Chad VanGaalen

4269 fans

2020 was a terrible year for gardening. It was terrible for peppers, it was terrible for tomatoes, it was terrible for the condition of the soul. But Chad VanGaalen somehow raised a garden all the same: carrots and sprouts and broccoli and a revivifying new album, all of them grown at home. He likes to eat directly off the plant, he says—"I get down on my knees and graze. It's nice to feel the vegetables in your face"—and the 13 songs on World's Most Stressed Out Gardener were harvested with just such a spirit: in their raw state, young and vegetal, at the very moment, they were made.

What that means is that the Calgary songwriter's new album is a psychedelic bumper crop. A collection of tunes that does away with obsessiveness, the anxiety of perfectionism, in favor of freshness and immediacy — capturing the world as it was met while recording alone at home over a period of years. "Don't overthink it," VanGaalen told himself again and again, despite the push/pull love/hate of his relationship with songwriting. "I'm always trying to get outside of the song—but then I realize I love the song."

This is a record that gleams with VanGaalen's musical signatures: found sound, reverb, polychromatic folk music that is by turns cartoonish and hyperphysical—like ultra magnified footage of a virus or a leaf. Apparently, the LP began life as a "pretty minimal" flute record. (There's only a vestige now, on "Flute Peace"—one of three instrumentals.) Later it became an electronic record "for a while" and finally, "right at the last second," it "turned into a pile of garbage." The good kind of garbage: glinting, useful, free. Music as compost—leaves, and branches ready to be re-ingested by the earth, turned into a flower.

Throughout these 40 minutes, VanGaalen floats from mania to solace to oblivion, searching for zen in all the wrong places. "Turn up the radio / I think we’re dead," he sings on "Nothing Is Strange"; or, on the inside-out rocker "Nightmare Scenario": "You’re stressed out when you should be feeling very well." The singer's mental landscape is rotting and redemptive, beautiful in spite of itself—and his soundscapes reflect this fertile decay. He has been influenced by his instrumental work on TV scores (Dream Corp's third season began this fall), but still "nothing can really replace the human voice,” he admits. Like Arthur Russell or Syd Barrett, it’s VanGaalen’s vocals that shine a path through the swampland—from the cello-lashed “Water Brother” to “Starlight”’s krautrock pipe-dream.

These days, VanGaalen cherishes the privacy of the studio, the capacity to wander around, get distracted, and "move at the speed of life." Whereas once he would obsess over mic techniques, now he puts the microphone in the same place every time—trying to capture a song quickly, the idea at its heart. He'll act on his infatuations—for the flute, a squeaky clarinet, his basement's copper plumbing (remade into xylophones for "Samurai Sword")—and then he'll try to get out, "veering away from responsibility," before he overdoes his stay.

In the end, it's like gardening. You have to live with your horrible decision-making; the weather's going to fuck you if it wants to; and if you plant a hundred heads of broccoli, "now you gotta eat a hundred heads of broccoli—or watch them go to seed." But mostly VanGaalen just tries to be a deer: "I remember seeing some deer come out in the Okanagan Valley once," he says, "watching them wait for a sunbeam to hit a perfect bunch of grapes—and then eating them right out of the sunbeam. I'd recommend that."

You can do it too—taste the sun-swabbed grapes—when World's Most Stressed Out Gardener is released on March 19, 2021.

by Sean Michaels
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Top tracks

04
Inside The Molecules
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:45
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Peace on the Rise
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
04:28
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
11
Hangman's Son
Chad VanGaalen
Shrink Dust
03:06
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Starlight
Chad VanGaalen
World's Most Stressed Out Gardener
03:59
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Bare Feet on Wet Griptape
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
02:30
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
Where Is It All Going?
Chad VanGaalen
World's Most Stressed Out Gardener
03:44
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
01
Willow Tree
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:13
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
09
Molten Light
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
02:51
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Burning Photographs
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
03:16
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
01
Cut off My Hands
Chad VanGaalen
Shrink Dust
03:22
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Sara
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
03:10
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Bones Of Man
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
02:59
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Cries Of The Dead
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:47
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
09
Pine and Clover
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
03:45
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
07
Golden Oceans
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
02:07
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Locked in the Phase
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
02:13
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
11
City Of Electric Light
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
02:32
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
07
Poisonous Heads
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:15
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Phantom Anthills
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:00
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
01
Mind Hijacker's Curse
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
04:45
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
01
Do Not Fear
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
02:27
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
08
TMNT Mask
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:29
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Replace Me
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
04:29
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Kill Me In My Sleep
Chad VanGaalen
Infiniheart
05:59
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
10
Old Man + The Sea
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:35
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
Rolling Thunder
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
01:54
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
10
You Fool
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
03:45
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Old Heads
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
03:37
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Mystery Elementals
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
02:18
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
07
Blonde Hash
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
04:08
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
Heavy Stones
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
02:45
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Gubbbish
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
03:32
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
Host Body
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
04:10
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Red Hot Drops
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
03:15
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
08
Faces Lit
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
02:13
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
01
Flower Gardens
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
02:28
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Burn 2 Ash
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
02:51
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
01
Clinically Dead
Chad VanGaalen
Infiniheart
02:19
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Viking Rainbow
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
01:46
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
10
Weird Love
Chad VanGaalen
Shrink Dust
03:36
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
12
Shave My Pussy
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
02:05
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen

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  • Discography
Albums
Sub Pop Records
19-03-2021
World's Most Stressed Out Gardener
01
Spider Milk
Chad VanGaalen
World's Most Stressed Out Gardener
02:42
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Flute Peace
Chad VanGaalen
World's Most Stressed Out Gardener
00:45
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Starlight
Chad VanGaalen
World's Most Stressed Out Gardener
03:59
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
Where Is It All Going?
Chad VanGaalen
World's Most Stressed Out Gardener
03:44
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Earth From a Distance
Chad VanGaalen
World's Most Stressed Out Gardener
04:35
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Nightwaves
Chad VanGaalen
World's Most Stressed Out Gardener
03:07
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
07
Plant Music
Chad VanGaalen
World's Most Stressed Out Gardener
01:39
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
Access the complete album info (13 songs)
Sub Pop Records
08-09-2017
Light Information
01
Mind Hijacker's Curse
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
04:45
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Locked in the Phase
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
02:13
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Prep Piano and 770
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
02:04
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
Host Body
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
04:10
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Mystery Elementals
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
02:18
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Old Heads
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
03:37
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
07
Golden Oceans
Chad VanGaalen
Light Information
02:07
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
Sub Pop Records
29-04-2014
Shrink Dust
01
Cut off My Hands
Chad VanGaalen
Shrink Dust
03:22
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Where Are You?
Chad VanGaalen
Shrink Dust
05:06
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Frozen Paradise
Chad VanGaalen
Shrink Dust
04:20
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
Lila
Chad VanGaalen
Shrink Dust
03:26
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Weighted Sin
Chad VanGaalen
Shrink Dust
03:03
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Monster
Chad VanGaalen
Shrink Dust
03:05
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
07
Evil
Chad VanGaalen
Shrink Dust
02:47
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
Altin Village & Mine
17-03-2012
The Green Corridor Series #02
01
Your Own Minds End
Chad VanGaalen
The Green Corridor Series #02
03:35
Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Evening Sun
Chad VanGaalen
The Green Corridor Series #02
02:22
Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
I Want You Back
Chad VanGaalen
The Green Corridor Series #02
02:02
Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
Ripped Islands
Chad VanGaalen
The Green Corridor Series #02
03:05
Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Cross Trainer
Chad VanGaalen
The Green Corridor Series #02
03:17
Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Nothing Is Impossible
Chad VanGaalen
The Green Corridor Series #02
01:43
Composers: Chad VanGaalen
07
Weighed Sin
Chad VanGaalen
The Green Corridor Series #02
02:30
Composers: Chad VanGaalen
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
Sub Pop Records
17-05-2011
Diaper Island
01
Do Not Fear
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
02:27
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Peace on the Rise
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
04:28
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Burning Photographs
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
03:16
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
Heavy Stones
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
02:45
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Sara
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
03:10
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Replace Me
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
04:29
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
07
Blonde Hash
Chad VanGaalen
Diaper Island
04:08
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
Sub Pop Records
09-09-2008
Soft Airplane
01
Willow Tree
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:13
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Bones Of Man
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
02:59
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Cries Of The Dead
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:47
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
Inside The Molecules
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:45
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Bare Feet on Wet Griptape
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
02:30
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Phantom Anthills
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:00
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
07
Poisonous Heads
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
03:15
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
Access the complete album info (13 songs)
Sub Pop Records
22-08-2006
Skelliconnection
01
Flower Gardens
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
02:28
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Burn 2 Ash
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
02:51
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Red Hot Drops
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
03:15
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
Rolling Thunder
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
01:54
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Viking Rainbow
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
01:46
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Gubbbish
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
03:32
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
07
Dandrufff
Chad VanGaalen
Skelliconnection
00:27
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
Access the complete album info (15 songs)
Sub Pop Records
20-01-2004
Infiniheart
01
Clinically Dead
Chad VanGaalen
Infiniheart
02:19
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
After The Afterlife
Chad VanGaalen
Infiniheart
03:39
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
03
Kill Me In My Sleep
Chad VanGaalen
Infiniheart
05:59
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
04
J.C.'s Head On The Cross
Chad VanGaalen
Infiniheart
03:19
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
05
Somewhere I Know There Is Nothing
Chad VanGaalen
Infiniheart
04:15
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
06
Blood Machine
Chad VanGaalen
Infiniheart
04:26
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
07
Echo Train
Chad VanGaalen
Infiniheart
03:20
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
Access the complete album info (16 songs)
Singles
Sub Pop Records
27-11-2018
Friendly Aliens / Monopoly Arp
01
Friendly Aliens
Chad VanGaalen
Friendly Aliens / Monopoly Arp
04:44
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Monopoly Arp
Chad VanGaalen
Friendly Aliens / Monopoly Arp
03:45
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
Sub Pop Records
28-09-2018
Stuttering Light
01
Stuttering Light
Chad VanGaalen
Stuttering Light
03:13
Writer: Chad VanGaalen / Composers: Chad VanGaalen
Featured in
Sub Pop Records
17-05-2022
Weird Nightmare
01
Searching for You
Weird Nightmare
Weird Nightmare
03:03
Writer: Alex Edkins / Composers: Alex Edkins
02
Nibs
Weird Nightmare
Weird Nightmare
02:58
Writer: Alex Edkins / Composers: Alex Edkins
03
Lusitania
Weird Nightmare
Weird Nightmare
03:06
Writer: Alex Edkins / Composers: Alex Edkins
04
Wrecked (feat. Bully)
Weird Nightmare
Weird Nightmare
03:39
Writer: Alex Edkins / Composers: Alex Edkins
05
Sunday Driver
Weird Nightmare
Weird Nightmare
03:29
Writer: Alex Edkins / Composers: Alex Edkins
06
Darkroom
Weird Nightmare
Weird Nightmare
02:44
Writer: Alex Edkins / Composers: Alex Edkins
07
Dream
Weird Nightmare
Weird Nightmare
03:38
Writer: Alex Edkins / Composers: Alex Edkins
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
2023 We Are Time
25-08-2023
We Are Time Mixtape, Vol. 1
01
Sleeps in Ice
Chad VanGaalen
We Are Time Mixtape, Vol. 1
02:12
Composers: Chad VanGaalen
02
Forced Perspective (Live)
Motorists
We Are Time Mixtape, Vol. 1
03:06
Composers: Craig Fahner
03
Can't Backstab Me Baby
Bile Sister
We Are Time Mixtape, Vol. 1
03:44
Composers: Julie Reich
04
Images
BODEGA
We Are Time Mixtape, Vol. 1
01:52
Composers: Nikki Belfiglio - Ben Hozie - Dan Ryan
05
To the Edge (Live)
New Chance
We Are Time Mixtape, Vol. 1
02:54
Composers: Victoria Cheong
06
La Danza Del Vampiro
Empanadas Ilegales
We Are Time Mixtape, Vol. 1
05:47
Composers: Ricardo Pérez
07
Rat Doctor
Tough Age
We Are Time Mixtape, Vol. 1
02:20
Composers: Jarrett Samson
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
℗ 2022 We Are Time.
05-03-2022
Chandra Mixtape, Vol. 2
01
The Leaves
MISZCZYK
Chandra Mixtape, Vol. 2
02:02
Writer: Nyles Miszczyk - Chris Cummings / Composers: Nyles Miszczyk - Chris Cummings
02
Dot Dot Dot
Body Double
Chandra Mixtape, Vol. 2
03:19
Writer: Julie Reich - Victoria Cheong / Composers: Julie Reich - Victoria Cheong
03
Garden Twist
Bile Sister
Chandra Mixtape, Vol. 2
03:34
Writer: Julie Reich - Chandra Oppenheim / Composers: Julie Reich - Chandra Oppenheim
04
Back To The Queue (Live at Studio Cozy)
Motorists
Chandra Mixtape, Vol. 2
02:03
Writer: Craig Fahner - Matt Learoyd - Jesse Locke / Composers: Craig Fahner - Matt Learoyd - Jesse Locke
05
Satisfaction
Body Breaks
Chandra Mixtape, Vol. 2
02:44
Writer: Julie Reich - Matt LeGroulx / Composers: Julie Reich - Matt LeGroulx
06
Time Treat Me Right (Pelada Remix)
New Chance
Chandra Mixtape, Vol. 2
04:14
Writer: Victoria Cheong - Chris Vargas - Tobias Rochman / Composers: Victoria Cheong - Chris Vargas - Tobias Rochman
07
Friendfishes
Chad VanGaalen
Chandra Mixtape, Vol. 2
02:15
Writer: Chad VanGaalen - Patty Locke / Composers: Chad VanGaalen - Patty Locke
Access the complete album info (9 songs)
Mom+Pop
17-01-2012
Norman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
01
Scotch and Milk
Andrew Bird
Norman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
02:16
02
12/30/1899
Andrew Bird
Norman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
01:47
03
Arcs and Coulombs
Andrew Bird
Norman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
02:04
04
Hospital
Andrew Bird
Norman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
03:37
05
S.O.S.
The Blow
Norman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
04:34
06
Nice Hat / Exit Sign / Angelo Speaks
Andrew Bird
Norman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
01:31
07
Medicine Chest
Andrew Bird
Norman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
01:27
Access the complete album info (17 songs)
(P) 2022 Sunglaciers.
25-03-2022
Subterranea
01
Negative Ways
Sunglaciers
Subterranea
03:37
Composers: Evan Resnik - Mathieu Blanchard
02
Avoidance
Sunglaciers
Subterranea
02:28
Composers: Evan Resnik - Mathieu Blanchard
03
Out of My Skull
Sunglaciers
Subterranea
01:55
Composers: Evan Resnik - Mathieu Blanchard
04
Order
Sunglaciers
Subterranea
01:55
Composers: Evan Resnik - Mathieu Blanchard - Kyle Crough
05
Subterranea
Sunglaciers
Subterranea
02:19
Composers: Evan Resnik - Mathieu Blanchard
06
Thought Maps
Sunglaciers
Subterranea
02:45
Composers: Evan Resnik - Mathieu Blanchard
07
Stayed
Sunglaciers
Subterranea
02:30
Composers: Evan Resnik - Mathieu Blanchard
Access the complete album info (13 songs)