As he gears up for his Australian tour, Sven Gamsky chats about musical reinvention, finding new sounds, recording with toys and finding magic in the mundane.
Strolling down a leafy street in suburban Portland, with his wife and one-year-old son in tow, Sven Gamsky — AKA Still Woozy – talks excitedly about his upcoming return to Australia.
The tone is warm and playful, mirroring the atmosphere of his recent sophomore album Loveseat, on which the artist dives deeper than ever into matters of the heart.
Still Woozy 2025 Australia Tour
- Tuesday 4 February – Astor Theatre, Perth
- Thursday 6 February – Hindley St Music Hall, Adelaide
- Friday 7 February – Forum, Melbourne
- Tuesday 11 February – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
- Wednesday 12 February – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
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Amid some major life changes, the singer unpacks the shifts and constants among his many influences, ranging from Nick Drake to children’s toys. Kicking off his Loveseat tour in Perth before a sold-out gig at The Forum, the alt bedroom-pop star promises a unique set as soulfully rich as it is irresistibly groovy.
The songs of Still Woozy have always centred around the language of love. But Loveseat departs from the freewheeling romance of his moony reveries to something more expansive.
Moving through a series of milestones over the past few years – getting married, becoming a parent, settling in a new neighbourhood – Sven has developed a newfound appreciation for the close connections in his life.
“A lot of people think the album is just about my partner, but this was one of the first times I really tried to go outside of what I usually write about,” he says.
“It’s about friends, family and people who have meant a lot to me. I was just reflecting on that and giving a voice to those relationships that make up who I am and give me a reason to keep going.”
The artist has always been candid about his ongoing struggles with anxiety and depression. Through seasons of change and challenge, Sven says the therapeutic outlet afforded through writing is still the “most important role” music plays in his life.
“It’s how I maintain my mental health,” he says. “I’ve been doing this so long, I kind of need it. I fully need it. Whenever I don’t write for too long I feel like something is off even if I can’t put my finger on it.”
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Following the success of his debut If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is, Loveseat leans into a more acoustic sound, while still weaving in dreamy folk, psychedelic and electronic textures Still Woozy fans know and love. These rich sonic vignettes accompany delicate lyrics that ponder the complexities of human connection.
With a refreshingly organic pen, some verses dip into near-brutal honesty – sparking a potent reflection of how relationships can often hold a mirror to our deepest flaws and shortcomings.
Parenthood and its demands have perhaps seen the most profound shift in Sven’s creative process, reflecting on his evolution since his 2017 debut. “Your mindset is just so different,” Sven says. “Everything in my life has changed. I’m a little more insular now, less influenced by people and society in general, so when I sit down to write, I’m more free to explore whatever I want.”
Loveseat delightfully captures the beauty in the mundane, paying homage to life’s small joys. Sven shares a glimpse into one of these particularly tender routines, inspired by early morning starts with his son.
“I’ve been putting on Pink Moon by Nick Drake – one of my all-time favourites – when I wake up and it’s still dark out. I’ll put the fire on and play that whole album, and just play with him. That’s the way every day starts. It’s beautiful.”
The famous folk album consists only of vocals and guitar, a simplicity mirrored on Loveseat’s bittersweet closer, Rid of Me, which is perhaps his most stripped-back release to date. “That’s kind of the more emotional place I’m in now,” Sven says.
An appreciation for simple, ephemeral moments has continually informed his songwriting. A devoted fan of Hayao Miyazaki, even naming the famed animator on Shit Don’t Change, he cites Studio Ghibli films as a major source of inspiration.
“They can take a pastoral setting and make it feel like there’s magic in it – like the way the sun lights up the grass,” he says. “It’s these everyday moments that feel euphoric and bigger than they might if you weren’t paying attention. It makes life more interesting.”
This love of animation is shared by his wife Amiya Kahn-Tietz, a talented artist and the visual force behind all of Still Woozy’s colourful, dreamy album artwork.
“I always knew she was a really creative, talented artist,” Sven smiles, reflecting on the partnership. “It just became a natural collaboration. I love her art so much.”
Reflecting on music’s magical ability to provide emotional reprieve and perspective, Sven encourages listeners to embrace “stepping outside” themselves, even briefly. “If I’m ever stressed out or something is really horrible, you listen to a song and it can remind you that there’s still good in the world, and you’re okay. I hope my songs can do that for other people.”
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The self-taught musician and producer is continually playing with new corners of sound. Most recently, he’s even been recording with his son’s toys. “They’re designed to make really interesting sounds because they’re meant for babies,” he laughs. His current favourite? A plastic pipe that can be stretched and scrunched to warp vocal tones.
“I showed (my son) how to use it, and now he loves singing into it and swinging it around,” Sven says. “It’s really cute and it sounds really interesting—like nothing I’ve used before.”
Looking ahead, Sven is hoping to further expand his skills, having recently taken up the drums. “My drummer on tour has been giving me lessons for about an hour after every soundcheck,” he reveals. “So the next batch of music will probably lean more into that realm.”
This persistent growth is driven by a desire to translate his artistic visions as authentically as they appear internally. He reveals the ultimate goal is to work “fully alone”, referring to do-it-all creatives like Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker as the benchmark.
“I feel like when you create something entirely by yourself, it becomes a better representation of you in a unique way,” Sven explains. “It can feel like you’re stepping into other people’s worlds when there’s too many hands on a project.”
Having already demonstrated an impressive drive to keep evolving, it might only be a matter of time before mention of Still Woozy earns the coveted ‘did you know it’s all one guy?’ response.
Last in Australia for two sold-out shows in 2022, Sven is eager to return. “The crowds are amazing,” he says. “Usually it’s kind of hectic and I like it that way. I can’t wait.”
Get tickets to see Still Whoozy at the Forum here.