We caught up with Italian alt-pop songstress Giungla to discuss addictions to FIFA, her songwriting process and going ape shit at a Grimes show.
Cougar Microbes: What time did you wake up today? Was it out of choice or necessity?
Giungla: I woke up at 8:30. I wanted to go out for a run but I’m sitting here waiting for the plumber. What a glamorous life!
CM: Describe your sound to the uninitiated?
G: It’s very minimal, but very varied. I like to call it “camouflage”. Imagine you are looking at a pattern: the same simple elements create different combinations, ready to be discovered.
CM: What have been the highlights of your year (musically) so far.
G: Playing my first gig ever supporting Unknown Mortal Orchestra and being featured in Spotify‘s New Music Friday Playlist.
CM: How do you kill time on the road when on the road? hobbies/games?
G: Actually right now I’m very busy when I’m on the road since I’m basically my own tour manager etc. but usually I like reading a book or playing games with an iPad; I used to be a Fifa addict (it’s amazing how it turns my mind off), but lately I downloaded a great music app and I mess around with samples.
CM: What have been your favourite venues to play? Any Venues you hated?
G: My favourite one so far was a place in Bologna called TPO. I’m always grateful to people that come to my shows or to anyone who is there watching by chance, but if there’s one thing I hate, is venues that are not meant for live performances but more for having a drink or eating and people is sitting and it feels like you are ruining their evening. When that happens I just end up screaming louder and doubling the fun.
CM: you able to write on the road or do you do this in your off time?
G: I write mostly when I am at home, but I come up with a lot of ideas when I’m speeding up behind the wheel.
CM: Is there a song you are simply sick of playing live?
G: I’m already working on new stuff and hopefully I’ll never get bored.
CM: What is the songwriting process like for you?
G: Sometimes it all starts with a riff or a melody that I promptly record on my phone. Then I work on the structure and I start home recording thinking of an arrangement, adding beats and layers.
CM: Do your songs go through many revisions and demos before recordings?
G: The final version of course sounds better and everything, but usually is not that far from the demo. My main focus is on the songwriting, so everything has to work from the beginning or that means it’s not a good song.
CM: What came first, the lyrics or the melody?
G: The melody comes first, then I focus on a subject, on something I want to say and I try to put it into words.
CM: What is your favourite track of your own both live and in general?
G: I don’t know which one is my favorite track in general, it probably depends on how I feel on this particular day, so that doesn’t really count. One of my favorite songs of the live set is called “Give Up” which I haven’t released yet. It’s the last one of the set; it has a lot of instrumental parts and sometimes I can really lose control while playing it.
CM: If you could record any cover in the world what would it be?
G: There’s no one in particular. I like to think of covers also as a “game“, a way of experimenting, not always just a tribute. I’m a very open minded person, a song that for most (music snob) people sucks, I could probably think it’s an interesting cover.
CM: What are your views on auto tune?
G: I never used it in the studio. When I listen to music, sometimes it can be bothering, funny or random, other times it can be an interesting and brilliant effect.
CM: Any other artists/bands from your local scene we really should know about?
G: Primitive Art and Holiday Inn.
CM: What is the most flattering thing you’ve read about yourselves?
G: “Sounds like the love child of PJ Harvey and Grimes”. Definitely too good to me. They are my queens!
CM: What was the first record/tape/cd you ever bought?
G: The first tape I ever bought was a Spice Girls album. The first cds were “Californication” by RHCP and “Jagged Little Pill” by Alanis Morissette.
CM: What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
G: “No Harm Is Done” by Christine And The Queens. Can’t wait for the album!
CM: What was the last show you paid and queued up for?
G: Grimes in Berlin in February. I was in the front row and I screamed a lot.
CM: If you had to bring on artist back from the dead in exchange for sending a living artist down ,which artists would it be and why??
G: C’mon, I can’t send a living artist down! That’s a tough one. Well, I would have loved to see Michael Jackson and David Bowie live. I’m sure there’s no need to explain why.
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