Name: Dana Gavanski
Occupation: Singer, songwriter
Nationality: Canadian
Recent release: Dana Gavanski's Late Slap is out via Full Time Hobby.
Recommendations: Benjamin Moser's - Her Life * book on Susan Sontag; Ruth Asawa's looped wire scultpures which I would LOVE to see in real life.

If you enjoyed these thoughts by Dana Gavanski and would like to stay up to date with her music, visit her official homepage. She is also on Instagram, and Facebook.

For a deeper dive, read our earlier Dana Gavanski interview.
 


Where does the impulse to create something come from for you? What role do often-quoted sources of inspiration like dreams, other forms of art, personal relationships, politics etc play?
 
I don't exactly know the impulse, but I think it just comes from a love of music, from a curiosity of where it may take me (mentally, physically, emotionally) and an obsession with cinema/performance.

Everything influences me, from the coffee I drink in the morning to the last image I see on my phone. It all collides together and spins a web of emotional imagery that I then pick apart to make sense of my mental framework at that point in time.
 
For you to get started, do there need to be concrete ideas – or what some have called a 'visualization' of the finished work? What does the balance between planning and chance look like for you?
 
At this point, I’ve never been able to write something that stems from overthinking. I would love to try and make a conceptual album sometime.

The only planning I do is to sit down with myself for long periods of time daily and let the ‘picking apart' begin, looking for sounds and rhythms that surprise and draw songs out.
 
Do you have certain rituals to get you into the right mindset for creating? What role do certain foods or stimulants like coffee, lighting, scents, exercise or reading poetry play?
 
I like the early evening, as the light is dimming, and the sounds around are usually less aggressive. Maybe a glass of wine, some candles and ideally a mic set up so I can hear my voice amplified.
 
What do you start with? And, to quote a question by the great Bruce Duffie: When you come up with a musical idea, have you created the idea or have you discovered the idea?
 
I always start with the music, but sometimes it comes out together, maybe slightly garbled.

In my opinion, it’s kind of like chipping away at stone to find what’s underneath, as if it’s just waiting there, and the songs are maybe just the different stages of that chipping away.
 
What makes lyrics good in your opinion? What are your own ambitions and challenges in this regard?
 
For me it varies. Honesty comes to mind. But lately I just love cheeky, playful, performative lyrics.

Honesty still plays a part I suppose, but I guess when I say honesty I mean more, complete absorption and focus, unhinged possession, not honesty in the expository sense.
 
Many writers have claimed that as soon as they enter into the process, certain aspects of the narrative are out of their hands. Do you like to keep strict control or is there a sense of following things where they lead you?
 
I like seeing where things lead me. But it goes in waves and getting to the place where I just trust my impulse without reigning it in too much - controlling the logic and outcome - is a challenge.

But when I manage to remain open minded, or just on the edge, it can be really intriguing.
 
There are many descriptions of the creative state. How would you describe it for you personally? Is there an element of spirituality to what you do?
 
I think 'flow state' is a good term for it. Just a state of maintaining humility and openness to the feelings that be. Following the thread, but also, not being afraid to cut it, tangle it, or chew it up and spit it out whatever that may look like.

And especially not being so precious and protective about it all - the fear of messing it up beyond saving. In my opinion, no one ever wrote a good song from being too precious - though straddling the line can produce interesting results.
 
After finishing a piece or album and releasing something into the world, there can be a sense of emptiness. Can you relate to this – and how do you return to the state of creativity after experiencing it?
 
Definitely. Emptiness and a feeling of being underwhelmed, especially when releasing music online. So much emotional, mental and physical energy goes into making an album and I feel like the social media-scape doesn’t do it justice, as we search for scraps of interest and some thumbs up to affirm our work.

Not trying to sound ungrateful but it can feel a bit bleak, and I suspect it's because it feels like human connection is transformed into a digital distraction rather than an honest and focused investment.