Today we’d like to introduce you to Gunner Lee.
Hi Gunner, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I took classical piano lessons extensively as a kid, which cemented a passion for music. My mom was always playing her love songs compilation CDs (you know the ones they have ads for at 2 am), and I grew up surrounded by soul and ballad music. That eventually lead me to the guitar when I was 13 years old. I grew up playing in various churches and jazz bars when I was in high school, some bars, I would play 3-hour sets but have to sit outside with my band during our breaks because we weren’t 21. Gigging multiple times a week like this led me to understand the function of the instrument, which this year culminated in me playing guitar professionally as a touring and session musician. This year after I returned from a month-long national tour with my friends, I was motivated to start recording my own music again. Maybe it was the post-tour blues, maybe it was just a general dissatisfaction with where the instrument was taking me, but I wanted to do something that returned to the rock music I liked in middle school with the intensity of bands that I’ve seen recently around Los Angeles. Adopting my Korean name, “Gunner Lee,” I began to put out music this month which will culminate in my debut album, “Imposter Syndrome,” out December 16th.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Oh man, I wish; being a musician in Los Angeles is tough because we’re required to wear a variety of hats beyond just our proficiency at an instrument. We need to be experts in marketing, data processing, advertising, content creation, social media management, and it can be exhausting. Furthermore, touring is not the easiest venture either. I just returned from a month and a half-long run in Nepal, and just the sheer differences in the day-to-day force you to adapt quickly. But for all the obstacles, I don’t think I can see myself doing anything else but this!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Korean American guitarist and artist. For most of my life, I’ve played in all live settings for all genres ranging from classical chamber pieces to arena rock. I started out like most playing along to heavy metal music and older rock songs, which eventually turned into a love for the blues. You just find what you like and keep digging down until you listen to what your heroes listen to. What sets me apart from others? My dad who is a photographer once said that everyone is creative; we’re just lucky. I think that’s captures the way I see things. I’ve been lucky enough that the guitar has taken me through a lot of life; I’ve toured internationally, played with some of my favorite artists, and get to participate in this rare thing we call music.
I am currently releasing a project called “Imposter Syndrome,” an audio-visual album that will have a short film accompanying the release. The album is rooted in Y2K aesthetics, something that I don’t hear too much on the radio anymore. I’m a Korean immigrant from a broken lower-class family that is screaming and making loud music because no one I saw growing up on the media looked liked me. I guess in that way; I’m making music for my inner child.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Los Angeles is home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beacons.ai/gunnerlee
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.e.an.doc/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gunneryonglee/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEhZNuB_moCgvllzx5X7Luw
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4jlcFz0xN0rWhNYwYGPg1u
Image Credits
Zachary Carels
Jonathan Galdamez
