Q&A: Still Woozy
Indie-pop darling Still Woozy has been riding high since the release of his acclaimed 2024 sophomore album, Loveseat. Ahead of his Aussie tour, we chat with the likeable lad about his most recent album, being a family man and what to expect on his upcoming tour.
Words by Tobias Handke // Image by Alex Kennedy
Still Woozy, better known as Sven Gamsky to his friends and family, has graduated from bedroom pop creator to global superstar with the release of his acclaimed second album, Loveseat.
Featuring the top tunes ‘Shotput’, ‘Lemon’ and ‘Run It Back’, the album has drawn rave reviews from critics. In a glowing assessment from Clash, which awarded the album nine out of ten, writer Joshua Khan said, “Woozy’s sophomore effort, Loveseat, pantomimes feelings in a familiar key, but he punches in soundscapes that find beauty in the ‘little things’ to really lean into your heart.”
An unassuming social media star with over 1.5 billion streams, 6.3 million monthly Spotify listeners, 1.5 million TikTok likes, and 76.7 million YouTube views, Still Woozy is at the top of his game and ready to unleash his feel-good tunes on Aussie audiences this February.
Before his gig at Hindley Street Music Hall on February 6 (tickets here), we got the chance to ask Still Woozy a few questions via email about his new album, fatherhood and what to expect when he touches down in Australia next month.
Congratulations on the release of Loveseat last year. Roughly seven months on from dropping the album, how do you think it compares to your debut and did you learn anything about yourself or your creative process while making the record?
Thank you! I think maybe from a songwriting perspective it’s more evolved but from a texture perspective it’s not as good maybe? I don’t know, I’m a harsh critic of myself so I’m not the right person to ask. I think from a producer standpoint I’ve learned more looking back at it than working on it. Things I would do differently, etc.
I find Loveseat to have a more experimental edge while still staying true to the honesty and authenticity of your debut. Was it a concerted effort to expand your sound or was it a natural progression as you grew as an artist while making it?
I’m always trying to do something new. There are so many sounds that I want to try. The real struggle is staying true to your vision while pushing out into new territory. It can be hard to keep your bearings.
Family is a theme that runs through Loveseat on songs like ‘Big Fish’ and ‘Rid of Me’. When it comes to people like your parents and your wife, how important have they been on your journey and how have they inspired you musically?
They are the most important. Nobody can hurt you or love you like the people closest to you. Those big feelings for me are where the music comes from.
You also recently became a father (congrats). How has that experience shaped you both as a person and an artist? Has it taught you anything new about yourself?
Thank you. It has kinda reshaped my priorities a bit. He is the centre of my world now, which actually helps me enjoy life more. He’s always completely present, which means I am too when I’m with him.
You worked with a stack of talented individuals on Loveseat, including two-time Grammy winner Ian Fitchuk, Buddy Ross and Lars Stalfors. What did they bring to the table?
They all brought something different. Ian is a great vibe and one of those players who picks up an instrument and does the best take first try. Buddy is someone who has such a good palate for textures and is also an amazing keyboardist. And Lars is a great pragmatic soundboard who knows everything about gear.
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Let’s talk about ‘Run It Back’. I read it was a super late addition to Loveseat yet it’s turned out to be one of the highlights of the album. How did the song come about and what made you want to include it on Loveseat?
I just felt there was a ‘Run It Back’ shaped hole in the album and it kinda just happened naturally while I was working one night.
Another awesome tune is, ‘All Your Life’, a feel-good love song. Tell us about the influence behind the track and also what inspired the music video, which is fantastic.
That one started with the drum break. I love that drum break and I had made another song with it, only to later scrap the whole song to try something new with the break. I made the music video with my friends Palmer Morse and Tom Goulet. We just wanted to make something stupid and fun.
Speaking about music videos, you’re quite creative when it comes to that space and have over 76.7 million YouTube views. Music videos obviously play an important role in the way you share music. What inspires you when creating a music video and do you think it’s a medium more artists should explore when it comes to getting their music out into the world?
Music videos are actually pretty hard for me. I really hate being filmed if it feels forced, I just kinda shut down. So it has to feel natural which means it has to be with my friends. Thinking and worrying about my image kinda kills my creativity, so I have to create a space where I don’t take myself too seriously and I can just have fun and let the ideas flow.
One more track I have to highlight that isn’t on Loveseat but I find delightful is ‘Anyone But You’, a song written for the movie of the same name. How did this come about and what’s it like writing a song for a film? Were you set certain parameters about what the song should sound like or given free rein to do what you liked?
The director reached out about this one. It was so much fun because the pressure was off and I knew what they wanted. I initially sent them one idea they turned down because it was more romantic love than passionate love. Haha. So that was kinda the parameter. I still love that demo. I might do something with it someday.
What do you hope people take away from listening to Loveseat?
I hope people feel better after they listen and they can go about their day a little lighter.
You're back in Australia in February for a run of shows. Having previously played in Oz before, how did you enjoy the experience and what can fans expect this time around?
I loved it last time and am looking forward to it! My baby has me waking up super early so I’m also looking forward to sleeping in.
You’re also in Australia for a little while longer on this tour. Is there anything you want to see or do that you didn’t get to last time? Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge? Cuddle a koala? Eat kangaroo?
Can I cuddle a koala? How can we make this happen?
Final one, what’s the plan for the rest of 2025?
More music. More touring!
Catch Still Woozy at Hindley Street Music Hall on Thursday, February 6. Tickets on sale now via Moshtix.
