Gus Dapperton Talks Upcoming Project Orca

Painted nails, reverberation, and single dangly earrings - artistic statements that define the more bohemian crowd of our generation. When thinking of artists that have catalyzed the growth of this subculture in recent years, the first to come to mind is Gus Dapperton. Having released his debut album Where Polly People Go To Read in April 2019, the rising star is now scheduled to release his sophomore album Orca via AWAL. Promotions Director Alfred Bordallo attended a fireside chat.

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In an intimate Zoom meeting with Gus and his PR team, I had the opportunity to listen to a few songs off his upcoming project. Following Gus’s playing and commentary, two conclusions can be drawn about Orca. First, his record was written in a very emotional state and the music reflects that. And second, I am stoked to listen through the whole thing. 

Each song previewed maintained the captivating metaphors that are a staple of his writing. Gus removes the filters of obscurity that are normally heard in his music, allowing for a raw, yet familiar sound. With killer visuals to match, the upcoming album is going to be an immersive experience that can pluck a heartstring with any emotion. 

Having now heard his commentary about each song, it meant a lot to me as a Gus fan and only piqued my interest further. During the Zoom meeting, I had the opportunity to ask him about his music videos, a crucial feature of his artistry.

Alfred: “Which music video [of yours] do you think most about?”

Gus: “I think between me and my collaborators that made it, there’s this one video we made - it’s like a little commercial type thing for Vogue. It wasn’t like we were asked to make it, we were just like ‘Hey, could we make a video for you guys?’ And then we did it. We put a lot into it. I sort of re-designed some of my songs and made them more into a soundscape/soundtrack so we could score the  commercial. I like that one a lot.“

While Orca does not come out until September 18, you can still check out its released singles “First Aid” and “Post Humorous” on all streaming platforms to get an idea of what to expect on his upcoming album!

-- Alfred Bordallo, Promotions Director

Photograph by Jess Farran.