It can be tough to transition from being a recognized drummer to being a front man or solo artist. Just ask Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters/Nirvana! Fortunately though, Cam Gilmour has moved from playing drums for Melbourne rock outfit Behind Crimson Eyes and for hip –hop artist Illy, and has done so in a most surprising way. His new EP ‘Anhedonia’ (released October 7) is both unexpected and particularly refreshing. Unexpected in that it is nothing like you would expect from a rock/hip-hop drummer, but refreshing in that it captures pure emotions in its genteel beauty and substance.
Having recently completed a degree in Psychology, 28-year-old Gilmour was writing whilst studying, which served as a great creative outlet for him. He says that having a back up plan was always a sensible thing for him to have in an unpredictable industry. “ I went to Uni as a mature age student, not necessarily with the intention of being a Psychologist but through being fascinated by Psychology in general. It was a wonderful experience for me, as sometimes the pressures of being a creative artist are just all consuming and can be fairly devastating to any prospective person trying to make a living from it. I don’t want to retreat to Uni out of fear though. If it’s something I’m interested in I want to pursue it whichever way, I really regard people whose work makes them come alive.”
A self confessed ‘work-whore neurotic’, Gilmour is as pro-active with life as he is with steering his own music direction. “ I like to get my feet wet in different pools, I love to write and play music, but I don’t think I can be completely satisfied doing one thing. I’m not sure if I’m rapacious or just very confused, maybe a combination of both.”
This is evident in ‘Anhedonia’, which is tranquil, articulate and soothing in its melodic, audio therapeutic style. This is a brave shift from his previous musical efforts in the rock and hip-hop genres. The five track instrumental EP is both cinematic and emotional, with an elegance that whispers to the soul of the listener and causes one to muse the purpose of existence. Anhedonia is such a stark contrast from the rigours of study, the freneticism of rock music, and the angst of hip-hop. “’Anhedonia’ is another lesson in identity and creative self discovery for me, if you look at my history, it’s unusual to adopt this classic style. It feels a bit more fluid though, because I’ve always enjoyed different styles of music. “ Listing influences such as John Coltrane, Charlie Parker and Sidney Bechet, who were introduced to him by a former drum teacher, Gilmour’s world bloomed out as it did with the discovery of the romantic period of the classical era. “This EP is a collection of all that incredible music that I’ve been influenced by. “
For artists who traverse different genres, it can sometimes appear as a conflict of interest rather than the expression of where the person is at that point in time. ‘Anhedonia’ represents Gilmour’s current musical and personal proclivity, and is a brilliant follow up to his 2013 debut EP A Bellyful Of Classics.
The standout track is ‘The Blues Is the Blues is the Blues is the Blues’, a piano piece with such sensitivity and sentiment that it shifts the mind from the cares of the world to a state of tranquility. ‘Black Bones’, has a Trans-Atlantic feel to it, something you’d enjoy kicking back in a spa with a glass of red, lights dimmed with some incense burning. ‘The Old Man And His Tea’ is a triumphant journey, and has the hallmarks of being an epic soundtrack in its own right. ‘Swimming With Water Bears’ also has that movement and depth of piano melody infused with a mild hip-hop beat. The final track, ‘The Long Game’ brings us back to reality and awakens the sub-conscious in a string/drum beat interwoven with a soft piano to create a sublime experience.
“The song writing aspect was borne out of necessity- to see what I’m made of, and what I value. After I finished working with Illy, I was in a state of depression and had to do something about it. The album wasn’t a cathartic attempt to rid myself of depression though, it was always there and I just went and wrote it. Although my music has a kind of melancholy in it, there’s a kind of buoyancy with it. Without wanting to sound too Freudian, it (Anhedonia) comes from a subconscious desire to pull my self up by the boot straps and get on with life.”
‘Anhedonia’ is a magnificent foray into new territory for Cam Gilmour, and there really is a lot to like about it. There is nothing pretentious or superfluous about it in any way, and is a magnificent EP that will stir the listener.
Anhedonia EP will be available on Tuesday 7 October via CamGilmour.bandcamp.com. Meanwhile, stream new song ‘The Old Man and his Tea’ on Soundcloud and YouTube.
Interviewed by Darren Hassan
Twitter: @DazzHassan
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