header image: Julian Matulich, @julianmatulich
words: meg hilborne, @meghillbilly
the musician talks to us about his new single, revisiting his debut album, and rediscovering his creative authority
for GRESLEY, starting again meant learning to trust himself. after a decade with new hope club, the singer-songwriter found himself back at home in milton keynes, taking stock of everything he had experienced and, for the first time, writing music entirely on his own terms. the result was Songs I Wrote Since She Left – a deeply personal debut record that documented a period of longing, uncertainty and emotional upheaval, with each song offering a glimpse into where he was at the time.
but his story is no longer confined to that chapter. fresh from the release of his debut, a run of uk and ireland shows, and a los angeles performance, he is now stepping into a new era with ‘stunner’ – a track that carries a noticeably lighter and more confident energy, reflecting an artist who has grown both creatively and personally. having previously taken control of everything from his songwriting and visuals to his touring and a&r, GRESLEY is proving that this new chapter is more than simply starting over; it is about discovering exactly what he wants his career to be.
we caught up with gresley to talk about the making of his latest single, revisiting the diary-like emotions of Songs I Wrote Since She Left, and finding creative freedom as an independent artist.
‘Stunner’ feels like an interesting next step after Songs I Wrote Since She Left. What was the initial spark for the song, and when did you realise it was something you wanted to release beyond the album?
gresley: ‘stunner’ came right as i was delivering the album. it felt like a great next step – something a little different from what i had been doing and releasing previously. tor [miller] and i were just writing for fun at the time, with no real intention or main goal in mind, so this one really just flew out of us. we tend to write songs pretty quickly, and this one was no different.
there’s a sense of confidence running through it that feels like a slight shift away from the vulnerability of your debut. was that intentional, or did it happen naturally as you moved into this next chapter?
g: i love my debut album; it was exactly what i wanted it to be. it was super intimate and real, and i feel like, as i was growing as both an artist and a songwriter throughout the process of making it, i found out more about myself and the way i expressed my feelings through songs.
‘stunner’ still felt really honest and personal, but it had a different air to it. it felt a little lighter than anything i had done before. i think as soon as i started playing it live at my most recent shows, before the song was even out, i knew it needed to be the next song. it adds a different energy to my live shows – something that maybe would have been missing without it.
if you could borrow one thing from another musician’s career – whether that’s their songwriting ability, stage presence, wardrobe or fanbase – what would it be and why?
g: ooof, tough question. i think the longevity of a career like the rolling stones’ would be awesome. i’d love nothing more than to be making music when i’m in my 80s with my friends. i think that would be so rewarding – still touring in front of people who have loved you since your first record.
a lot of your debut material came from a very specific period of longing, distance, and uncertainty. did writing ‘stunner’ feel like writing from a different emotional place?
g: around that time, i felt like i wanted to try something a little different. that’s not to say i won’t go back to the same place, as i tend to be very present when i’m writing. but around this time, i was feeling excited by everything going on around me. i was definitely in a better place when i made this song, and i think you can tell.
does it feel strange revisiting those emotions?
g: i actually listened to the album the other day, probably for the first time since it came out. it was weird, but i loved it. it’s so interesting because i can really pinpoint specific moments that were happening throughout the songs and connect them to what was happening in my life at the time. it’s an interesting experience for sure.
i love that the debut record feels like a diary to me. it’s fun to not only read the lyrics, but also hear the influences i had at that time.
you’ve previously opened up about returning home to your parents after you parted ways with new hope club, not knowing whether you wanted to continue making music initially. what was it about that period of uncertainty that ultimately reignited your desire to create?
g: i felt a little fatigued around that time, i guess. i’d been in my previous band for 10 years and had been through a lot of different situations. i really didn’t know what i wanted to do, so when i moved back home, i took a beat and reflected on what i had done and achieved over the previous decade.
there had been so many ups and downs, but most importantly, i’d learnt so much, made so many great friends and had so much support from the fanbase.
i was honestly just sitting down playing guitar for fun, and then i snapped back into writing. it had been a while and, to be honest, i hadn’t written a song for my own project before, so i really didn’t know where to start. but i just let it flow out of me.
from then on, it felt so easy. i was just writing what i wanted to hear and what felt real to me. i could be so honest in my writing because it was the first time i was writing solely for myself.
you have said that working independently has allowed you to “steer the ship yourself” – was there anything you deliberately did differently because you wanted to reclaim a sense of creative ownership?
g: initially, it was pretty daunting. i realised that i had to trust my gut and make my own mind up about what i thought was good or not. i think, as i’ve grown over the last year as both an artist and a person, i’ve been able to trust it more and more.
taking control of all facets of my career has been very empowering. i’ve learnt so many skills. i’ve been my own creative director, graphic designer, tour manager, a&r and so on.
i think, most importantly, i’ve realised that everything comes down to me. i have to be the hardest worker if i want anything to happen. i have never felt more driven.
what’s a song that you wish you had written, and what do you think makes it so good?
g: i would love to have written ‘songbird’ by fleetwood mac. i honestly think it’s the most beautiful song ever. not many songs make me emotional, but this one always seems to get me.
i think it’s the simplicity of it. it’s a perfect song, in my opinion, and i don’t even know how you’d begin to write something like that.
what’s a song you love that you’d be slightly embarrassed to put on the aux?
g: haha. i’m so down to put anything on in the car, and to be honest, i listen to pretty depressing music most of the time. but i guess if i had to choose, maybe ‘…baby one more time’ by britney spears. it’s a great tune and a classic!
i actually used to play it when i did pub gigs at around 11 years old.
if you had to pick one song from your career to play to someone you’d just met and say, “this is probably the best introduction to me,” which would it be?
g: i think i’d say ‘missing you already’. it’s probably my favourite song that i’ve ever written – although this changes every day.
i think it really embodies the story of my first record, but it does it in a way that feels nostalgic yet modern. i love this song, and i hope that i’m able to still play it in front of people when i’m 80 years old.
‘stunner’ is out now. ⋆˚꩜｡
