How Aidan Gallagher Follows the Song to Access Emotion
Aidan Gallagher is a name you might recognize from the screen, but his true artistry lies in the intensely personal world of music. As the actor known as Number Five in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, Gallagher channels that dramatic depth into a unique sound—cinematic pop built on introspective songs that perfectly soundtrack the moments you can never forget.
Far from being just a hobby, Gallagher has spent years cultivating a deep passion for songwriting, production, and performance, crafting emotionally rich pieces in the tradition of artists like Finneas or Elliott Smith. His latest single, “Dream,” released this morning, serves as a perfect example of the layered emotional landscape he explores.
When asked about the process of creating this music, Gallagher revealed that translating the feeling he had in his head into a final, polished mix was a challenging endeavor. He noted the necessity of making the sound less “fun” than it felt initially, ensuring the final product captured the song’s true emotional core.
This creative pursuit is deeply rooted in a philosophy that music is the quickest route to the heart. Gallagher believes that music has always been an ongoing, powerful part of his everyday life, and he is endlessly surprised by anyone who claims it isn’t a major role in existence.
His influences are a vibrant blend, but he rejects the notion of trying to perfectly emulate others. Instead, his goal is to use inspiration as a tool to access emotion. As he put it, the song itself is in charge, and the musician’s role is simply to support the emotional journey.
Gallagher draws inspiration from the idea that emotion is a discovery—like digging up a fossil. He suggests that sometimes, when you are seeking an emotional truth, the clouds part, and you receive a gift that you must follow, rather than trying to lead it. This discovery is not creation in the conventional sense, but a profound experience of finding what already exists.
The song “Dream,” for instance, is built on hundreds of layers, existing simultaneously between external reality and a dream state. It is a sonic map where some elements are internal thoughts and others are echoes of the external world.
When it comes to live performance, Gallagher focuses on presenting rhythm, melody, texture, and lyrics in an interesting way. While the songs must adapt for the stage, he believes this evolution can lead to truly compelling experiences, moving beyond studio perfection into a shared moment.
Ultimately, the most thrilling aspect of music-making for Gallagher is writing itself. He describes it as a kind of mirror maze, where you chase an idea, hit walls, and then find your way through. It is an absolute thrill to uncover the song that has been waiting there, finding something that hasn’t been written yet.
For Gallagher, the most beautiful thing on Earth remains simple and profound: love is the most beautiful aspect of being alive.
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