Dana Gavanski

INTERVIEW

Ahead of her performance at The Lower Third, London on 4th June we caught up with London-based Canadian art-pop artist Dana Gavanski, delving into the songwriting evolution that led to her new album LATE SLAP, collaborations and what fans can expect from the show!

In the creation of ‘Late Slap’, you ventured into new territory with your songwriting by embracing tools like Logic Pro. How did this departure from your usual approach influence the album’s sound and overall direction?

It give me space to explore and adjust sounds in the program, build up textures with layering and maybe go in a more epically sonic direction than I would normally go. It was as much about the voice as it was about the parts and they influenced each other quite a bit. I was looking for combinations that were new to me and my relationship to music, so using Logic Pro was helpful in giving me that space to experiment. 

Has this new sound changed / influenced your live set up?

Not really! Just a bit richer, more effects, and use of those male vocals which had laid dormant for way too long!

The album features some amazing, otherworldly visuals in its artwork and accompanying music videos. How do these visuals tie in with the album’s themes?

Thanks! I’m exploring the feeling of surfeit, of being over-stimulated, overflowing and chaotic, and not knowing where to put that energy. How it creates a blank-like state that seems like indifference but is really its opposite. 

You’re often joined on stage by another artist we love at FORM, heka, how did you guys meet and when did you start collaborating musically?

We officially met at a Naima Bock recording session where we were both doing bvs in a small choir. We have lots of friends in common and eventually I asked her if she wanted to sing at my first show of the new songs at Folklore. The bvs in the album make a big difference and her voice is divine. 

What do you enjoy most about performing live and what do you hope your fans take away from your upcoming live shows?

I like the uncertainty of it, of dipping in and out of awareness and connection with the audience and myself alike. Being no good at overplanning, it’s a good exercise at loosening, leaning in and embodying. I’ve loved singing these songs because they are quite dynamic and at times chaotic and emotional, even dancy in their own way.

Dana Gavanski performs live at The Lower Third, London on 4th June.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.