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Born and raised in Stockton, CA, Scott Gardner displayed a passion for both music and modeling early on. He has been singing since age 8 and has been performing ever since. He also signed with Wilhelmina Modeling Agency, which launched his professional modeling career ten years ago. He appeared in several well-known publications, including Vogue Italia, VMan, as well as in national print ads for Adidas, Moschino and Ralph Lauren. He was a featured extra in the national TV series Shake It Up (Disney Channel), Glee (Fox) and Community (NBC). He also appeared in a national TV commercial with Lady Gaga.
Pre-pandemic, Gardner was selected to perform at the 2019 Live.Life.Love Concert in Nashville as well as at the 2019 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in Miami and Washington DC. After the world went into lockdown during the pandemic, Gardner continued writing and recording new songs.
To date, Gardner has released several singles, most recently being two singles, “Daydreaming” and “What You Do To Me” earlier this summer. Today, the artist shares his creative process, his songwriting inspirations, and his future plans in the exclusive interview below.
We’re excited to have an opportunity to speak with acclaimed pop dance artist Scott Gardner; welcome to our humble pages, Scott! Before we begin kicking the proverbial Q&A tin can down the dusty summer road, how has 2022 been treating you?
2022 has been great so far. I’ve been able to travel to California to see my family and friends, spend time in Nashville to work on music, continue recording at home in NYC, make new friends whom I can collaborate with, and have been writing and writing!
Congrats on your recently released singles Daydreaming and What You Do To Me! What made you opt to release two brilliant and lovely tunes at the same time?
I have been writing and revising several songs, so choosing what to record is always a challenge. “Daydreaming” really stuck out for me because I wanted a dance track and I knew I could build a cool drop around the chorus. “What You Do To Me” I thought was just a sweet song and since my 7-year-old niece is my biggest fan, I thought of her and I knew she would love it!
What was the genesis of Daydreaming? How did this rousing tune come into being?
Daydreaming came from a memory of a boy that I worked with at cheerleading camp, everyone was in love with him and I HATED that I had a crush on him too, especially because I was FRIENDS with his girlfriend, and I am a very loyal person. So it was hard to not be daydreaming about him. So one day I was just thinking about the way I would feel about it, so I took the lyrics to my producer and said LET’S MAKE A HIT! =)
We’re awfully fond of What You Do To Me at the Vents offices! What’s the VH1 Behind the Music story on how this incredible tune came into existence?
“What You Do to Me” is so funny! Everyone is in love with Shawn Mendes and again, it drove me crazy that I thought he was cute because EVERYONE DOES haha! So that’s why I say, “I try to hide and avoid the feelings that you’re giving to me..reddish rosy cheeks”…also mixed with memories of boys I would crush on in school. I’ve always been the very shy type. When I would meet boys I thought were cute, I would freeze up and not know what to say. Butterflies can’t stop it…haha!
You produced both What You Do To Me and Daydreaming. Can you talk a little about the challenges – and the rewards – in serving as your own producer?
I work with a very talented producer called Arturo Cabrera, so when I have the melody and plug the lyrics, I always ask his advice on structure because I trust him and we always are thrilled with the work we do together. It’s always very exciting getting the final product after weeks of hard work and collaboration.
What was your collaboration process with three-time Latin Grammy Nominee Arturo Cabrera Brambilla on this new music like?
The process with Arturo is easy, because at this point he is family to me. I respect him so much and I let my guard down when he’s around, so I can really get out what I want to say. When we record, he brings out the best in my voice, and it sounds exactly as I imagined it would in my head.
What do you hope fans walk away with after giving both Daydreaming and What You Do To Me a few dozen spins?
I hope anyone out there that is a supporter of me, experiences joy from my music. I just want to give people music to escape to and find a happy place when they hear it and hopefully compare my messages to experiences of their own.
Word ‘round industry campfires has it that the twin releases of Daydreaming and What You Do To Me are but the opening charge toward what will be a brand-spankin’ new EP from you later this summer. Can you give fans some hints as to what they can expect from the new EP?
You can expect more dance music. I’m really loving the dance vibes lately and I can’t wait for you to hear what’s next! I also have Hector Fonseca doing more remixing, so lots to look forward to!
What made Daydreaming and What You Do To Me the perfect choices to release as the singles from the forthcoming EP?
Daydreaming was perfect for me because it’s not like anything else I had released previously. Daydreaming was more dance, and that’s what I was trying to achieve writing it, so when Arturo added the drops and beat I was thrilled.
What You Do To Me is just an honest song with positive messaging, and therefore special to me and my memories. I thought it was a perfect song to share, and can be enjoyed by a person of any age.
On the heels of the release of all of this incredible music, can fans look forward to seeing you on the touring circuit this summer and into the fall?
I would love to be an opener for someone again. I LOVE performing, I’ve been doing it forever, so bring it on!
As a singer and songwriter, which comes first for you – The music or the lyrics?
As a singer songwriter I can say the melody comes first usually because I want it to be catchy, but I have written songs before. For example, “From You For Me” was a poem I wrote and then I turned it into a song.
Musically, who turns you on right now?
Who turns me on music-wise?? Right now I’m in love with Madison Beer and Taylor Swift. I respect them so much as talented songwriters and performers. And if I wanna dance around the house cleaning, I’m playing some Shania Twain or some Sheryl Crow of course!
How did you land upon the path of being such a well-versed and prolific musician?
Practice! Trust me lots of people told me, I could never be a model, and I could never be a songwriter, that my voice wasn’t strong enough, but I blocked them out and kept practicing. If you love something and you’re lucky enough to find something to be passionate about in this life, never give it up.
14.) Final – SILLY! – Question: Favorite movie about the music scene – This Is Spinal Tap, Almost Famous or The Thing Called Love?
Almost Famous.
For more info: https://scottgardnermusic.com/
