Published
Mon, Jul 4, 2022, 12:30
- The UK artist has been close to giving up on her dreams since the onset of the pandemic.
DJ Emily Dust has made a radio documentary about UK singer and experimental artist GLOR1A.
Titled Should GLOR1A Give Up Her Dreams?, the programme forms part of BBC Radio 4's The Untold series, which follows people through difficult periods in their lives. When the pandemic began, GLOR1A was forced to leave London, where she was establishing a career, and move back in with her dad. In February this year, she gave herself six months to get back on track and sign a publishing deal.
"It's important we realise how hard it is for those at the less commercial end of electronic music, especially after Covid-19," Dust told Resident Advisor. "We need music to keep evolving and that won't happen if everyone has to find another job. Or if the only people who can afford to keep making music are the ones with enough savings or commercial appeal."
She added: "We're constantly sold the idea that if you have a day job, you've somehow 'failed.' For many artists like GLOR1A, it's a constant balance between making music and having the money to self-finance their work."
GLOR1A, who was raised in Blackpool, quit her job as a project manager four weeks before Covid-19 hit. Then, two months into lockdown, her producer died. In the documentary, she said a "total state of grief" took hold. Her musical mentor, GAIKA, who also appears in the documentary, says she faces the added challenge of being a Black queer woman in the music industry.
Since giving herself the six-month ultimatum, GLOR1A has collaborated with a South African producer, been in touch with Parlophone and auditioned for a Netflix series.
"One of the biggest lessons we can learn from GLOR1A is her tenacity and self-belief," Dust said. "She has such a clear vision of who she is as an artist; of how she wants to look and sound. Even in the face of huge financial challenges, she doesn't want to dilute that. She's really driven by a desire to create and perform music as a profound form of self-expression."
Dust has spoken with many other artists who are trapped in similar scenarios. "But it's not just artists; I know lots of people working behind the scenes of the music industry who had to get other jobs during lockdown—and if the sector shrinks due to staff shortages, there are fewer opportunities for artists, which makes it even harder for emerging talent."
Listen to The Untold: Should GLOR1A Give Up Her Dreams? via BBC Sounds.
Revisit GLOR1A's debut EP.
Correction, July 4th: A previous version of this article said that Emily Dust was a filmmaker. That is incorrect. It also said that GLOR1A was born in Blackpool when she was in fact only raised there.