Hot Press meets Gretta Gunn

You’re probably more likely to stumble across her records in back-alley shops in Oslo or Bergen than Dublin or Cork, but Caroline Lee-Baker – better known as one-woman electronic-pop machine Gretta Gunn – is trying to remedy this state of affairs.

Having previously sung with Dublin band The Radio, and been a member of Blue Ghost alongside RSAG’s Jeremy Hickey, Gretta released her debut EP The Hunt in April 2011. A second EP, The Target, followed and was picked up by Norwegian label Dodpop. A debut album can be expected sometime later in the year.
“It’s kind of moving in a heavier direction at the moment. I’m really into bass music, and dubstep so that’s coming through.”
Battling for recognition in the traditionally male-dominated realm of electronic music is a challenge, she says.
“It doesn’t bother me though. It’s kind of exciting to be in a minority because I think you stand out a bit more. There’s still quite a split between the underground scene and what gets through to the people.”
Where does Gretta see her music then in the greater scale of things?
“Well for me it’s really, really tough because I don’t straight away fit in anywhere, in Ireland anyway. If I lived in London or Berlin or a bigger city like that maybe I’d have a better chance. I find it quite difficult in Ireland despite knowing a lot of the venues and the promoters.”
Living through the mother of all recessions doesn’t help either.
“I’m on the dole, and it’s really hard to keep the music up, which is sad because it’s my first love. I don’t want to be famous and loaded. I
just want to make enough so I can get by.”
Is the Government doing enough to support Irish musicians?
“No. I think it would be great if they did more, because basically nobody likes to be on the dole. It’s not a good way to live. They should be trying to get musicians and artists into schools, get them teaching for their money.”

Gretta Gunn plays Pygmalion, Dublin on April 26.