Gustaffson returns to vastly enhance a dreary November with a brand-new music video to help the discharge of their second single “Flowers,” off their forthcoming album “Black & White Film.” Andrew Gower as soon as once more crafts one thing remarkably profound out of the mundane together with his lyrics, and that could be a theme that bleeds by way of each nook of the music video beneath the sharp route of Myriam Raja (Topboy).

For individuals who have watched the music video for Gustaffson’s EP monitor “The Jacaranda,” you could discover a connection between the 2. Not solely is the dreamy tune taking part in within the background as Franke (Jamie Harris) wanders into the pub, however there are visible remembers that I used to be eager to ask Gower about. Alongside Harris, who appeared reverse Gower in Carnival Row, “Flowers” options the proficient footwork of Hamish Longley and Jade Longley.

“Flowers” additionally marks the primary musical collaboration between Gower and the acclaimed composer Bear McCreary, whose scores could be heard bewitching the audiences of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy, Basis, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Strolling Lifeless, and, most notably, Outlander, the place the 2 musicians first met.

The place “On Broadway” explored the themes of theatrical injustice and the sharp distinction between the promise of heat inside Broadway’s theaters and the isolating chill of the world past their doorways, “Flowers” has the appeal of familiarity on its facet. It’s a very stripped-down monitor, a haunting melody weaved by way of Gower’s entrancing vocals and the easy piano chords. The music video completely brings to life the tone that the lyrics craft, giving visuals to ideas of heartbreak, younger love misplaced, and the tragic great thing about vibrant flowers withering away.

Final month, I chatted with Gustaffson’s frontman forward of the discharge of the band’s music video for the album’s first single “On Broadway,” and—as promised—right here is the remainder of that interview. Throughout the wide-ranging dialog, we spoke in regards to the stunning music video they shot for his or her new launch “Flowers,” Gower’s philosophy of working with different proficient performers to assist elevate their work, and the place the thought for the music video got here from.

Along with discussing “Flowers,” we additionally spoke about his newest work within the now-hit British detective collection Inspector Ellis, his two-episode arc on Murdoch Mysteries, Being Human, and the way Gower’s function within the criminally underrated Frankenstein’s Marriage ceremony performed a component within the new music video. You possibly can learn the total transcript beneath, and remember to try “Flowers” now.

How “Flowers” Connects Again to “The Jacaranda”

COLLIDER: I like that “The Jacaranda” is taking part in within the background firstly of the music video. It is nice. Within the music video for “The Jacaranda,” Eileen walks previous this dancing couple, and I used to be questioning if there’s any type of connection between the 2 songs.

GOWER: The jacaranda is a flower. There’s one thing stunning about how issues get interlinked — it occurs so much in movie and TV — and we all the time think about that. Nevertheless it was our superb editor, John Dwelly, who did I Might Destroy You and Prime Boy with our superb director, Myriam Raja. They each labored on Prime Boy collectively. We might recorded a load of background noise to fill the area with, however he had the thought of interlinking “The Jacaranda” to this video. It is so humorous, with that type of intention, it is created this superb throughline of the 2 tales.

The entire monitor is, I might say, the extraordinary and the strange. [He is] any individual who turns as much as a pub each day of his life with two pints. He is a daily. He sits down, and he does the crossword. And for one thing like that to occur in a social membership that I grew up in, in that atmosphere, going there with my mum and pa and my nan and granddad in these buildings. To see the extraordinary occur there, I like stuff like that with movie and TV.

I might truly written down the best way that I preferred each of these music movies as a result of they make one thing profound out of the mundane, like happening for a pint and even nipping off to the cafe for a cup of tea. I like that each of those music movies actually make one thing profound out of strange moments all through life.

GOWER: Thanks, Maggie.

I am curious, the place did this concept come from for this music video? It is stunning. I like this concept of their dance turning into out of sync, they usually’re doing various things as they’re falling aside. It is very poignant.

GOWER: It got here from an concept I’ve had for some time. I did a mission referred to as Frankenstein’s Marriage ceremony, and Hamish [Longley] was a dancer who performed my youthful brother in that mission. I adopted his profession as a dancer. In life, the emotion that sticks with you and may develop endlessly is remorse. It is the emotion that may truly stick with you and change into even bigger than the preliminary feeling. I had that concept of remorse and it being in a social membership, and it revolving round these dancers. However then it was the backwards and forwards with myself and Myriam that we determined to combine the flowers and the dance side being an open reflection — as a result of I do not wish to spoon-feed audiences — of what that remorse is, like, who’s Frankie to the dancers, and what’s that area? However the basic theme of it was the extraordinary within the strange, and discovering that within the video.

Andrew Gower’s Function in ‘Outlander’ Led to Bear McCreary’s Collaboration on “Flowers”

You additionally labored with Bear McCreary on this music, which is simply improbable. What was it like attending to collaborate with him?

GOWER: We met in 2015 on Outlander, Season 2. After we launched our first EP, he was such an advocate for the music. He is a genius. He is acquired his music throughout so many iconic TV exhibits — The Strolling Lifeless, Outlander, The Lord of the Rings [The Rings of Power] not too long ago — however his CV is simply stupendous. I all the time had the intention of inviting him onto the album, and I gave him a name and stated, “Look, we’d love you on the album.” He stated, “Properly, what songs would you want me to work on?” I stated, “I will ship you all of them.” He’d seen a reside model of “Flowers” that we recorded at St. Oswald’s Church, and he stated, “Who’s on “Flowers”?” I stated, “Properly, nobody.” I used to be in Manchester, he was in LA, and he stated, “I need “Flowers.” All of us celebrated within the studio throughout the pond.

He despatched his first stems over. Once more, I am an enormous believer in inviting individuals into tasks who elevate your work. There isn’t any worry of mine in that. I like collaboration. It is why I wanna be within the room with the bassist, the guitarist, the pianist, and the drummer. It is why I wanna work with Craig from Elbow and invite these individuals in due to collaboration. It is why I am an actor and a musician. I feel it is probably the most thrilling factor. And I can not thank Bear and Sir Ben Kingsley, who’s on the album, sufficient for coming in and elevating Gustaffson’s work. It is superb.

It’s. He is truthfully simply among the best within the enterprise now. It is outstanding what he is ready to make. You talked about Frankenstein’s Marriage ceremony , so I’ve to speak about it as a result of that’s one in every of my favourite tasks you’ve got ever accomplished. [Laughs] I feel that was truly the very first thing I acquired to ask you through the Carnival Row junket, as a result of I used to be like, “I’ve to ask about it!”

GOWER: The place did you discover that one?

I watched it in my school dorm, and I used to be like, “That is nice.” It was so distinctive. That is one thing I actually like, speaking about collaboration and appearing and music, is when individuals take dangers, they usually do bizarre issues. I’ve by no means seen something like that once more, and I am actually curious, what was the audition course of like for that? Had been you drawn to it as a result of there was the musical element to it?

GOWER: Yeah, I feel the musical element truly took me without warning. I knew there was music in it, however I did not know that it was gonna be reside. I did not understand it was gonna be in entrance of 12,000 individuals after which additionally on BBC Three. That was my second job out of drama faculty, and I nonetheless assume it taught me a lot as an actor. However I do agree with you, I feel the risk-taking… I imply, the most effective TV exhibits, the most effective tasks, there’s all the time a component of danger. I’ve made this album with no label and with out administration. I’ve collaborated with individuals as a result of they have been the people who I believed I needed to have on board or elevate a monitor or give any individual a personality in a music video that they could not have performed earlier than. Jamie Harris, as an illustration. I feel he is one of many most interesting actors round, and to have him in “Flowers?” Unbelievable.

However to your query about Frankenstein’s Marriage ceremony, it felt magic. I am positive there have been errors inside there, however the errors are what individuals fall for, as properly. The great thing about imperfection. And it was a loopy one. I imply, Steve Sidwell, who was in command of our music for that, labored with Amy Winehouse and did Robbie Williams’ “Swing When You are Successful.” He does all the things. And even for him, after I got here off stage that day with a digital camera in my face, and I feel I get shot on the finish, it was like this second of, “Wow, all of us did that collectively. We made one thing that was up towards the royal wedding ceremony.” It was like, “Frankenstein’s Marriage ceremony or Kate and William getting married?” It is loopy.

Did it ever make you wish to do musicals? As a result of I feel you’ve got principally simply accomplished performs on stage.

GOWER: Yeah, I do. Undoubtedly. There’s an enormous vacant gap in movie and TV for extra music-led appearing tasks. I feel there’s an enormous viewers for it. Pete Bowker did it with Blackpool again within the day with Sarah Parish and David Tennant. Stuff like that, I feel there’s an actual marketplace for that. Making my music and becoming a member of the 2 worlds collectively is one thing I wanna do. Bringing Bear McCreary and making little movies, that is one thing I wish to do. I wish to write music for TV and movie, but in addition, I feel there are undoubtedly dramas to be made. It is so nice that you simply introduced up my second job out of drama faculty. That’s the solely job that has had music.

I keep in mind seeing it and being like, “Oh, he’ll be large sometime. That is such a daring factor. He is gonna be big.” So it is enjoyable how issues type of come full circle, and now we’re attending to have this interview and speak. Speaking about early appearing jobs, I do know Monroe is de facto your first large mission, however I feel Being Human was actually the factor that was a breakout function for you, to some extent. I typically cite Nick Cutler as being among the best characters that got here out of that collection. It was such a enjoyable collection, and a whole lot of that’s to the credit score of the way you have been capable of make this character so human and so relatable, and also you sympathize with him and wish the most effective for him. What sort of issues did you’re taking from that have so early on in your profession on a extremely large tv collection that was fashionable each in England after which throughout the pond that you have now been capable of take with you into different roles that you have gotten?

GOWER: It is attention-grabbing while you be a part of a collection as a result of I’ve joined a collection, and I’ve began a collection, and each of these issues current challenges. Nevertheless it’s the respect for the writing. Toby Whithouse is simply a tremendous author. I used to be taught that at drama faculty, however I feel in TV, generally writers do not get the appreciation they deserve in any respect. I imply, they do, however I am speaking on set, actually listening to Toby’s character-building, world-building, and kinda utilizing that and going away and creating stuff.

I all the time assume probably the most magical factor is when the director and the actors and the writers on set, which Toby was so much, come collectively within the ball pit, and also you create a scene. You do not know whose creativeness is gonna take over and what individuals have been considering in their very own little lodge rooms or at their computer systems. So, that type of character-building and utilizing the script and respecting the script has all the time caught with me with that. And taking dangers. You’ve gotta take dangers. There is a purpose why a author’s written a scene, proper? Folks assume throwing away is appearing, and it isn’t. Throwing issues away, like a lyric in a music, throwing something away is an energetic selection. So, if actors assume that throwing away Toby Whithouse’s script is the dumb factor, it isn’t. Yeah, you would possibly select to throw away a line, however respect the script. Phrases are there to be performed with, and language is a gorgeous factor. Each scene is written for a purpose in a TV present.

We stated in regards to the extraordinary within the strange, that second in entrance of the digital camera ought to matter, in any other case, it would not be on digital camera, proper? I do not watch TV to observe pure naturalism. It isn’t attention-grabbing. If I try this, I will go to the café and simply watch individuals within the café, proper? I watch TV to observe drama, to observe extraordinary individuals in strange circumstances. So, yeah, it taught me that, I assume. To take that into each job and make moments rely. You are not a small character. There are not any small characters as a result of the most effective writing is all about bringing each second alive.

And also you got here in at such an attention-grabbing time, too, in that collection, as a result of many of the unique solid had type of dispersed. Then it was beginning over with Damien Molony as Hal, and that complete storyline. So, it was a really new present, and I feel it was a testomony to the writing that it was capable of preserve audiences despite the fact that the individuals they first type of met and have been hooked up to have been not there.

GOWER: Yeah, 5 seasons of TV.

Which is a rarity at the moment.

GOWER: A rarity, and the great thing about BBC Three, which was such a tremendous car for individuals’s careers and for nice drama. I do not assume I understood the importance of coming in and truly changing Aiden Turner or Russell Tovey, nevertheless it was so properly obtained, and doubtless understood fan bases for the primary time, as properly. It had such a die-hard fan base.

And so they’re nonetheless die-hard at the moment. I nonetheless often see a Being Human podcast that is nonetheless thriving, and that is spectacular. It has been a decade.

GOWER: It’s superb.

How ‘Murdoch Mysteries’ Discovered Their Sherlock Holmes

You have been additionally a part of one other TV present in two episodes. It is one in every of my favorites. It is a Canadian present, Murdoch Mysteries . I used to be actually curious, how did that occur? I am used to seeing solely Canadian actors ever on that present. How did you get solid in that?

GOWER: After I was at drama faculty, there was a casting director, Suzy Catliff, who I feel has solid a couple of of their episodes. Superb particular person. She messaged me after one thing was on TV, and he or she stated, “Look, there’s this character that they’re struggling to solid of Sherlock. He thinks he is Sherlock Holmes, so that they needed any individual British.” And so they have welcomed individuals over, British stars. So, they mainly stated, “Yeah, he is our man.” It was my first time in Toronto, Canada, and it was such a pleasure.

And once more, I went again, which I feel means they preferred me. [Laughs] It is such an attention-grabbing character to play. I’ve all the time needed to play Sherlock Holmes. This man clearly wasn’t Sherlock Holmes.

He thought he was! [Laughs] It is such an ideal present. I watched that through the pandemic. That was my pandemic binge as a result of there are 20 seasons now or one thing. It is outstanding.

GOWER: It is mad. It is the present that retains on giving.

It’s. Along with your profession, you’ve got accomplished a whole lot of historic exhibits. Is that one thing that you simply simply naturally gravitate in direction of or simply the place you’ve got been match into the the casting realms?

GOWER: I might wish to say that there was a particular purpose behind that, however I feel we have now this factor the place you ebook a job as an actor, after which that is what individuals see you in, after which it kind of helps with the following. I am fortunate, throughout the interval world, I’ve gotten to play so much, whether or not it is Victorian or Winter King was medieval time, after which Outlander, Jacobite revolution. So, all of the interval stuff, a whole lot of them have had a fantastical really feel to them, as properly. It is a very nice means as an actor and as a human to study completely different time durations and actually soar into completely different individuals’s footwear. I have been so fortunate with these worlds, that the interval jobs preserve coming.

I like it as a result of it is the place you get to choose up a special rule ebook. For lots of jobs, I’ve a bible, no matter that’s — it could be a ebook, it could be a bit of music, it could be primarily based on a particular particular person. The great factor with the interval worlds is you may actually discover so many alternative bits of textual content or bits of music that basically encourage you, and outfits. I all the time make friends with the costume designers on jobs.

You must! Precisely.

GOWER: I imply, I get advised off generally, like, “You possibly can’t take your costume house.” And I am like, “I wanna take my costume house as a result of I wanna reside within the costume.” I by no means like turning up on set and being like, “Oh, the costume is sporting me.” I wanna put on the costume, proper? I feel that these worlds are so thrilling to collaborate with a fancy dress designer and be like, “Hey, what about this?” And so they’re like, “Oh, yeah!” It is a tremendous factor to do.

I feel costumers like it when their expertise truly cares about what they’re making. My mother’s a costumer, and I do know from her expertise in theatre that she loves when the children are literally like, “Hey, what about this image that I’ve come throughout? What if we do one thing like this?” That makes them very completely satisfied.

GOWER: It’s thrilling. It’s so thrilling when any individual feedback on a pair of footwear, they usually’re like, “They’re my character’s footwear.”

‘Inspector Ellis’ Gave Gower a Probability to Do One thing New

Precisely. And you’ve got a brand new present popping out quickly, [Inspector] Ellis . I’m very enthusiastic about that. The screeners for it popped up in my inbox in a single day. I have never acquired to observe it but, however I am curious. Detective mysteries are such a cultural phenomenon in Britain, and also you clearly have been on Midsomer Murders years and years in the past, which is clearly a staple of that. What has it been like so that you can go from being a visitor star in an enormous collection like that to then now being a key participant in a brand new cop procedural?

GOWER: Initially, when that got here by way of, to behave reverse — it’s a brand new cop/detective duo, Ellis and Harper — and the truth that Sharon D Clarke is Ellis and main the present, it was superb. Once more, not simply a tremendous actor, however a musical icon. She’s blown me away so many instances on stage I’ve misplaced rely. So, with that, the truth that Sharon was hooked up was simply so thrilling.

I’ve dipped my toe into procedural dramas, however I’ve by no means set one up. I’ve by no means been given the chance to say, “Look, there’s your character. You are a detective duo.” And Sian [Ejiwunmi-Le Berre]’s writing on this was improbable, even in Episode 1, which you individuals would get to see. My character simply goes on this superb journey in that one movie. It units up a extremely thrilling palette for the season. I’ve all the time needed to create my very own model of a detective. I’ve seen so lots of them and l love so lots of them, however I feel there’s a tremendous scope in that kind of drama. There is a purpose why we have got so many, as a result of you may actually create unique tales, and Ellis is unquestionably that.

Do you see it persevering with on longer? I feel it is simply three episodes for the primary season. Is there a a lot bigger story to inform if there’s an viewers that exhibits up for it?

GOWER: Yeah. They’re their very own movies. The wonderful thing about it’s they’re their very own 90-minute movies, and you actually get to sit down not solely with Ellis and Harper, however the individuals we meet. So every episode you actually land in a case, and you actually get to see all of the behaviors and the relationships develop. In Season 1, which the three episodes are, you get a lot. However yeah, I assume the writers and the channel have set it up that they will undoubtedly need extra. After which, as with each present, it is all the time whether or not the viewers needs it.

I used to be on the screening final evening, and it was a beautiful response, and it is good to see that. I feel British TV, we are able to typically try to replicate America, and possibly take an concept from over there, however the issues we do finest is that unique drama, and this feels actually unique. Hopefully, individuals wanna observe Harper and Ellis, Sharon and myself, on a journey as a result of it is a actually nice world they’ve created.

It is actually attention-grabbing how on each side of the pond, cop procedurals are so fashionable. Folks love them, they usually flip up for them, they usually’re so enthusiastic about these sorts of exhibits. It is so attention-grabbing.

GOWER: Yeah, it’s. There’s one thing acquainted about it, but in addition, you simply get to see all sides of human conduct. You get to see the victims, you get to see how these professionals behave in actual, excessive circumstances. The great factor about Ellis, I feel it is heavy-hitting, nevertheless it actually has a pleasant brevity to it. It has some beautiful lightness of contact in there and humor. It is northern, I am taking part in a northerner, and within the north of England, if unhealthy stuff occurs, you make a cup of tea, proper? So, yeah, there’s that facet to it, which I like.

I like that. I can not wait to truly watch my screeners for it. For my final query for you, I wish to know what’s in your playlist rotation proper now. What music are you listening to?

GOWER: That is an ideal query. I imply, I’d be slapped on the wrist if I did not say that I have been listening to Elbow’s newest, “Blue” and “The Lover’s Leap.” The 2 singles they launched have been on repeat. That is not simply because I work with them. [Laughs] Then Willie J. Healey is within the flight as new bands that I have been listening to — not new bands, they’ve been round for ages, however their current music is improbable. After which I am a sucker for, simply this morning, I used to be listening to The Doorways.

Basic.

GOWER: A little bit of Fleetwood Mac. The Verve. In case you go on Gustaffson as a band, to go together with the discharge of our album, the 13-track album, we have provide you with some playlists on our Spotify with the 2 singles on the best way. It is attention-grabbing, the style of us as a band is so completely different, and I feel that is mirrored within the music. We do not wish to be boxed, we simply wish to inform tales. Everyone all the time says, “Hey, describe your band,” and I am like, “Properly, if I might describe my band in a sentence, then I might be dissatisfied.” I do know we’d like that today for pitching and for Spotify and all of that, however there’s an actual pleasure in inviting individuals in and going, “Properly, what do you expertise? What do you assume it’s? Inform me, as a result of that is what I am making music, and I am making artwork for. An viewers.” I am not making it for myself. It is for an viewers on the finish of the day.

“Flowers” is streaming now wherever you hearken to music. Pre-order Gustaffson’s new album Black & White Film at the moment.

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