Maroon 5 will hit London’s O2 Arena this week in a comeback gig that their fans have been waiting years for.
Weirdly, they aren’t the most exciting part of the night’s entertainment.
Instead, it’s the arrival of GUNNAR, the 22-year-old American singer who boasts hints of Robbie Williams and Prince about his performance.
The young guitar hero only released his debut album, Best Mistake, earlier this year, but it has already built a small and mighty fanbase. And after being handpicked by Maroon 5 to join them on their European tour, GUNNAR obviously has a bright future – but he is not expecting everything for nothing.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk over Zoom, GUNNAR looked back on his discography with a hint of disdain, while gushing about his new record. “Best Mistake is truly the first album that I’ve put out as me, as my own artist,” he explained.
GUNNAR said: “The album is a really special one for me because it was the first true departure from the box I was put in at a young age.”
The Californian native came across like an excited puppy at times; simply buzzing with excitement to talk about his work, gigs, and future. But there were powerful flashes of maturity there, as well. Signs of wisdom long beyond his years. He no doubt has a vision for what he wants to make happen in his career, which is really admirable at such a young age, but the star has had to work for it and has already been forced to fight his own corner.
“It was a big step for me to say: ‘I’m going to do what I’m going to do, and means something to me, and that’s really made for the live show,'” he recalled.
For GUNNAR, playing live is where he feels the most comfortable and confident in his work. The record was produced by Brendan O’Brien, of AC/DC, Pearl Jam and The Killers’ production fame. But GUNNAR explained that Best Mistake was not an attempt to become world famous, but rather an exercise in honing his craft both on and off stage.
“The mindset behind the album was never to get a number one,” he mapped out. “Or put huge marketing or promotion behind it. I just wanted to put out music that I thought was a true expression of me for the first time – and tour it and make memories. I think that, in regard, the album has been incredible. It has been perfect, it has done exactly what I was hoping it would do.”
GUNNAR called Best Mistake the “first step in a long future making music that he wants to make” – but, in some ways, it feels like he has already “made it”. Look no further than this week: He’s touring with Maroon 5, and will be playing to 20,000 people, a feat a young one-album pop-rock star could only dream of at this level. But he knows this experience is the exception, not the rule.
“By no means do I feel like I ‘deserve’ to go play an arena show every night,” he confessed. “I don’t want an overnight career, I want something that is a slow burn. I want to get to the stage that Maroon 5 is at: I want to be able to do this for 20, 30 years or more.”
He added: “It’s so weird because I don’t entirely view it as I’m ‘doing it’ or I’m ‘making it’. I still feel like we’re just at the very beginning. And playing these big shows is life-changing because all it does is solidify that this is where I need to be. And, as cliche as it sounds, I truly believe that [performing] is what I was put here to do.”
GUNNAR admitted that next time he returns to the UK, he’ll no doubt be back in some tiny London clubs rather than the prestigious arena – but added he “can’t wait” for that experience, as well.
Still, his career may have some more surprises for him in the near future – all thanks to Maroon 5’s frontman Adam Levine.
“I have a really good relationship with Adam,” GUNNAR revealed. “And he has really stepped into my life and become a mentor, or a brother, or a music industry father.”
Does this mean the pair will begin collaborating in the near future? “You know, I have to be a little careful what I say here,” GUNNAR smiled. “But I think Adam and I have a relationship that is really special. And it’s something that I’m so grateful for. And I think that, with this tour being the first step, he will drastically change my life. He already has.”
After GUNNAR ends this tour, he’ll go back to working on new music once again. While nothing is set in stone just yet, he theorised that he’ll “hopefully have a song or two” out by the end of the year, with the scope to get a new album out by the beginning of 2024.
I can’t wait to see what he has coming next.
GUNNAR is on tour with Maroon 5 now, and will play LONDON and BIRMINGHAM this week – get tickets here.
