Fading by Land Mass
East London musician Greg Zucker discusses the making of Fading and the journey behind his fully self-produced debut EP
For Greg Zucker, the London-based musician behind Land Mass, Fading started as a deeply personal creative outlet rather than a calculated debut. After years away from writing music, he returned with a new guitar, immersed himself in music theory and production, and slowly began building songs that reflected the emotions and uncertainties he was experiencing. Written, recorded, and mixed entirely in his East London flat without any outside collaborators, Fading became an exercise in complete creative freedom—one that allowed Zucker to explore ideas and feelings with an honesty he hadn’t previously been comfortable sharing. The result is a five-track collection that balances expansive, reverb-soaked indie rock with intimate songwriting, drawing from influences including Slowdive, Nothing, The National, Gravenhurst, and Sparklehorse while establishing a sound that feels distinctly his own. Although born from personal challenges and the weight of global events unfolding around him, the EP never loses sight of melody, atmosphere, or emotional nuance, making it as immersive as it is introspective.
In this exclusive interview with Indie Sound, Greg Zucker reflects on the long road back to songwriting after years away from music, the challenges and rewards of creating an entirely self-produced record, and why releasing Fading ultimately became an act of closure. He discusses the evolution of standout tracks like “I’ll Follow You,” the balance between raw honesty and sonic ambition, and how Land Mass has given him the confidence to continue forging his own creative path. As the project begins to reach new listeners, Zucker offers an insightful look into his artistic process.
How did your journey with music begin, and what first inspired you to start creating songs?
Land Mass: I started playing and writing music in bands back in my school days. But there was a long period of time where I was completely inactive. A few years ago I bought a new guitar, took some music theory and production courses and then decided to start writing my own songs again.
What were some of the first artists, albums, or songs that made you want to become a musician?
Land Mass: There are too many to list really. Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Interpol to name a few.
For those discovering Land Mass for the first time, how would you describe the project and what inspired you to begin creating music under this name?
Land Mass: It’s very much a solo project but I wanted it to have a “full band” aesthetic. The name lends itself to that rather than calling the project by my given name. Not giving the project my own name also felt less personal and that I’d be judged as Land Mass the band rather than myself. Perhaps a name to hide behind.
The Fading EP was shaped by personal experiences and global events you were processing at the time. What emotions or moments were at the heart of this release?
Land Mass: I wouldn’t want to get too deep into that. I think if you listen to some of the lyrics or the atmosphere in the music it probably gives you a good idea. And in terms of global events, I think we all share the same fears and anxieties over certain crises that are happening in the world right now.
Was there a specific point where you realised these songs were becoming something more than just a personal outlet?
Land Mass: Only really once all 5 songs were mixed and mastered did I decide I’d make them available. It was a bit of a snap decision but it felt right at the time and still does now.
You’ve described the EP as something created to help you through certain challenges. Looking back, what does Fading represent to you now?
Land Mass: I’m still facing some of the challenges and worries that I was at the time of writing those songs. Each song, and the lyrics remind me of a period of time but some have new or additional meanings to me now.
Every element of Fading was written, recorded, and mixed by you alone. What drew you to such a completely independent creative process?
Land Mass: As you get older it becomes more difficult to get a group of friends together to play music. I knew the option was always there for me to put something together on my own but it took some time to get comfortable with working on my own and trusting my instincts. Eventually I did, and completing the whole project felt like the right thing to do and ended up being very rewarding.
What was the biggest challenge of handling every part of the recording process yourself, and what did you learn from that experience?
Land Mass: The writing and recording part wasn’t too difficult—you have complete control over the process, which makes things easy in a way. However, the mixing process took a lot of time. It was a struggle to distance myself from the music and look at things objectively. After a while you learn that decision making is key, and not going back on those decisions is even more vital.
Did working alone allow you to express ideas or emotions that might have been harder to capture with outside collaborators involved?
Land Mass: Absolutely. These are the most personal songs and lyrics I’ve ever written and I think that came from not having to worry about what anyone thought. At that point the writing was purely therapeutic and I had no intention to release the music or even let anyone else listen to it.
How do you usually approach songwriting—do lyrics, melodies, or sounds tend to come first?
Land Mass: The fully written lyrics nearly always tend to come at the end of the songwriting process, but I’ll have been singing the sounds of how I want the vocals to be almost as soon as I find something on the guitar I think sounds nice. It’s then a case of building out a full song and structure with the guitar and vocal “noises” until eventually full lyrics fit into those noises and vocal structures.
Were there any songs on Fading that developed in unexpected ways during the writing or recording process?
Land Mass: “I’ll Follow You” began as a very basic two-verse, two-chorus acoustic song and grew into the expansive piece it is now. I put this down to my love of post-rock and feeling the need to let loose and make a bit more noise.
The EP moves between expansive atmospheric moments and more upbeat tracks. How did you approach creating that balance while keeping the release cohesive?
Land Mass: They were all written in the same way, on an acoustic guitar and generally with pop song structures, which meant the songs started out sounding a lot more similar than they do now. I always felt like the songs knitted together fairly well and would work together on a release. If anything, I felt it was important when producing my own music to ensure that the songs didn’t all have exactly the same feel—I wanted to keep things interesting.
“I’ll Follow You” and “Trojan Horses” showcase two different sides of Land Mass. What do those songs reveal about the range of your songwriting?
Land Mass: I mentioned before my love of post-rock, which influenced parts of the EP, but I’m also inspired by lots of other genres including indie, americana, and metal. I felt like I could have written songs leaning towards lots of different genres but wanted to keep this collection of songs slightly more cohesive. I suppose the answer is that I don’t really know the extent of my songwriting range—hopefully it’s something I’ll find out soon!
You’ve mentioned influences such as Nothing, Slowdive, The National, Gravenhurst, and Sparklehorse. What is it about those artists that has shaped your own approach to music?
Land Mass: I think probably the honesty and rawness that is featured in their music. I aspired to that, certainly lyrically, even when it felt like I was having to fight against how uncomfortable that might have made me feel at points.
How do you take inspiration from other artists while ensuring the music still feels personal and distinct?
Land Mass: I listen to a lot of music and influences will always creep in even if you don’t intend for them to. But I feel like these songs are mine and sound like me. They were what felt natural for me to write and hopefully a sense of uniqueness comes across.
Were there any specific sounds, textures, or production techniques that were important in creating the atmosphere of Fading?
Land Mass: Multiple layers in the music were important to me, especially layers of guitar. I wanted the songs to sound full. But at the same time everything had to fit together and have its own space in the mix—that was one of the biggest production challenges.
Recording and mixing the EP in your East London flat makes the project feel very intimate. How did that environment influence the final sound?
Land Mass: I think it added to how raw it sounds. I don’t have the best equipment, instruments or setup, so I did the best with what I had. But hopefully that rawness adds some character. I don’t think these songs would lend themselves to a sterile production anyway.
Did the limitations of a home recording setup ever inspire creative decisions you might not have made in a traditional studio?
Land Mass: You find yourself doing some strange things in order to get good recordings down, especially with vocals (hiding under bedding to dampen the sound, etc.). Quite early on I decided the approach for the vocals would be close to the mic and intimate sounding, which was influenced by Sparklehorse amongst others. I also wasn’t always able to sit there in my flat belting out vocals at top volume, especially late at night!
What does having complete creative control over a project mean to you?
Land Mass: This is the first time I’ve completed a “full band” style project on my own.
You’ve said that releasing Fading felt like a form of closure. What made you decide that these songs were ready to be shared with listeners?
Land Mass: The key thing was that I was happy that they were finished and complete pieces. I mentioned before that the mixing process took a long time, but I finally got to a place where I was happy with how everything sounded. The next step for full closure felt like it should be by way of releasing the music and letting other people hear it finally. That started with a few close friends who gave me the confidence to make it a wider release.
Was there a particular moment when you realised the EP might connect with people beyond your own personal experience?
Land Mass: When you’re going through your own struggles and share that with other people you start to realise how many other people are in the same boat as you. I don’t feel that the problems I faced are unique to anyone else’s, so I’d hope there are moments in the music that people can relate to and find comfort in.
What do you hope listeners take away from Fading after hearing the EP as a complete body of work?
Land Mass: Just that they enjoy listening really, and want to come back to it as a collection of songs.
Has releasing the EP changed the way you view the songs or the period of your life that inspired them?
Land Mass: It hasn’t changed the way I view the songs or those periods of my life, but the songs seem to continue to relate to parts of my life as I move forward.
Has making Fading influenced the way you approach future Land Mass material?
Land Mass: It has given me the confidence to continue down this “solo” path, which I will do.
Are there any new ideas, recordings, or creative directions you’re exploring for Land Mass?
Land Mass: I have lots of other songs in various states of completeness. Originally I had viewed Fading as an LP, but now I may release some of the other songs written in the same period as an accompanying EP. After that, I’m not sure, but I will start writing songs again soon and see where it takes me.
If someone discovers Land Mass through Fading, what would you want them to understand about the story behind the music?
Land Mass: Nothing really. I’d just be happy with any listener enjoying the sound as a whole. But if they do end up leaning into the lyrics and atmosphere of the record, then I hope they get something out of that too.
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