Gillian Rae Perry enjoys finding ways that her music can break people out of their day to day routine. Gillian enjoys creating music of different genres. She was a Composition Fellow with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 season. She is greatly influenced by art forms outside of music – such as film, dance, and theatre. Perry holds an MFA in music composition from The California Institute of the Arts.
Hi Gillian, how are you today?
Hi! I’m doin’ my best!
For those that haven’t heard of you yet, how would you best describe your sound, and who have been your biggest influences so far?
My sound is heartfelt and emotional! I have a lot of different influences, some of the big ones are Phoebe Bridgers, Arvo Part, Florist, and Meredith Monk.
Do you remember what the first song was that made you want to start a career in music?
Oooh I’m not sure what the first one is, but I do remember the theme song from Up having a big impact on me and my decision to become a musician!
Congrats on the release of ‘Gillgil’, the album sounds great. What was the inspiration behind it?
Thank you so much! I have always written songs as a way to soothe and process. This album in particular is a lot of me processing my struggles with my mental health. It’s been a big season of growth for me lately, and I think the album really reflects that.
What’s your favorite track on the album and why?
Probably Happening Again. That track is a way for me to explain how it feels when I experience a depressive episode, and I’m really proud of it.
And how would you say it compares to your previous releases?
A lot of my work centers around mental health, so it feels in alignment with my other work. I think it has a more hopeful tint to it than some of my previous releases.
You are also based in LA. Can you tell us how the music scene there has inspired your sound at all?
LA has such a welcoming attitude towards all genres of music, and that has been really great for me as I am both a composer and a songwriter and am interested in all kinds of music making!
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?
Definitely just not letting the world wreck all the fun!
What’s the best advice you’ve been given as a musician?
Probably to really question what I am making in a neutral way, without harsh judgements, but just asking myself if I’m writing what I mean with my work.
And finally, what’s next for you? Is there more music or any live shows on the way?
I actually was just awarded an emerging composer residency with Chicago Opera Theater, so I will be starting that this coming month and will be working on an opera!
