Exclaim! Staff Picks darling gglum (the project of London-born singer-songwriter Ella Smoker) has announced her debut album, previewed by two new singles: "Do You See Me Different?" with Kamal and "Glue."
Produced by Karma Kid (Shygirl, Maisie Peters), The Garden Dream becomes reality on March 29 via Secretly Canadian. It includes previous 2023 singles "SPLAT!" and "Easy Fun."
“At the time of writing it, I was having so many nightmares, just straight-up graphic and disturbing stuff," Smoker explained in a press release. "I think it was my subconscious telling me I had shit I needed to deal with, a lot of the mistrust I’ve had since I was a teenager. It was weirdly good timing, because I'm at a point in my life now where I'm actually pretty happy, and am in a good place to look back."
Compared to "SPLAT!" and "Easy Fun," the artist takes a much more intimate, atmospheric approach on "Do You See Me Different?" as she confronts “the confusion, chaos and deflation you feel during a difficult relationship." Meanwhile, "Glue" is more in line with the sound and self-deprecation we've come to expect from the burgeoning artist, as she sings about "spinning in circles / pretty and hurtful" atop fuzzed-out guitars and a rollicking kick pattern.
Watch the "Do You See Me Different?" video and hear "Glue" below, where you can also find the album tracklist.
The Garden Dream:
1. With You
2. SPLAT!
3. Late
4. Pruning 1
5. Pruning 2
6. Easy Fun
7. Glue
8. Second Best
9. He Laid His 97’s Neatly by the Door
10. Honeybee
11. Do You See Me Different? (feat. Kamal)
12. Eating Rust
13. The Garden Dream