Born and raised in Barcelona, FOX grew up studying and playing classical music. By the time she was 16, she realised that instead of sitting playing along to sheet music, she wanted to be up on stage singing and performing, so she taught herself guitar and started singing lessons.
Moving to London at the age of 18 shaped the musician she is today. “I busked in the streets and worked at a tequila bar at night for one year, then went on to study a BA(Hons) in Songwriting, where I continued with my former band LULALONG with new, London-based musicians I met at uni. I played with them for years around London up until I started my solo journey as FOX GUNN.”
What inspired you to make music?
Making music has always felt more like a need than something I was inspired to do by something or someone, it’s my way of processing and releasing feelings. But when it comes to being a musician (putting my music out in the world and playing live), as a kid I was super inspired by badass rockstar women: Debby Harry, Gwen Stefani, Avril Lavigne…
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
Massively! I think nowadays there’s so much going on at all times that it’s very difficult to get someone’s attention, it’s easy to reach people because of the internet, but harder to keep them listening because we’re all exposed to new music and artists 24/7. That being said – as much as I’m not social media’s biggest fan – I consider myself very lucky to live in an age where recording and releasing music and everything around it is easier than ever. And we can’t forget the beauty of streaming: whereas prior to the digital music era if your album didn’t do well, it would just collect dust in a shop then be taken off the shelves, now a song that was released a long time ago can finally have its own moment years later; there’s ‘old’ music being discovered and going viral all the time, which I don’t think would have happened without the Internet.
Have you got a ritual of sorts when making music?
I’d love to say I have a routine and write on demand every morning at 9am; but the reality is I write my best songs when I least expect it: spontaneously and impulsively. I guess I collect ideas and bottle things up until I ‘must’ let it out and write. But maybe that’s a ritual in itself, go out, experience things to the max, make bad decisions then write about it! I don’t know how sustainable that is but it’s how I’m working at the moment haha
How would you describe your music?
I find it very hard to describe, because I don’t think I fit into one genre. If you took my diary, read it and played a dark, dancy beat to it – that’s my music: blunt, in-your-face lyrics paired with fuzzy synths, a danceable rhythm and influenced by my Spanish roots.
What’s next for you?
I’m releasing my debut EP next month! I can’t believe it! I don’t think anything I’ve ever worked on has felt more like me, and I can’t wait for the world to hear it. I’m also putting on a queer prom event for its release.
And after that I plan on playing live as much as I can, being on stage is my favourite thing in the world and I think the new songs are going to be SO much fun.
What are your top two favourite songs of all time? Why those songs?
Rosalía – ‘CUUUUuuuuuute’. It has it all, banging production, lyrics that speak to you, sang/melodic sections, rhythmic sections… I’ve seen her live twice and haven’t been able to stop thinking about this song since.
No Doubt – ‘Just A Girl’. Does it really need an explanation? It’s pure gold. I must have watched their live performance of this song from ‘Live in The Tragic Kingdom’ (the video album form ‘97) about a hundred times, I wasn’t even born then which confirms my point: it’s still relevant even years after its release, and people can’t help but bop to it whenever it’s played.
What was the last series you watched on TV?
A bit embarrassing but The Ultimatum: Queer Love, I love myself a bit of toxic reality TV, even more if it’s queer!
What do you think the greatest invention has been?
That’s such a difficult question! Sooo many cool things have been invented so far, and more to come. It’s probably not the greatest invention, but I’d say digital music, the fact that we don’t need real instruments, a big studio, etc to make music is amazing. I made most of my EP from my bedroom and, in the cost of living crisis we’re in, I’m super grateful for that haha
Do you have any lucky items, objects, or traditions?
A chain necklace with a star my grandma gave me when I was little, I never take it off.
And when it comes to traditions, I always have a rum and coke before I play a show. It started a few years ago as a joke when I released a song called rum & coke with my old band, and it stuck!
If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?
Have you played Palau Sant Jordi yet? It’s my dream venue in Barcelona, where I’m from.
If you had to describe yourself as a flavour, what would it be?
I’d say sweet chilli: a bit sweet, a bit sour, a bit spicy!
FOX GUNN shares her debut EP ‘BADASS + VULNERABLE’, out everywhere now
With already released singles ‘POTTERY’ and ‘DESSERT’ landing support from the likes of Global Pop Magazine, Glasse Factory, Fizzy Magazine, Pop Passion and more, FOX gears up for the release of an EP brimming with sensuality and emotion with a roguish angst at its core.
For fans of Fletcher, 070 Shake, Halsey and BANKS, FOX draws from her combined influences, fusing elements of dark pop, electronic and rock to create her own distinctively captivating sound. BADASS + VULNERABLE is a concept EP about finding and losing yourself all at the same time, the catalyst of this experience being a breakup. Fox says, “It’s unapologetically queer, and embraces being vulnerable at the same time as being badass and overconfident. It plays with the intricacies of being a young queer single woman in a city that never sleeps: nightclubs, strangers, sex, alcohol, having the best and worst experiences, falling in and out of love, and feeling anything and everything oh so intensely. The EP doesn’t stay within one genre, it’s as complex as I am and that’s the fun of it.”
Opening the EP is ‘RECKLESS’ which is both an introduction and a summary of the EP, it
sets the mood and warns the listener about what’s to come. The lyrics play with the duality of who FOX was before the breakup and who she is now.
An apt follow up is debut single ‘POTTERY’ – a quintessential queer breakup anthem, drenched in yearning, sensuality and mischievous optimism – instead of dwelling on the sadness of the end of a relationship, strives for the feeling of freedom and relief that also come with it.
Speaking of ‘USE ME PROPERLY’, FOX says, “It’s a song about sex, there’s no way around it. It’s filled with tension, and portrays the anticipation and excitement you get before doing something you shouldn’t do.”
“IDON’TWANTTHISBUTIWANTHER” is the follow up to ‘USE ME PROPERLY’ – “on Use Me the lyrics were about not caring what happens besides having fun, on this track I’ve caught feelings. It’s all about being confused, not wanting nor being ready for a serious relationship because of being emotionally unavailable, but at the same time wanting to be with that person.”
On ‘DESSERT’ explores the fun in being a hopeless romantic – “It continues the story told on the past songs but this time acknowledging that I have feelings and I do actually want love. It really plays with the badass/vulnerable theme of the EP.”
EP cornerstone ‘ALL MY LOVERS HATE EACH OTHER’ rounds off the EP and perfectly captures the vibe of the project as a whole, and FOX as an artist – fun, mischievous and vulnerable. “On this track, I acknowledge that can’t be the perfect lover and embrace
the fun and playfulness that comes with being single in your twenties. It’s playful and cocky, it entertains the fact that I thought I found the love of my life and now that it all changed I still have all that love to give but can’t focus it on just one person.
“The outro, however, is the most vulnerable part of the EP. The lyrics relate to POTTERY with ‘she said that I was too emotional’: a full circle moment. It’s the first time on the EP where the lyrics explain what happened and why I can’t be someone’s lover at the time being. Production-wise, it goes from the very electronic song to a stripped back guitar and vocals – the same way the lyrics turn from overconfident to emotional and vulnerable. I wanted the EP to honour its title and end with ‘look at me now, I’m badass I’m vulnerable’ – a summary of everything the listener has heard throughout the rest of the songs. The fact that I’m singing I’m badass and vulnerable with just raw vocals and a guitar perfectly encapsulates the intention behind the EP.”
