No artist escapes either of these. But there are ways I’ve overcome the anxiety of both and that’s through having objectivity. Having a long career has provided me objectivity. I now know how I want my career to look after decades and I’m comfortable with that. I act on that. The problem has been getting to that point and it’s been through tenacity. You just gotta have the tenacity to stay in the game. That’s the true artist way.
Looking ahead, what can fans expect from Nicholas Gunn in the future? Are there any exciting projects or collaborations on the horizon that you can share with us?
My goal is to continue producing and writing emotional tunes that move people to tears. What vehicle (genre) I choose to make that happen may change over time, but the musical connection will never change. On the horizon I can talk about: In Trance I have a collab with Ciaran McAuley and a follow up tune to Love You More with Dave Neven. There’s a bunch of Ambient and Chill House solo tracks I have coming out and a very special anniversary record that I am spending time on. My label, Blue Dot, continues to grow with Ciaran McAuley’s and Kenna Child’s – Oceans coming out on August 25th as well as a steady stream of wonderful releases from our artists.
With an undoubted passion and enthusiasm for his art, Nicholas Gunn is showing no signs of slowing down soon, positioning himself to reach even new heights as he continues carving out his creative path. In this interview, Nicholas Gunn gave us an insight into his ever-evolving relationship with music, explaining the challenges of the industry and providing us with a look into what the future holds for him. As we close this interview, we thank him for his time and eagerly await to hear more from Nicholas Gunn soon.
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