Still Woozy Talks Sophomore Album, ‘Loveseat’

via @still_woozy on Instagram

After the release of his sophomore album Loveseat in late June, Sven Eric Gamsky, the artist known as Still Woozy, participated in a press conference organized by 1824 to discuss the creation and impact of the new album. Gamsky described this album as a tribute to the important people in his life, with each track inspired by someone he loves. The album explores themes of fatherhood, friendship, romantic love, and more, all through his signature psychedelic bedroom pop sound. Here are some key takeaways from the Q&A sessions with Gamsky: 

What’s changed since the last album? 

Gamsky explains that his last album was about how a song felt, while with his second album, he focused more on storytelling. He says, “it’s so captivating when someone can take you on the journey of the song lyrically and sonically. That was what I was trying to do to grow as an artist, push myself, and be more vulnerable too.” 

Vulnerability, and the openness to it, seems to be a theme with Loveseat. Later in the session, when asked about the message of the album and what listeners should take from it, Gamsky answered that “there wasn’t necessarily an overall message, I was trying to make music that felt authentic. But overall, there’s a message, that’s not blatant, but it's about being okay with being vulnerable. Sometimes you have to lean into the vulnerable. I think that’s the subtext, of the subtext, of the subtext, of the music.” This album brings the catchy beats we’ve come to love from Still Woozy, but the lyrics really take center stage. True to his vision, Gamsky has crafted a lyrical and sonic landscape that navigates the emotional depth of each track.

What was the most challenging part of the recording process for the new record? 

Gamsky answered “by far the mixing and mastering. I’m so annoying about how particular I want it to sound. There’s like 10 revisions for each mix and master. That’s a lot of different revisions and listening. I would do it differently because it’s not sustainable.” He also noted that Still Woozy is primarily a solo endeavor that he develops alone in his garage. He handles most of the instrumental and vocal recordings himself. This meticulous attention to detail highlights just how much each of his albums represents a genuine labor of love.

How has platonic, romantic, and familial love manifested itself in this album? 

Gamsky previously shared that every song on this album explores themes of love, encompassing both its joys and challenges. For instance, "All Your Life" is dedicated to his partner and their new baby. Gamsky revealed, “Big fish is about my dad. And when writing for these places, it’s whatever feeling is deep enough to elicit the song. A song has to have a sort of impetus for its creation. And that deep familiar love is in your brain stem, it’s the core of your body. It has to come from an emotional place, and any of those can get there.” 

What is it like performing such personal music live? 

As he begins his tour, Gamsky noted that they’ve only performed the album live for two nights so far. He shared, “it's been feeling pretty cathartic, and I hope the audience feels that way, You don’t really know exactly. But I hope that people in the audience are receptive to it.” 

Gamsky will be taking this deeply personal, and equally vibrant, album on tour across the U.S. and Europe in the coming months.