Remember that final year of high school? Study, exams, graduation, and answering calls from Zac Braf’s people about that song of yours that is getting synced in his new film. It’s tough to be a kid nowadays.It's been a busy twelve months for young Melbourne electronic producer Gab Strum aka Japanese Wallpaper, that has included signing with a respected international booking agency and releasing a debut EP, all while completing his final year of high school.His track “Breath In” was included in Wish I Was Here, the follow-up to Braff’s cult cinema classic Garden State and his debut EP was released last week and has already generated a buzz with it's assured but restrained production.The video for “Forces”, the first single taken from the EP and featuring the vocals of Airling follows a young septum pierced girl wandering through a lush forest. Not a lot happens but when backed by production that is as lush as the forest, it becomes all about the track.We sent Gab some questions to find out more about the video and EP.Noisey: Where was the video shot?
Gab Strum: In the Dandenong Ranges, sort of like country Victoria. I go there every year for school camp and it’s such a nice area, it’s very easy to just go wondering in the forest and get lost for hours. I didn't pick you as a nature guy. Do you get out of the city often?
I don’t do it very much, I’m mostly just cooped up in my bedroom watching Netflix and recording! But every time I go to the country I always tell myself I should go more. Maybe I will one day. Did you write the track with Airling’s vocals in mind?
We actually wrote the track together in the same room, so her voice and writing style were obviously central to the process. Although her voice is kind of really gentle and beautiful in that way, she has a real knack for catchy pop hooks too which was awesome. It was great to work with her. Why “Forces” for the first video from the EP?
I recorded this EP over the last almost three years, and by the end of the process I had learnt many things about my craft that I wasn’t necessarily on top of when starting out. "Forces" was the last track I wrote and recorded for the record and I guess is the most representative of where I’m at now with my music and what I’m going for. It seemed right for the first clip.Catch Japanese Wallpaper in these non forested venues:July 2 - Brisbane at the Zoo
July 4 - Sydney at Newtown Social Club
July 5 - Sydney at Newtown Social Club
July 5 - Sydney at Newtown Social Club (U18)
July 6 - Sydney at Newtown Social Club
July 7 - Melbourne at Northcote Social Club
July 8 - Melbourne at Northcote Social Club
July 11 - Melbourne at Northcote Social Club
July 12 - Melbourne at Northcote Social Club
July 12 - Melbourne at Northcote Social Club (U18)
July 24 - Byron Bay at Splendour in the GrassJapanese Wallpaper's debut EP is available now through Zero Through Nine.Like this story? Like NOISEY on Facebook.
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Gab Strum: In the Dandenong Ranges, sort of like country Victoria. I go there every year for school camp and it’s such a nice area, it’s very easy to just go wondering in the forest and get lost for hours. I didn't pick you as a nature guy. Do you get out of the city often?
I don’t do it very much, I’m mostly just cooped up in my bedroom watching Netflix and recording! But every time I go to the country I always tell myself I should go more. Maybe I will one day. Did you write the track with Airling’s vocals in mind?
We actually wrote the track together in the same room, so her voice and writing style were obviously central to the process. Although her voice is kind of really gentle and beautiful in that way, she has a real knack for catchy pop hooks too which was awesome. It was great to work with her. Why “Forces” for the first video from the EP?
I recorded this EP over the last almost three years, and by the end of the process I had learnt many things about my craft that I wasn’t necessarily on top of when starting out. "Forces" was the last track I wrote and recorded for the record and I guess is the most representative of where I’m at now with my music and what I’m going for. It seemed right for the first clip.
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July 4 - Sydney at Newtown Social Club
July 5 - Sydney at Newtown Social Club
July 5 - Sydney at Newtown Social Club (U18)
July 6 - Sydney at Newtown Social Club
July 7 - Melbourne at Northcote Social Club
July 8 - Melbourne at Northcote Social Club
July 11 - Melbourne at Northcote Social Club
July 12 - Melbourne at Northcote Social Club
July 12 - Melbourne at Northcote Social Club (U18)
July 24 - Byron Bay at Splendour in the GrassJapanese Wallpaper's debut EP is available now through Zero Through Nine.Like this story? Like NOISEY on Facebook.