Melbourne-based pop and electronic artist, Guard, was discovered on Facebook by Felix Snow (Kiiara, TYSM) & David Singer-Vine (Terror Jr). Guard then began releasing music in early 2017, creating conceptualized pop, which caught the attention of magazine publications like V Magazine and Thump.
We chat with Guard to find out more about the background behind the music and the latest releases.
Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into music?
I immigrated with my family to Australia from South Africa when I was 7 and was always into the arts – I loved dancing, musical theatre and writing songs. I had been writing songs for as long as I could remember and decided I wanted to start pitching these songs around.
This lead me to vocal lessons and working with producers to develop songs – during this process, I realised that the music was actually really personal and I found my singing voice. I decided to use my music as a sonic journal detailing my mental health journey and Guard was born.
What inspired you to explore the concept of love bombing in your latest single “Luvbomb”?
To be honest, the concept came after writing the verses – It was a stream of consciousness written and recorded like a freestyle. When I read back what I had written I realised there was a lot of bragging, almost like I was convincing someone how amazing I was – I unpacked this idea and found myself exploring insecurities and overcompensation in the chorus.
I had mentioned the word “love bomb” in the verse and my producer mentioned we should call it that. I then realised that this was in essence the concept of what I had written. It’s not about anyone or any specific experience it’s more a collection of memories and psychology.
Can you describe the creative process behind your new album “it was all a meme…”? Why did you decide to go with your first instinct on every song without any rewrites?
I just wanted to be really kind to myself during the creation as I have found that it’s really easy to obsess over words and phrasing. Every beat can lead to a million top-line melodies. I went with my first instincts and stuck to it.
For me, the art includes the entire process – not just the finished song and the sessions were really beautiful experiences with my producer SB90. Trusting my creativity was empowering because there is a lot of imposter syndrome going on as an artist.
Your music video for “Luvbomb” features themes of disassociation, substance abuse, and alter egos. Heavy themes! What motivated them?
My own mental health journey heavily inspired these themes. I think just feeling like there is a division within my conscience – an inner saboteur creates a feeling of having an alter ego. But when you really look at the behaviour and self-deprecation, I found that these patterns were a form of self-protection.
The negatively perceived aspects of my personality are just as important as the “good” because they have kept me safe and I wanted to show this dichotomy visually. I’m also just willing to do anything for art (haha) and loved the concept of the visual.
How has your work as a meme lord on Instagram influenced your music and message?
For this project specifically, I have subtly mixed memes throughout the music. There is even a meme sample in luvbomb for the keen listeners! I definitely have a sense of humour with my art – as serious as my concepts may seem, it’s as deep as you make it. This music isn’t a cry for help, it’s performance art and I see my meme pages as an extension of the performance.
You have been recognized as a prominent LGBTQ+ artist. How does your identity influence your music and creative process?
I think for me, my sexuality was a large factor in my bad mental health as a teenager and in early adulthood. Growing up in the church really instilled this deep cognitive dissonance where I knew I was gay but associated this with genuinely being damned.
I want my music to open conversations and help other young queer people unlearn the nonsense that is often fed to them. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and you can learn to love and accept yourself and find happiness!
What are your plans for the future?
World domination. Would love to perform more and really focus on my live show experience. I have a couple of singles dropping soon before I unleash “it was all a meme…” into the world!
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