Gaudion TV Shows Interview

Gaudion 'TV Shows' Livestream Performance

Newcomer Gaudion has announced his clever new single TV Shows, a wistful reflection upon love and loss written during a period of deep change and development for the artist, out now. Gaudion has also revealed a sweet, adventurous video to accompany the track, directed by Gudio. In light of COVID-19, Gaudion is unable to perform regular gigs – so to celebrate the release of TV Shows he has announced a YouTube/Instagram livestream performances on April 30 at 7.30PM AEST.

TV Shows is one for fans of guitar pop and brilliant Australian songwriting. Evocative of Dean Lewis, Ziggy Alberts, and Ben Howard, TV Shows would feel at home on the soundtrack for a coming of age romantic film, or perhaps it's that track that you'll play over and over on your next summer roadtrip. Catchy and affecting, this song features Gaudion's lovely vocal performance front and centre. Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Gaudion explains, "TV Shows is a small part of my life. I began writing the tune when I was working on a small farm in a rural area in Canada's Saskatchewan. In this place I was turbulent. I never knew what I wanted to do. So I taught myself to play guitar and sing inside a grain silo every day after work. I was also going through a difficult stage of adolesence; through this song I was aiming to express my current feelings with music. Every time I'd think of the things I was going through I'd write a little bit more of the song. It's not the first song I ever wrote, and definitely not the last, but it holds a long journey of my emotions, my memories and my thoughts."

The film clip for TV Shows is open to interpretation, allowing the audience to incorporate their own meaning into the clip, which is a very special feeling. The video follows the story of a couple who part, while Gaudion watches on on a television set. The performance is serene, indicating a sense of acceptance of life's inherent challenges and curveballs. Speaking on the clip, Gaudion enthuses,"The music video for TV Shows has been one of the most fun journeys ever. Gudio is a fantastic director, new mate of mine and creative genius. It's literally a video of me watching TV Shows which follow the emotions of the music. I'm very happy with the process, the beautiful actors we worked with and laughs we had along the way."

Although disappointed that he won't be able to perform in person for the foreseeable future, Gaudion is excited to present two intimate performances via livestream, as he says, "All we have seen happen to the world over the past months due to COVID-19 has been devastating. In our industry, all shows have been cancelled, jobs have been lost and artists are genuinely scared of the carryover effects that this virus will have. I feel the need to keep moving forward and I'm also in a position to brighten peoples' days through sharing my music, so I feel very fortunate. I am excited to be performing two Youtube and Insta livestream performances to celebrate the release of this song."

Talented in more ways than one, Gaudion is a keen carpenter, and even made his own guitar, as he says, "I love building and creating things with my hands, I find it very rewarding and exciting. A few years back I built an acoustic guitar from scratch. She's a medium sized dreadnaught made from Tasmanian blackwood (back and sides), sitka spruce (top), mahogany (neck) and Indian rosewood (features). Her name is Grace, and I play her every day! Everything happens for a reason, and after building this guitar I became a lot more interested in playing."

Gaudion 'TV Shows' Livestream Performance
THURS APR 30 | YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM LIVESTREAM | 7:30PM AEST
YouTube | @gaudion_music

 

 

Interview with Gaudion

Question: How would you describe your music?

Gaudion: I describe my music as a way to escape!

I have always aimed towards making music quite happy and if any of my songs can put a smile on your face my job is complete.


Question: Can you tell us about TV Shows?

Gaudion: TV Shows is the happy of the happy songs. I wrote it about six years ago when I was working on a farm in the middle of Canada. I was a little lost on my life path and didn't really have any massive aspirations in my life. I was always somewhat creative though. Every day after work I found myself inside a Grain Silo teaching myself to sing and play guitar. That's where I wrote TV Shows. It only took me six years to work up the courage to show anyone (laughs).


Question: What inspired TV Shows?

Gaudion: TV Shows follows the emotions of acceptance. Story upon story being told in the lyrics produces a very ambient and 'care less' attitude towards life. It's supposed to make people feel happy. This is because by the time I had finished writing this song I was in a very happy place myself in my own life. Accepting hardship and eventually creating something beautiful with the pain.


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Gaudion: Make your own meanings for my songs. There's plenty to build off and a lot of the emotions I portray in my music are very relatable. Also, try and smile when you listen, it will make you happy.


Question: Can you tell us about the livestream TV Shows performance you did on April 1st?

Gaudion: It's really hard for us musicians at the moment as none of us can do the one thing that makes being a musician truly awesome (perform). However, live-streaming is a full on rush! It's so much fun. My live-stream performance on the 1st was filled with positive comments, likes and happy people. We all had a beer together and I played everyone a few of my songs.


Question: What should audiences expect from the upcoming live stream TV Shows performance on the 30th?

Gaudion: I'm working hard towards my live-stream on the 30th. It's going to be again a really happy and laid back show. I am really just aiming towards people to have an escape of some kind right now. I feel privileged to have anyone listen to me, and I hope that my music can put a smile on your face, even in this tough time.

Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Gaudion: James Corden, he is the funniest, happiest and nicest bloke on TV. I obviously don't know him personally but I feel like he'd love my music and I'd love to see him bop along to a few of my songs!


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Gaudion: Funnily enough I'd have to say times of true hardship give me the most motivation to write. Regardless of how happy my songs are.

I'm quite big on acceptance and understanding that generally there's not much you can do about things gone wrong. Through my music I try to explain this and it helps give me closure.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Gaudion: Right now I've been listening to a lot of:
Dua Lipa
Lauv
Mitch James
Dermot Kennedy
Wild Rivers (smaller Canadian band).

There's a bit of a mix there but there's enough emotion and feelings through all of that music to get me through a year's worth of road trips!

Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Gaudion: Probably above anything else, Ed Sheeran gave me, and I suppose a lot of others, inspiration to give the whole music thing a go. It's the story of the shit kicker making it big time and doing it his way by doing what he loves. I know there would be a lot of behind the scenes work (because damn it's a hard industry to be in), but Sheeran gave a lot of us 'Nobodies' hope in a hopeless place.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Gaudion: I would absolutely love to write a folk-pop banger with John Mayer. I have loved the influence he has had on me and my songwriting and I'd love to see what we could come up with. Co-writing is such an amazing experience for progression as well, and I would personally say that he is one of the best songwriters in the world.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Gaudion: When I wake up I always like to start my day with either a walk or run to get my brain ticking. I think it's really important to clear your mind before starting your day. I then have a shower and will usually sit down and try to be creative in the morning. I find it a really good time to write and I usually try to plan all of my work for the afternoon. After lunch I usually find myself in studios (if not my home studio), making videos, and organising a lot of things. I do the majority of my graphic design as well so I'm constantly working on my image.

Generally, (pre-COVID-19) I would gig and busk between five and nine times a week, and this was always in the evenings. I play anywhere I can set up really; most of the time people watch... but sometimes I just sing to the streets.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Gaudion: Performing is my favourite part of being an artist. I generally only sing original music, which makes it hard to get a lot of gigs, but I prefer to busk anyway.

I meet a lot of cool people when I busk. People that are happy to come out of their comfort zone and enjoy my vulnerability as an artist.

Performing gives me this indescribable rush, kinda like skydiving. It's my favourite thing to do in the world.


Question: What's next, for you?

Gaudion: At the moment I'm writing a lot considering we can't perform at the moment. I'm working on a lot of my set lists and my music for live performances so when we are all performing again I've got a lot of new stuff to share.

My main goal however, for hopefully the near future, is to start playing some bigger shows and touring around a lot more. To do some support shows and be heard a little more. I've only been a musician for just over a year now, but I'm keen to get on some bigger stages.


Question: Can you share your socials?

Gaudion: @gaudion_music 
https://www.facebook.com/gaudionmusic


Interview by Brooke Hunter