INTERVIEW: We Won’t Gatekeep Chri$tian Gate$ Or ‘TOXIC!’

Over the past few years, Chri$tian Gate$ has become an underrated hero of the alternative music scene, pouring his heart out into cathartic pop-rock anthems that have comforted millions of people around the world. And he’s back to do it again with ‘TOXIC,’ the latest single from his upcoming No Strings Attached album! It’s a thought-provoking statement on unhealthy habits that can pop into relationships and what happens when we’re more self-aware regarding our mistakes, recruiting Dutch Melrose and adding adrenaline-filled guitars to build out the story.

As if new music and a new album weren’t exciting enough, we got to ask Chri$tian all about ‘TOXIC,’ his No Strings Attached album, how he approaches his visuals, and more! Check out ‘TOXIC’ below and keep reading for our Q&A.

Hi Chri$tian, congrats on your new single, ‘TOXIC!’ How does it feel to let the song out into the world?
It feels amazing. I’ve actually been working on ‘TOXIC’ for a few years now. For the longest time, I only had the chorus, but I knew I didn’t want to settle until I had something truly great. I kept rewriting the verses over and over, but nothing felt quite right. Then I showed it to Dutch Melrose, and as soon as he took a crack at it, what he did was pure gold. It inspired me to write my first verse, and in a way, he pretty much saved the song. So finally releasing it feels like letting go of all this built-up energy I’ve been holding onto for so long.

What does ‘TOXIC’ mean to you?
‘TOXIC’ is really about when someone brings out the worst in you—the side you’ve been trying to bury deep. You know, you’re thinking, “I really like you, but somehow you’re pulling this unhealthy, toxic side out of me.” It’s that moment of realization where you’re like, “This is heading in a bad direction, and you should probably run before it gets worse.”

There are so many amazing lyrics on ‘TOXIC,’ with one of our favorites being “I’m secretly praying for the worst with the best intentions.” Is there a certain line on the song that you’re especially proud of?
I actually really love that line: “I’m secretly praying for the worst with the best intentions.” It’s funny because it’s about wanting a breakup to happen, but you’re thinking it’s for the best, for her sake. It’s a messed-up way of caring, but that duality is what makes it resonate with me.

When you find yourself in a ‘TOXIC’ situation or mindset, what helps you to come out of it and regain your strength?
Writing music is my go-to. It’s how I process and make sense of things. I also try to step back and look at the situation from both perspectives. It’s easy to get caught up in your own feelings and forget to consider what your partner might be going through. Understanding both sides helps me find clarity.

You worked with the talented Dutch Melrose on this song and it’s such a natural pairing! Before he hopped on the song, you wrote a few takes of what the second verse could be – what were those original verses like?
Honestly, the original verses were just way less cool. It was a similar situation to when I was working on ‘Dangerous State of Mind.’ My friend Elation asked me, “Is this song cool because of the beat, or because of the vocals?” That hit me hard, so I went back and spent months rewriting until I felt like it was perfect. Same thing happened with ‘TOXIC’—the early drafts just didn’t match the energy I wanted, but Dutch helped elevate the song to where it needed to be.

We can’t wait to hear your No Strings Attached album next month! Which song are you most excited for fans to check out?
I’d say I’m most excited for fans to hear ‘Saying Goodbye.’ It’s a deeply personal track, and while it was one of the hardest to write, it carries a lot of emotional weight for me. I think fans who have gone through tough goodbyes will really resonate with it. Every time I worked on it, especially when writing the second verse, it hit me hard emotionally. It’s the kind of song that stays with you.

We’ve gotten a little teaser of No Strings Attached through songs like ‘TOXIC’ and ‘Food Poisoning’ – how did you choose which songs from the album to release as singles? Do you think they’re a good indicator of what we can expect from the full project?
‘TOXIC’ and ‘Food Poisoning’ were chosen as singles because they offer two very different energies from the album. ‘TOXIC’ is intense and raw, really showcasing that edgier, more experimental side of the album. On the other hand, ‘Food Poisoning’ touches on those raw, emotional experiences of dealing with a past relationship—one that didn’t end the way I had hoped. I wanted these singles to give fans a taste of both the high energy and the deeper emotional content they can expect from the full project.

The marionette theme for the No Strings Attached cover art is so cool! How did that art and concept come about?
The marionette theme actually came from a photoshoot I did with my friend Moody Darkroom, who is a photographer. We were working on a video for ‘TOXIC,’ and when he posted one of the stills, he captioned it “No Strings Attached.” That phrase immediately clicked with me and felt like the perfect title for the album. The concept of cutting strings and breaking free tied into a lot of the album’s themes, so we went with that imagery for the cover art.

Aside from your music, something we love about your work is how much thought you put into your visuals and really forming a creative world around each release. How do you go about forming the visual component of a new release? Do certain colors or images come to you while you’re making a song, or do you think about that after?
The visuals for my releases are a huge part of how I connect with the music. Sometimes, while I’m working on a song, I already start to see colors or images in my head that align with the mood or story of the track. Other times, the visual ideas come after the song is done, and I want to capture the energy of the track through imagery. It’s about building a world that immerses listeners not just in the music, but in the full experience, whether through videos, cover art, or stage performances.

Congratulations on your hit ‘Numb’ recently going gold! That must be such amazing news to receive – how did you react when you found out? What has it been like to watch a song that seemingly came out of a tough time for you turn into something so much bigger?
Honestly, hearing that ‘Numb’ went gold was surreal. I wrote that song during a pretty tough time, and to see it connect with so many people on such a large scale feels both overwhelming and humbling. It reminds me how powerful music can be—how something born out of a personal struggle can turn into something that resonates with thousands of others. When I first found out, I was speechless, but it also made me incredibly proud to see how far that song has come.

How do you feel you’ve grown as an artist since releasing your Why Do I Hear Breathing? EP last year?
I’ve grown a lot since that EP. I’ve been in rooms with so many talented people, and I’ve just absorbed everything I could from them. It’s like I’ve been a talent leech, taking in their creative energy, and it’s helped me become a better artist. It’s been a great learning experience.

Aside from No Strings Attached, what can we look forward to in the rest of 2024?
I have a few more singles coming, and maybe even another album. There’s a lot in the works for the rest of 2024, and I’m really excited for what’s next.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention or say to your fans that the questions didn’t touch on?
I’m working on something really cool for my fans, and it’s not just music. I can’t reveal too much yet, but it’s going to be something special, so stay tuned.

We’re definitely staying tuned and keeping ‘TOXIC’ on repeat! Thank you so much to Chri$tian for answering all our questions and constantly putting so much authenticity and care into your music!

Now, honeybees, we have some questions for you! What do you think of ‘TOXIC?’ What’s your favorite song that Chri$tian Gate$ has released so far? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

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