With the release of their third studio album Dream Ride on 5th September, G Flip is launching fans into a world of 80s-style gated reverb, all-or-nothing bangers, perfectly curated for shoutsinging in the car. The chapter features a world built on 80s synths, roaring drum fills, sax solos (yep), pink-painted muscle cars and the queer cinematic yearning of late-night drives. Behind the wheel is G Flip, the self-described “Butch Springsteen”. The album, Dream Ride, features two singles, ‘Disco Cowgirl’ and ‘In Another Life’, and their previous hit, ‘Big Ole Hammer’.
Tuning in from LA over Zoom, G Flip spoke to Nonchalant about the vision and high drama behind Dream Ride, a record that feels like the soundtrack of a neon-lit road trip through their experiences, before heading off on tour in North America and the UK.
“Butch Springsteen” and the world of Dream Ride
“When diving in and writing this record, I was sonically captivated by the 80s,” G Flip shares. “I love the use of reverb, the drum tones, all the sonics, the musicality, the soloing and big drum moments.”
But beyond a more evolved sound, it was also about transformation. “I kept asking myself, ‘Who would I have been in the 80s? What would I wear, what haircut would I have, and what car would I drive?’” The answer became a new alterego, Butch Springsteen: “the masc lesbian, non-binary, drumming, singing pop star that never existed.”
Late-night drives to and from the studio in LA added another layer. “Car-themed lyrics kept pouring into the music, and the Dream Ride began,” they say. Fittingly, G found someone in LA with a vintage silver Barracuda, and convinced him to let them paint it hot pink for the album art.
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“I’m stoked to be sharing more of this world with ‘In Another Life,’” they say, referring to their recently released catchy, cathartic banger. “Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Buckle up and join me for the Dream Ride!”
From the moment the album begins, listeners hear the rev of an engine, and by the end, that same car drives off into the sunset. In between, it’s a journey that traces love, longing and self-discovery, all scored by gated reverb, vintage synths, soaring guitar solos and lyrics intended to be screamed at full volume, either in a car or at a show.
Singles like “Disco Cowgirl” and “Big Ol’ Hammer” set the tone, in equal parts theatrical and rebellious. “Disco Cowgirl” leans right into the drama, G Flip notes. “There’s a key change into an acapella moment, it’s just so extra. It amuses me, it’s entertaining, just like the 80s. You watch an eighties movie or listen to eighties music, and it’s so nostalgic, you feel like you’re in a movie.”
From bedroom beats to world-building
With their 2019 debut About Us being stripped back bedroom pop, and 2023’s sophomore album DRUMMER inhabiting its namesake theme, Dream Ride is the sonic glow-up that builds a whole world around itself, with multi-instrumentalist G Flip playing nearly every instrument, alongside longtime collaborator Aidan Hogg.
“About Us was me alone in my room using Logic Pro stock sounds,” they reflect. “With DRUMMER, I’d matured a bit more. But Dream Ride was about creating an entire aesthetic and world.”
That means layers of retro synths like the Juno and Polysix, a lot of reverb, real drum kits with exaggerated tom sizes, and a whole lot of drama. “I love the nerdy stuff,” G laughs. “Like how they recorded drums, or how production evolved in the 80s. I wanted to bring that cinematic, theatrical vibe into my own world.”
Learning the sax, and feral fans
When asked what song was the most fun to make, G Flip’s eyes light up: “I really love Let’s Take This Show on the Road, it’s the chill last track on the album. And I Don’t Wanna Regret, mostly because I’m learning to play the saxophone live.”
Following Dream Ride’s release, G Flip is hitting the road for a North American and UK tour. Other upcoming stops include Montreal Pride and the All Things Go Festival in NYC and DC.
But it’s the UK fans, says G Flip, that bring the best energy. “The UK has the best shows by far. People go feral. Every show is wild.”
And while they’re based in LA, their heart still belongs to Melbourne. “After the UK, I head back to Australia, have a little time off with the fam. Then to be honest, I just want to write the next album.”
As a proudly non-binary queer artist, G Flip’s music unapologetically reflects queer experiences and aesthetics. Big Ol’ Hammer’s Grease-inspired video, directed by Anne-Sophie Bine, features a star-studded cast of recognisable faces, including Jacqueline Toboni and Shannon Beveridge, dancing in a hot and heavy auto shop, rewriting a fantasy of what it could have been like to have more queer representation in this vintage aesthetic era.
Outside of music, G Flip continues to deliver iconic representation through their relationship with Selling Sunset’s Chrishell Stause, as the married duo’s couple pics frequently hold queer Instagram in a chokehold.
What’s next for G Flip?
G Flip already has their eye on the next record, and the next instrument.
“I think there always has to be a new instrument,” they say. “This time, it’s harmonica. I wanna get really good at it. Like, bluesy, leaning against the tour bus vibes.”
So, what can fans look forward to most?
“The live show,” G Flip says, without hesitation. “The show is my baby. There’s the dopest drum solo ever, sax solos, guitar solos… It’s gonna be dramatic and loud and fun. I want people to come and just feel everything.”
Dream Ride is a cinematic ride through an ’80s-themed fever dream driven by queer love, nostalgia, rebellion and passion. From bedroom beats to bigger tours, G Flip continues to prove they’re in the driver’s seat.
G Flip’s third album, Dream Ride, is out 5th September, listen here with their tour kicking off in North America this month, followed by the UK in November.
Nonchalant x
