A Bright Pop-Rock Single Release from Sweet Gorilla
- R.A.G.
- 9 hours ago
- 6 min read
A single from a Sweet Gorilla was recently released, and the single comes through as a bright feeling but expansive pop-rock single that blends in certain cinematic backbones along with vast guitar work to create something that certainly feels like it's got its own atmosphere.
This is the track that is infusing certain elements of classic rock, hints of alternative, but keeps things in that sort of electric, sonically bright area so that it feels spirited and positive when you listen to it.
Perhaps that's why the title of the track is called "Good Things".
That uplifting aesthetic is hard to deny here, and it's not just done by the instrumentation, but also with the vocal performances as well.
Everything about this track is driving but very feel-good. It has a warmth to it that is completely welcoming and still sort of thrives in terms of giving you personality and character that you end up just latching on to.
You have a great drum performance here, and it adds a lot of liveliness to the single, along with these layers of guitars that are sort of flowing and mending together.
I love the guitar work on this track simply because of the way it layers. It seems like two guitars that are also using a delay kind of effect, so that sounds and notes sort of overlap each other and give you a thickened sound space.
This also adds to that cinematic vastness that I mentioned earlier. It builds depth to the song, and it also comes through with such a melodically present approach as well.
It sounds almost like sparkling lights. Notes are sort of scattered, in a sense, but they fold together like puzzle pieces strangely.
It all really works with a natural and forward-moving flow and seems almost elegant when you first listen to it.
Now, you can also hear a main guitar that doesn't really have a lot of delay on it, which is a more bopping rhythm guitar of everything. It sort of lurks in the background and shows its face between the choruses and when the verses come back in.
I love that experimental, almost psychedelic underbelly that this whole thing displays. It's a tiny bit tripped out, mostly because of how the guitars come across, but it also feels like something that could have been released in the 90s because of that.
You can absolutely hear a lot of different influences coming into play throughout the course of this one track, and I really enjoyed soaking it in.
The vocals are smooth but also robust, simultaneously. They have a certain smoothness which matches that energy and dynamic when it comes to the verses, but then when the course has come in, everything is more climactic, and so the vocals follow suit with the rest of the song and feel more boisterous in their performance.
Classic 90s indie rock is definitely one of those sounds that I hear within this track, and the energy level feels like a live performance, which is crazy because this whole project is a solo work.
Sweet Gorilla is the moniker of London guitarist Pav Sharda.
He is the brainchild behind all of this and probably performs plenty of it.
I think the important thing is that the guitar work on this single certainly showcases why he decided to do a solo project in the first place.
This is someone who is in love with performing on his instrument and also the craft of songwriting at the same time.
This is all the perfect excuse for someone ready to put out bodies of work to do exactly that. He doesn't really need to rely on too many other people to get this done, and it kind of blows my mind simply because I can't imagine how someone goes from a vision of a song, all the way through to fruition.
Especially by themselves.
This was definitely a fun, colorful rock single that showcased a lot of intelligence in guitar performance and songwriting all at once. I would not miss this for you if you like an uplifted or spirited feeling, an indie rock style that gives you the perfect level of experimentation.
Once I listened to this track, I wanted to have a sit-down with Pav to find out where this all actually came from and what might be coming up next for the artist.
Here's what happened.
Thanks so much for taking the time! Let's jump right into "Good Thing"! This song had a bright tonality and pop-rock approach but felt cinematic as well!
Thank you for listening and watching.
Where did this song come from and what was it about?
It came from wanting to focus on something hopeful. A lot of songs can lean quite heavy, so I wanted this to feel uplifting, but still honest. It’s about recognising something good in your life and not taking it for granted.
I am hearing a few different styles on this single. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
I grew up listening to a mix of Classic Rock and Funk/ soul and anything Melodic Electronic. Was obsessed with every style of music with Guitars and Synths. I think over time those influences have naturally blended together. I’ve never tried to fit into one specific sound it’s more about what feels right for the song.
Are you performing live right now?
Not at the moment. Right now I’m focusing on building things online and releasing tracks and the album . Live is definitely something we’ll return to when the time feels right. Hopefully sooner than later.
How did this all start for you as a band?
Quite simply, it started by me playing songs I’d written to a pianist friend. He liked them and suggested we build a band for one gig only. We did so, and it was a success, and it gave me the bug to perform my own songs more.
The name came from us not wanting to take ourselves too seriously, and we wanted a silly name that would ridicule us a bit. I was actually eating a banana when the name dropped into my head. My friend Damien loved it and it stuck. That was the first incarnation of the band.
Sweet Gorilla evolved into a newer line up with a consistent set of members. Mark Law on drums, Ollie Chubb on keyboards, Martin Whitaker on bass and backing vocals, Brett Henning on guitar, and myself on lead vocals and lead guitar.
My songs continued to evolve, and then Youth, the producer, attended our last gig unannounced. He sent me a message saying the songs shone brightly, that he loved my voice, and that he would like to produce a song or two.
Youth then produced “Feels Like I’m Still in Love”, which we released in 2010. “Feels Like I’m Still in Love” has since been remastered for the new album.
Martin Whitaker then left the band, saying that the big producer thing and the limelight were not for him. He went back to gardening and jazz.
Around that time, I became distracted and started working on a post rock project with Youth and a few other things.
Did you work with a producer on this album, or was this all you?
Yes , Sascha Panknin (5000 records, indie label) a mutual friend of Youth and I heard the songs and said they had real potential and should be released . With the exception of Our Own Way, I’d recorded the songs myself at my home studio. Sacha motivated me to become Sweet Gorilla again and we co - produced the tracks together to their present state. Sacha is very important to this album as he’s able to dial into the vibe beautifully.
What's next for you? Working on more new releases?
Yes more releases , then the full album, then another album.
What kind of advice would you give to other up and coming bands or artists trying to get heard?
Believe in yourself and be honest with your music. Try to make what comes naturally, rather than what you think people want to hear. It’s not always an easy industry, but it can be a really rewarding one if you stick with it. Keep pushing, keep developing, and let your identity grow from who you are , that’s what all the great artists have done in their own way. And most importantly, enjoy it. If you love what you’re doing, that comes through.
What would you say people can expect to hear on this track?
Hopefully something that feels uplifting and easy to listen to, but still has a bit of depth to it. It’s quite a straightforward song in a lot of ways, just trying to do a simple thing well.
Before we go, what would you want to express to fans of the music?
Just a thank you. Anyone who takes the time to listen or support it means a lot, especially at this stage.
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