Gavin Sultan

In an age where media is more transitory than ever, artists are pressured to adopt a singular approach that makes them easily definable and marketable on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Even so-called “niche” genres benefit from the short-term attention economy, as subcultures become commodified and capitalized on. Gavin Sultan finds these trends both exhausting and boring, given his ever-changing listening repertoire. He does not fit this streamlined version of artistry; his music continuously morphs depending on who or what inspires him. Whether it’s Erik Satie, Dean Blunt, Suicide, Arthur Rusell or The Slits, Sultan draws from a wide array of influences. The industry tells artists they need a defined sound, yet Sultan prides himself on spontaneity, impermanence, and their inherent humanness. His catalog is messy, in progress, and trying to figure itself out—just like you are. Not easily definable, yet not too confused, his work exists somewhere in between.