What is a Friday afternoon without a bit of heartbreak? Well, alt-pop artist Gorran is here to provide you with your fix of sad girl sounds with the release of his new cut, “I’m Sorry”. A juxtaposition at its core, while the tune is a love letter brimming with unspoken confessions directed towards his ex, we are treated to a tune that is inherently upbeat and borderline uplifting as a melodic whistle and plonky production merrily ring out. Regardless, this clash results in a heartbreak anthem worthy of being stuck on repeat.

“I couldn’t be more ready for this song to be out there. Getting this song and my whole EP sorted during the pandemic was definitely a unique experience. One that proved challenging at times, to say the least. But we got there in the end, and things are sounding exactly as I envisioned them,” explains Gorran when discussing the turbulent process behind the track’s creation.

Upon the release of “I’m Sorry”, the artist sat down with Wonderland to talk his time spent within the walls of the prestigious BRIT School and the pending release of his debut EP. Head below to enjoy our interview with Gorran…

Hey Gorran, how are you doing today? Where are you right now?
I’m great, thanks! I was up late last night writing. I’m at home working in my bedroom studio at the moment. I am in a really good place right now, to be honest. Really excited about what I’ve got coming up.

You went to the famed BRIT School! What was your time like there?
I loved my time at BRIT. It opened up a whole new world of musical potential to me and really helped me blossom as an artist. I’m sure everyone else who has studied there over the years will tell you the same thing. There’s a reason Adele, Rex and all the rest have gone on to do so well. There’s an energy in those walls that is infectious. I met some of the most important people in my team through BRIT, including my guitarist, who was in my year, and my manager, who I was introduced to through an industry contact I met at the school.

Let’s talk “I’m Sorry”. Congratulations on its release, how are you feeling about the world hearing it?
Thank you! I couldn’t be more ready for this song to be out there. Getting this song and my whole EP sorted during the pandemic was definitely a unique experience. One that proved challenging at times, to say the least. But we got there in the end, and things are sounding exactly as I envisioned them.

You say it is a song filled with things you wanted to say to someone you were in a complicated relationship with! Was the creation process cathartic for you?
Definitely. Most of my music ends up being that way inclined. It’s a case that if something happens in my life that affects me on an emotional level, it will inevitably find its way into a song, sometimes purposefully, sometimes subconsciously. With this particular song, it was important I laid out my thoughts and feelings in writing at the moment that things were rough because I knew that I was struggling to say things that needed to be said out loud. I remember the night I wrote the chorus, the overwhelming relief that I felt once I’d got all my thoughts down.

You also worked with Grammy winner Dyre Gormsen on the track! What was that experience like?
I have huge respect for Dyre. His attitude towards audio and its link to emotional response has been such a joy to witness. He’s taught me so much throughout the process of mixing this song and the EP as a whole. We didn’t let the pandemic stop us from working, with mixing sessions often taking place over the phone. I don’t think we could have pulled off those remote sessions so well if we didn’t have such a strong working relationship and if we didn’t speak the same language in terms of sonics. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved together.

“I’m Sorry” also comes from your debut EP “Grown Up” which is coming this July! What can we expect from the new project?
Yes, July 8th! I’m so excited to be releasing my first body of work. The EP is made up of a collection of moments that have made me who I am today, mainly focusing on the period from my mid-teens to now. It explores the emotional twists and turns of entering adulthood. It’s pretty much my own coming-of-age movie soundtrack. I wanted the project to feel like a warm hug sonically, and I really think we got there with it.

Do you have a favourite track from the upcoming project?
One of my favourites is ‘The Garden’, the final track. I wrote and recorded it at Eastcote Studios with Noah Terefe, a friend and co-writer who I trust entirely. He’s co-written 4 of the 7 songs on this EP with me. This song in particular has been really resonating with people in a live setting since we added it to our show. People have been coming up and telling me how much the lyrics have touched them personally, and nothing means more to me than when my songs are able to do that.

Was there a particular person, theme or emotion that inspired the track?
‘The Garden’ is by far the most nostalgic song on the EP, with me looking back at my childhood and how big and dream-like everything felt back then, compared to how I now perceive those same things as an adult.

Aside from these exciting releases, what is next?
I have an EP launch show on July 7th at Laylow in London, plus a few more shows that same month. Post-EP, I’m going right back to delving into the writing process and seeing where it will take me next. And now that the world is finally opening up, I’m really looking forward to getting back out on tour again, as the last time I was properly out on the road for a national tour was with KT Tunstall back in 2019, just before the world shut down. Things are looking up. I’m excited about what’s to come.