“I felt like there had to be an overlap between Phoebe Bridgers fans and hyperpop fans that had not been explored before. But I wasn’t thinking I was gonna be the one to do it!”
With over 1.5M plays on Spotify, a catchy remix of “Kyoto” by Phoebe Bridgers has decidedly been one of the most clever, genre-bending tunes of 2021. Over a digitized melody, we can hear the pitched up voice of Luke Huff, the Nashville-based Belmont University student behind Glitch Gum. A personal appreciation for “Kyoto” led him to create a mini remixed version for fun, something short enough for TikTok. The positive reaction he received was pleasantly surprising, but never in a million years did Glitch Gum believe Bridgers herself would hear, let alone retweet, the sound. That’s when he knew he should create and release the full track. “It was wild to me,” he says over Zoom, with a growing smile. “When I started out, I was like, I’m going to put my best foot forward just for me… when I realized people actually related to the music and liked it, I wanted to go harder not just for me, but for other people as well.” This dedication to the craft has led to other amazing collaborations with Rebecca Black and CMTEN, as well as a great cover of “Just for me” by PinkPantheress – all of these endeavors are rooted in a passion cultivated since the beginning.
Since he was young, music has always been a source of joy for Huff. “I just remember from the moment I could perceive and retain memories I was just engrossed and captivated by music.” The family’s stereo boombox serves as an important relic of his past. And it’s how he knew music was the path for him, even when he had no idea how to play an instrument or write a song. He eventually embarked upon drum lessons at the age of 10. But when his local School of Rock program in Michigan needed a bassist, he decided to put the bass he received for Christmas to good use. At the same time, he also began experimenting with FL Studio, a music production software. While this experimentation bloomed, his musical interests grew more adventurous.
In high school, Huff dove into the discography of “weird bands people didn’t like,” such as Death Grips and American Football. In addition to pop punk and rock, he also enjoyed vocaloid-based music, early Skrillex, and ‘PC artists’ (in reference to the PC Music label). Upon its founding by producer A.G. Cook in 2014, PC Music has provided a platform for many creatives such as SOPHIE, Tommy Cash, and Charli XCX to execute an blown-out-of-proportion approach to pop music. While Huff developed his admiration for the scene, it seemed impossible to create anything even close. During a drive back to school in 2019, he had a clear realization. “It hit me: this is my music. If I was music, this is what I would sound like. It had elements of everything that I loved musically, and it encapsulated what I thought my personality was in such a raw way.” The sounds of 100 gecs in particular served as an initial influence on the developing sound of Glitch Gum. Others such as Alice Gas, glaive and ericdoa. Witnessing the birth of a PC Music-adjacent hyperpop scene during COVID inspired many to join. But what is hyperpop anyway?
“Hyperpop encompasses the tropes of pop music exaggerated and amplified, whatever that is to you.” Through the lens of Glitch Gum, that means heavy autotune, subjectivity, and being honest with one’s feelings. “I just think it’s really beautiful that there is a space where a lot of music that sounds different can coexist.” Artists as varying as Rina Sawayama, Rico Nasty, and Yeat have been categorized under the same sonic umbrella. In 2020, Huff dipped his toe in the water with the release of “Do U Think Abt Me??”. In the current iteration of his taste, it reads like a “bright eyed bushy tailed college student trying stuff out,” but ultimately he’s “glad it still brings people joy”. The song’s simple yet effective drum pattern and synthesizer melody bodes well with the catchy lyrics, especially at the concluding drop. Even before this first release, Huff knew he eventually wanted to create a full Glitch Gum project. Growing up listening to albums front to back inspired him to create the same experience. Enter Life After the Demise of Planet Gumball.
His debut album proved to be ambitious from the beginning. In the hyperpop space, it is not only common but preferred by many artists to release singles upon singles at lightning speed. As a result of this convenient strategy, many artists miss the chance to establish the type of throughline that would define a full project. Glitch Gum wanted to do something different, and a lot harder, to make his mark. “Can I pull a double header and one, make an album that has nine to ten tracks… and can I also tell a story and be cohesive?” Another point of difficulty was the fact that he decided to complete the album while being a full time student. Balancing schoolwork and recording sessions took a toll on his everyday life. But by the time Planet Gumball arrived, it was clear that Huff’s goals were achieved. The 9-track album follows an alien who crash-lands on Earth only to find himself falling for a human girl. Musical influences for the project range beautifully throughout. Glitch Gum includes a trap-like beat under melodies in Planet Gumball, while the palpable electric guitar and kick drum in “Sent 2 Earth”, “Sabrina”, and “Pizza” serve as a nod to pop punk. “Attention Horse” sounds like a hyperpop version of Taylor Swift, while “Hold Me When I’m Haunted” could be a bona fide T-Swift anthem. Synth lovers will enjoy the inspiration of classic EDM on “When I’m Down” and “Miss U Being Mine”.
While Glitch Gum’s interpolation of various genres is innovative, perhaps the more interesting influence on Huff’s Glitch Gum journey has been his older brother Seth, who I was promised I’d hear “a ton about in our interview.” As a 2021 Belmont graduate, Seth has also been able to take advantage of the University’s first-class music program to become a full time producer and mixing engineer. Over the past few years he’s been a part of almost every Glitch Gum release. While sibling partnership can certainly manifest its fair share of contention, Huff affirms that “there are some moments where we really join together, and I’m blessed to be working with someone who knows me.” One of the perils that comes with music-making includes finding individuals who can not only understand one’s vision, but also be able to get them there. Seth has become one of the few people who can aid his younger brother’s efforts. “He adds this edge to it that expands the audience of Glitch Gum” – and the audience has definitely expanded. Today, Glitch Gum sits firmly in the hyperpop conversation, which is still hard for him to wrap his head around. Initially, he thought no one would listen to his music, only a few friends here and there. But within a year, his songs exploded thanks to TikTok, putting him on editorial playlists, and icebergs “on tier three, like not the bottom.” Some of the coolest experiences have been being able to befriend those he looks up to in the community, such as Laura Les of the duo 100 gecs. “Being able to say ‘hello I’m Glitch Gum’, and she knows who I am… that is just insane to me!”
Over the past few years, Glitch Gum has been able to perform in cities like New York, Lost Angeles, and of course Nashville, and is looking to tour this summer with friends and fellow artists. An exciting part of Huff’s shows is that he uses a live band in addition to vocal effects heard in the songs. As the drummer, Seth helps bring Glitch Gum tracks to life in real time alongside friend and guitarist Nathan.
This past Friday, Glitch Gum released the first of two highly anticipated EPs, called SPRINKLES! A.M. Block. This project has a lot more indie and emo influence than previous works and reflects a more evolved and more mature version of the Planet Gumball persona. His budding sound, and signature ad-libs, make the six tracks a cohesive collection yet varied. While hyperpop is championed in “My Brain is Lasers” tracks like “Ah! Emotions!” and “Emotions Outro” embraces pop punk. The guitar chords in “Codependent” feel like a 2013 indie in-your-feels moment, eventually wrapped up in electronics in the chorus. And those looking for a dose of EDM can find it on “Music On Apple!”
This is just the beginning for Glitch Gum, who, thankfully for us, can see a future in the world of hyperpop. “I am impressed with how much I’ve been able to accomplish in school, but I know there is the potential for that to be nothing compared to what I can do full time. And that gets me really excited.”
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