INTERVIEW: I Am Bubblegum - Quinn Christopherson (2021)
Since the day his father gave him his first instrument, singer-songwriter Quinn Christopherson always had a deep-rooted passion for music. An Anchorage native, Christopherson never believed he would make it out of his hometown. But after winning NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest with his song “Erase Me” and touring with the likes of Courtney Barnett, Lucy Dacus, Shura and Portugal. The Man, Christopherson has (thankfully) proven himself wrong. Now, with the release of his latest EP, I Am Bubblegum, Christopherson is fully prepared to show the world just what they’ve been missing out on — and I had the pleasure of sitting down with him to discuss this showcase.
The EP opens with “Bubblegum”, a mellow, synth-heavy track detailing Christopherson’s youth and his wrangles with self-discovery (or lack thereof). “I don’t know who I am”, he repeats, as if sharing a tender secret with listeners. “Good Boy” takes a hard left turn, calling out the misogyny that often accompanies men hellbent on being seen as “woke” for doing the bare minimum. Inspired by artist Shelby Lorman’s “Awards for Good Boys” project, Christopherson gracefully puts said boys in their place while still packing an unmistakable punch.
When I get to sing that song away from home and prove myself wrong, it feels really good…because I really wanted to be wrong.
Last is “Loaded Gun”, arguably the most vulnerable track on the EP. The somber, lonely synths of the track make ample room for Christopherson’s heartbreaking lyricism, in which he expresses his fears of never making it out of Anchorage. “I wrote that song having never played music outside of my home, and thinking I never would,” Christopherson explained when asked about the track. “When I get to sing that song away from home and prove myself wrong, it feels really good…because I really wanted to be wrong.”
Although brief, Quinn Christopherson’s I Am Bubblegum serves as the perfect vessel to exhibit his musical brilliance, as well as his effortlessly grounded and humble personality. Listeners can find him on all streaming platforms, as well as on his upcoming tour with Thao and Black Belt Eagle Scout.
