Kim Gordon on her influence as an iconic guitarist: “I never thought of myself as a musician”

Kim Gordon has spoken to NME about her relationship to the guitar, as well as her and Sonic Youth‘s influence on modern music, despite never considering herself to be musician.

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Despite being primarily known as the bassist in the seminal alt-rock pioneers from 1981 until they split in 2011, due to the end of her marriage with singer and guitarist Thurston Moore, Gordon found her first avenue into music from the art world via the guitar.

Now, she has teamed up with Fender to launch the Limited Edition Kim Gordon Jazzmaster, based on a 2008 Mexican Standard she was gifted on Sonic Youth’s last tour of South America – albeit with the colours inverted and unique tweaks from friends and collaborators.

Known for approaching music from a more textural and experimental point of view, Gordon explained how she was proud to put her stamp on the legendary model – also played by the likes of Elvis Costello, Dinosaur Jr‘s J Mascis, Television‘s Tom Verlaine, The Cure‘s Robert Smith, and Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine – but that her own guitar influence came from somewhere quite organic.

Gordon acrescentou: “Em certo sentido, eu realmente não mudei. Eu tenho mais um vocabulário de jogar, mas eu nunca realmente aprendi.”.

In that sense, is it more surreal to hear traces of her influence as a musician in other artists.

It’s an especially interesting time for Gordon to release a guitar, given that her latest album ‘Play Me’ is more beat-driven with a trip-hoppy vibe rather than the rock sound she may be known for, the latest evolution in her continued and celebrated solo career.

Her three solo albums have taken fans by surprise and proven to be a real breath of fresh air, but has she thought about her next move.

A última vez que Gordon falou com a NME foi em 2019, quando ela advertiu sobre o impacto do presidente Donald Trump e previu o fim do capitalismo. Dado que 'Play Me' aborda esses horrores em tempos de doomscroll, ela ainda vê uma retribuição no horizonte.

Given that now is a really harsh climate for musicians and creatives, Gordon ended by sharing some simple advice for any would-be artists feeling daunted by either picking up an instrument or pursuing a career.

Gordon’s tour continues with an appearance at Hipnosis Music Festival in Mexico tomorrow (Saturday November 7), before a slot at Clockenflap in Hong Kong in December.

She’ll visit Japan in January, ahead of appearing at Kilby Block Party 2027 in Salt Lake City in May.

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