Celebrity Travel: Go away with Gunnar

Ahead of his upcoming headlining tour this fall – which will kick off in Chicago – alternative rocker Gunnar is promoting his new album, “Sun Faded.” Full of contemplative lyrics set to taut, guitar-based melodies, the Los Angeles-based artist reveals his fears and hopes on songs just as “Upside Down.” “I’m really proud of this record,” the 24-year-old musician said. “I feel like it’s a perfect representation of who I am today and the things I’ve gotten through to get to this point.”

For more information on Gunnar, check out his website at https://gunnargehl.com/. You may also follow him on Instagram (@Gunnar) and TikTok (@GunnarGehl), where he keeps fans updated on his music and travels.

Q: What do you remember about your first professional gig?

A: This is an incredible question. I remember feeling like I was going to have a full-blown heart attack. I was white as a ghost, trying to hold my stomach from coming up and shaking with nerves [and] adrenaline.

Q: What is your bucket-list venue that you have yet to perform in?

A: I really want to play Radio City Music Hall.

Q: Have you written any songs while you were on the road)?

A: Yes! I wrote part of “Bitter” while I was on tour with Maroon 5 in Europe.

Q: Does the music you hear in a particular city or country inspire your own work?

A: Of course. I actually get a ton of inspiration from classic Americana music. Timeless, storytelling, anthemic music.

Q: Do you have any upcoming trips planned?

A: I am actually going to Italy this summer with a small group of friends, and then tour in October across the United States.

Q: What is your worst vacation memory?

A: My worst vacation memory was definitely almost going to jail in Barcelona. When we were on tour, there was a small mishap that could have landed me in a cell for a long weekend, which [would’ve] included me missing shows. Thankfully, everything got sorted because of my fluent Spanish-speaking manager David.

Q: Have you visited places for work that were so nice that you traveled back there later for a personal trip?

A: One hundred percent. Amsterdam was a city that stood out to me that I absolutely loved and want to go back to. I also want to travel back to Budapest. I think so much of the attraction for me is the dynamics in culture. It’s so different from here in the States and I really enjoy it.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: I’m a total beach, warm weather guy. I want to play some golf, sit on the beach and relax. My friends always give me grief because they’re all avid skiers and want me to come, but when I can get time off, I want to be somewhere warm.

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: I love driving out to Palm Springs. It’s an easy two-hour drive from Los Angeles, but it feels like you’re away enough to disconnect.

Q: How do you separate work from vacation trips?

A: I used to really, really struggle with this. I never was able to turn my work mode off. I’ve really tried to learn how to take time and just relax. Every time I get proper time away, I come back more motivated and excited to dive back in, so being able to check out for a few days has become a necessary healthy part of my life.

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?

A: Costa Rica! I just was in Costa Rica [recently] for the first time and it blew me away. The people, culture, weather and energy was so special. The surf was incredible.

Q: What was a trip you took as a child that stands out? And did you love it, or not so much?

A: Growing up, my family was very adamant on giving back and helping others. A trip I will remember forever is when we went to India. We didn’t go to a big city, or a tourist destination, but rather we went deep into the jungle where we could help and build schools in remote villages far from the civilization I was used to. I loved every second of it.

Q: What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?

A: This is a funny one, but every time I travel I have this shocked realization moment of how it’s even possible that we can get on an airplane and land somewhere across the world. It still blows my mind and is so cool to me.

Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A: I really want to go to Australia and Tokyo. I’ve never been to either and would love to experience both.

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A: I always have to have Zofran, because if I get nauseous in a foreign place, my anxiety skyrockets. [Laughs.] I also always like to have a healthy supply of Zyn, and some after-care tattoo cream in case I get a little memory tattoo.

Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?

A: Local beers. I love trying local beers from wherever I am at the moment. It’s small and simple, but it excites me.

========

(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)