A quick chat with Gus & Jim

You both live in different parts of Australia, what does this mean for
the dynamic of your songwriting?

We’ve always worked best when creating with each other in person so being so far apart does present quite a challenge, but having such limited time together also means that when we do get to catch up we’re able to bring a lot of ideas to the table individually. It’s always interesting seeing where our musical journeys have taken us between sessions and how we can make these compliment and vibe together.

How did Gus & Jim come about as a musical project?

It started sometime in 2013 as we were both starting Uni. I’d go over to Gus’ place for a few Friday night beers and jams and we soon started recording these sessions. Eventually we picked out the diamonds in the rough, which turned into the backbone of our debut EP!

"Emua" is about a village in Vanuatu, can you tell us about your
experiences over there?

I (Jim) went over there on a University trip to work in a hospital for a few weeks. This experience alone was pretty eye opening and grounding, but part of the trip was also staying in a small fishing village with a ‘foster family’ for a few days. This was a truly special experience. Just seeing the simplicity of the people’s lives there, their kindness and generosity to strangers and also their sense of belonging and community was very humbling. I still maintain contact with my ‘mother’ to this day!

Both working in medicine, what has been the most challenging experience
of this year?

I think just trying to find and maintain some form of normalcy and stability amidst all the chaos. Being in the positions we’re in, our patients look to us for guidance and care. Being able to give this while preserving our own mental and physical wellbeing through such a crazy year has definitely been a challenge.

What has been the most rewarding?

On the other side of that coin, being able to give people a sense of calmness and direction in such a strange time has been as rewarding as it has difficult! Oh, and finishing and releasing our EP ‘Out of Harbour’ was also a big high point for both of us!

What are your biggest musical influences?

Our musical influences are wide and varied, but a few names that have lasted the years and influenced this project would definitely be RÜFÜS DU SOL, the Killers, Sticky Fingers and I’d even say good old Coldplay. Chris Martin is a genius.

Favourite summer holiday destination?

Jim is a big fan of heading down the South Coast of New South Wales to see family and friends, and as long as there’s a good beach and waves worth surfing, Gus is in heaven.

What are plans for Gus & Jim in 2021?

We’re really not sure! We’ve both got our own up and coming solo projects (Güs and Catseye Parish) and are both about to return to full time work, so we’ll be prioritising a few interstate trips in the new year and seeing where the magic takes us!

Thank you for your time mate, and merry Christmas!