We’ve all heard it a million times: “Did you know,” someone who thinks they’re a comedic genius will ask, “that Tame Impala is just one guy?” That may be true of the project’s studio recordings, which are largely created by Kevin Parker, but a whole host of musicians is required to bring hits like “The Less I Know The Better” to life on stage.
One of those artists is Jay Watson, who releases music under the alias GUM when he’s not manning the keyboards and drums as part of Parker’s expanded band. On Nov. 12, student DJs from Clemson’s radio station, WSBF-FM, had the opportunity to interview GUM about his solo work, his work with King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard frontman Ambrose Kenny-Smith and his role in the noted psych-rock band Pond.
Watson told WSBF that one of his favorite things about working with so many different artists is the sense of community. His previous solo work was released on Spinning Top Music, but his two records with Kenny-Smith have been put out by p(doom) Records, a label owned and operated by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. “It’s fun,” Watson said of working with his Australian countrymen.
He also revealed that his new single, “Expanding Blue,” is just the first taste of a new nine-track LP, due “hopefully early next year.”
He also spoke about Pond’s new compilation “The Early Years: 2008-2010.” “I love that cover… that was actually a real duck, a real photoshoot,” he said in reference to the album’s art. “It was really hard choosing the final cover because there were so many good photos.”
From there, he spoke about his own early years. His musical journey began with childhood piano lessons, but took off in earnest when he took up drums in high school. Being in a band as a kid, he said, is mostly about finding people who will put up with you making “horrible noise for six months,” but sometimes you’ll find a sound that works.
“My parents were really good with that,” he said. “They really encouraged it.”
He credits moving to Perth, Australia, with getting him involved with music in earnest. “The equivalent would’ve been like Austin or something,” he says. “Not a big city, but people took music seriously.”
When asked why he chose the alias Gumby for his solo work, Watson laughed.
“I think it was because, in school, I guess I looked like the green guy,” referencing the classic cartoon character. “I was six-foot-three and kind of, like, stretchy,” he ventured. “No one really calls me that anymore, though. They just say GUM.”
The name does convey a bit more meaning in Australia, though. “We’ve got eucalyptus trees, which are called gum trees,” so the name signifies his nationality from a certain perspective.
He spoke on the importance of platforming new and exciting Australian music. “It can slowly disappear, and everyone plays the same stuff that the rest of the world’s playing,” he said. So, he makes an effort to promote his home country’s music scene as much as possible.
“The dream always is that people outside of Western Australia have even heard it,” he concluded. “It’s my favorite thing to do, so I’m glad that people are listening.”
GUM’s new single “Expanding Blue” and Tame Impala’s album “Deadbeat,” which The Tiger reviewed earlier this month, are available now on all streaming platforms.
