Video Premiere: GUM - Would It Pain You to See? (Live in the Green Room)

Image credit: Grant Spanier

Jay Watson is as busy as he is creative and talented, having released five albums in a six year period as GUM which is an impressive release schedule on its own, but when you consider the fact he’s also a member of Pond and Tame Impala, his output becomes all the more inspiring.

After having his first two albums remixed by Kevin Parker and reissued on vinyl last year (that we caught up with him about), and recently teaming up with fellow Pond band-member James Ireland aka Ginoli for a remix of L.A. synth-punks Automatic (that we recently checked in with Automatic about), GUM has also been dropping a few new solo singles. Following up first single Race to the Air, last week GUM unveiled his new single Would It Pain You to See?, alongside the announcement of his first album since 2020’s Out in the World, with Saturnia set for a September release.

A mellow slice of r&b tinged psychedelic pop, GUM says of the single “I wrote this in lockdown with my newborn son, on my Wurli. My songs are never really literal or with obvious meaning, but if I had to say what this one is about it would be the conflict of apathy and caring a lot about something, that’s inside all of us. It seems to be particularly confusing and crude in today’s day and age. I love the beautiful strings part played by Jesse Kotansky.”

Having played some of the biggest stages in the contemporary music world, GUM is back to showcase his live chops with an awesome live version and video of his new single, premiering on Pilerats today. Offering an energetic and dynamic take on the studio version, GUM explains "This live version of ‘Would It Pain You to See?’ was recorded in my home studio (where I recorded most of the new album Saturnia) just outside of Fremantle, with James Ireland (Pond) on keys and Scarlett Stevens (San Cisco) on drums. The studio is tentatively titled the Green Room because of the colour I painted the walls (Dulux ‘Plasticine’). I didn’t realise I pulled so many faces while trying to sing!"

GUM will be celebrating the release of Saturnia with a national tour - see below for all dates, and in the meantime take a first watch of the live version of Would It Pain You to See?

GUM's new album Saturnia is out September 15 via Spinning Top Records

SATURNIA

1. Race to the Air
2. Muscle Memory
3. Argentina
4. Would It Pain You to See?
5. Fear of Joy
6. Music Is Bigger Than Hair
7. Real Life
8. Saturnism
9. In a Glasshouse (With No Light)
10. It Lies a Lifetime

Follow GUM: Instagram / Facebook