Lynn Gunn has always used music as a form of self-expression. As a kid, she would sneak into her brother’s room to listen to his albums and learn to play his instruments, slowly mastering every string and beat he had laying around. As she grew up, and later joined the band Pvris in 2012, her relationship with music only deepened. It’s almost like sound and lyrics could be intertwined in a vision only she could see, which created music that fans describe as not quite belonging to any one genre. It’s rock, it’s pop, it’s electronic, and it’s maybe a little Victorian. But one thing is for sure: It’s entirely from Gunn’s perspective.
In the six years since Pvris released its first album “White Noise,” Gunn has distinguished herself among her bandmates as the conductor at the helm of their unique orchestra. Their latest and third album, “Use Me,” debuted earlier this year and gives her full reign of the spotlight. It’s a long time coming, and as she continues to use music as a form of self-expression, she’s realizing just how malleable it can be.
The sound of “Use Me” is even more complex than past work, but the lyrics—which were inspired by Gunn’s personal life—stay with listeners like an insightful conversation with a good friend.
Gunn is hitting her stride as an artist and performer, but this isn’t the only way she plans on expressing herself in the future. As she looks ahead, she’s focused on blazing a path for others to confidently share their music, too. It’s only a matter of time until she makes it happen.
After years of sharing the credit with your bandmates, you finally allowed yourself to step out as the sole creative force behind PVRIS. How did you summon the confidence to finally own your work and what has the reaction been like?
Things were naturally moving this way, especially in the process of making “Use Me.” I was constantly flying around for sessions and was working for the album alone. Prior to the release, my bandmates and I had a chat, and they were fully supportive and encouraging of this plan. I think it’s even made us closer.
In an interview with Kerrang!, you called “Use Me” the “most direct and personal” PVRIS album yet. Can you talk us through the creative process? What was your vision for the album, and which tracks are you most satisfied with/proud of?
Creating “Use Me” was spread out over the last three years. As soon as we finished recording our second album, I had already written and started some of the production on songs like “Old Wounds” and “Death of Me.” I was also writing and meeting with new collaborators up until last December. From there, I went on to track instruments and finalize production for two months with JT Daly, the album’s producer. I got to track pretty much every instrument except harp and strings—but one day I’ll be able to do those, too! My vision was pretty open for this album. I didn’t have any visual themes that I was bound to. So naturally, the writing felt that open, too. My favorite tracks are “Use Me,” “Old Wounds,” and “Good To Be Alive.”
You're not afraid to show vulnerability through your lyrics. Is confidence something that comes naturally to you, or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams?
I think I owe a lot of that confidence to my parents, especially my dad. He was always encouraging me and supporting me with sports and music. And this was especially true in settings where I was the only girl; he always had my back and made me feel like I belonged there. I think that unconditional support as a young girl from a male figure was huge for me. My few bits of advice would be that patience is key and setbacks are constant. Take every setback as a redirection to the right path rather than a rejection. Don’t change for anyone or anything. Success is subjective.
After the release of the group’s second album, "All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell," you were diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases: ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn’s disease. How have your diagnoses shaped your music and how have they changed the way you approach setting work/life boundaries?
For a bit, it definitely shaped the music by influencing which type of vocals I could sing and write. My body’s fatigue definitely affected my voice in some ways, and also influenced the pacing of this album. There’s definitely quite a few mid-to-down tempo songs on this album that I think were due to my energy being pretty low for a lot of the writing process. As for work/life boundaries, I’m still working on it. I need to listen to my body, and it goes pretty hand-in-hand with my emotional health. When my physical health feels poor or I start to experience a flare up, it’s almost always when I need to make an adjustment or draw a boundary somewhere. It definitely makes it pretty clear in that way.
2020 presented everybody around the globe with new, unprecedented challenges. How did you #FindNewRoads + switch gears towards your new version of success?
I’m still trying to figure that out, to be honest! The “new reality” has definitely steered even more heavily toward social media, so it’s finding ways to be engaged through that. We recently teamed up with an online music community called Pillar, and we’re launching something fun very soon. It will hopefully allow us to curate more insightful content and create more ways to engage with our fans!
According to recent research, just 21% of popular artists are women, 12% are songwriters, and only 2% are producers. And the stats are even bleaker for Women of Color. How are you making a difference and pushing the music industry forward?
I hope that existing within the industry as an artist, songwriter, and producer can be inspiring, for starters. Stepping forward and fully owning those roles was a big step for me as an individual, and I hope that can inspire others to step forward as well. I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to be writing and collaborating with some incredible womxn and womxn of color. Eventually, hopefully sooner than later, I’d really love to start shifting my focus more toward producing, and doing that primarily for and with womxn. It’s also my dream to someday own or co-own a writing and recording studio that’s womxn owned and operated.
How have you remained true and authentic to who you are and what advice can you share for women who are struggling with that?
It’s definitely a constant battle to stay centered and inspired, especially when things feel as fast-paced as they are now. I think social media can really make it harder to stay centered. I do my best to stay present in the real world by going into nature a lot, finding joy in the little things, and journaling a ton. I always self-reflect and stick to my guns as best as I can with creative decisions.
It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?
I always try my best to trust that if something doesn’t work out it’s because it’s either not the right fit for me or not the right time. I think we’re all on our own journey and no one’s path to success is the same. It’s important to remember that.
With success comes opportunity, but that also means you have your hands full. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep going, even on your most challenging days?
I remind myself that things will pass, and the challenges always have growth hidden in them. I also motivate myself through hard days by saying, “As soon as you’re done with this, you get to put your pajamas on and get into bed!”
If you could go back to the beginning of your career journey—with the knowledge you have now— what advice would you give yourself?
Don’t sweat the small stuff and go easier on yourself. You’re doin’ okay, kid.
Fill in the blanks:
When I feel fear, I…
Try my best to remember that fear is either essential for growth or something that can be shifted into empowerment. Also watching “Grace and Frankie” cures just about all fears and sadness, so that’s great, too.
To be successful, you need to be…
Persistent and true to you.
The change I’d like to see in my industry is…
Quality over quantity.
My perfect day begins with…
The perfect cup of coffee or tea.
The craziest thing I’ve done for work is…
Get tied up by a Shibari master followed by diving into a freezing tank of red water an hour later!
