FEATURE:
Spotlight
GAYLE
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A hugely talked-about teen artist…
whose debut single made a big impact late last year, GAYLE is someone that you need to be aware of. There are a raft of great young Pop artists breaking through. It is encouraging to hear so many artists come through who sound so confident and like they have serious longevity potential. GAYLE sounds like she is here for the long-run. This is a rare occasion when an artist I am covering only has a couple of songs out. Her latest, ur just horny, came out this year. Her amazing debut, abcdefu, is one that garnered a lot of response and positivity. The tremendous artist from Dallas, Texas has been based in Nashville for a few years. In 2021, she signed a deal with major label Atlantic Records. GAYLE was discovered by former American Idol judge and Pop songwriter, Kara DioGuardi. As I do in these features, I am going to draw in some interviews. They revolve around the debut single of last year. It is clear that we will hear more from GAYLE very soon. VENTS MAGAZINE congratulated an artist who is signed to a label that has represented some all-time legends:
“Major congratulations are very much in order for your newly announced addition to renowned record label Atlantic Records! Atlantic has a long and celebrated past, being home to such legendary artists like Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Wilson Pickett. How does it feel to join that roster of amazing talent?
If I’m being completely honest I haven’t fully processed the emotions of signing with my dream label. Every once in a while, it hits me at like 2 am that I ACTUALLY did it and I’m not living in a fever dream. It’s a complete honor to be on the same roster as the amazing artists you mentioned above and i will do everything in my power to match the amazing successes on the Atlantic roster.
Your very first single under the Atlantic Records umbrella is due out on August 13 and it is entitled abcdefu! First things first, the elephant in the room: What led to one of the more unique and creative song titles that I’ve seen in all of my years? It’s really a head-turner!
Funny enough the song was originally called “abcdefuckoff” and I decided to pull it back just a little haha. I didn’t want to give away the whole concept of the song with just the title and I thought “abcdefu” was a good in-between.
Who produced abcdefu and what was that collaboration like between the two of you?
Pete Nappi produced this version of “abcdefu” and we finished it out together when I was visiting LA. I’m a control freak so I always like being in the room with the producer when it comes to my music. Pete started the vibe out by himself and then I added in my production notes and that’s the version that’s coming out today!
For those that may be late to the party, how would you describe your style of music?
Shitty.
You’ve already amassed five million global streams from a very loyal fan base as an independent artist alone. Was there any trepidation of signing on to Atlantic? What made them the perfect fit for you and your music?
Honestly I had no trepidation in singing with Atlantic. I know everybody on my team there has my best interest at heart and truly believes in me and I feel very welcomed and loved joining the Atlantic family”.
Definitely one of the best debut Pop hits of 2021, abcdefu resonated with fans and critics alike. What I have noticed with a lot of the new Pop artists emerging is that they are being inspired by Soul and R&B legends, rather than their mainstream contemporaries or Pop acts from the 1980s and 1990s. I wonder if there is generational thing – maybe these artists’ parents are bringing them up on Soul music. In any case, GAYLE talked about her musical influences in an interview with POPTERNATIVE:
“What can you tell us about your latest single, “abcdefu”?
I came out with the first version of “abcdefu” on August 13th [2021], I have since released the demo, a chill, and angrier version of the same song but seen in a different light. The demo shows what “abcdefu” started as. The chill version is for the juxtaposition of telling someone to ‘f*** off’ but in a calm manner, and the angrier version just found a way for me to curse more.
Who is GAYLE as an artist? How would you describe the sound of your music?
I’ve always been inspired by soulful voices Aretha Franklin, Joss Stone, Nina Simone and Kelly Clarkson. I also really love the catchiness of pop music and how so many pop songs can manage to get stuck in my head for days. I prefer an organic leaning production, with occasional synths and lyrics that have something to say and I try my best to take all of those things and channel it towards my music.
When people listen to your music, what are you hoping they get out of it?
I hope when someone listens to my music it gives them the confidence to be more comfortable with themselves and their emotions. I have a tendency to at times bottle up my emotions and I know listening and making music helps me own up and process my emotions, and I hope I can do that for other people.
Did you always know that music was something you wanted to pursue?
I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. I remember when I was younger before I decided to do music, I wanted to be a puppy rescuer but that lasted like a week.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
Learn to take what inspires you and make it into something different. It’s really hard not to copy things that inspire you and it’s still a struggle for me, but it’s really important if you want to be something different”.
There is another interview that I want to bring in before rounding up. Warner Music Australia chatted with GAYLE about her debut single taking off. They also enquired about musical influences and what comes next for her:
“The song has such a collective feeling where it’s meant to be screamed in a room full of people. How was it hearing that chorus yelled back to you?
It was amazing. The song started getting popular during the tour. At the start, a few people know it but later on as the shows started happening more. At the end, I would say the title and people would start yelling. Like, you know this song? What do you mean? It was amazing to hear people scream. I do the angrier version live because any opportunity to say ‘fuck’ more, I’m going to take. Like, c’mon. It was amazing just to hear a loud room of people screaming “fuck” at the top of their lungs.
It’s difficult to imagine a song taking off like this and few will let themselves believe it even when they know they’re great. You must have known there was something special about it though?
I knew it was a song that had the potential to be liked. People would either love or hate it. When you have a strong emotion to a song that can be a positive thing. Personally, though, it was important. For a long time, I didn’t want to be angry. I ran away from anger thinking it would make me less of an angry person. Running away from it is what made me angrier in the first place. I think putting that song out was the reminder that I’m allowed to be angry. I deserve it. It’s not something you have to earn. You have the right to feel that emotion. It was also really important to have the possibility of inspiring other people to let themselves be angry. To give people a safe space to be angry and process their emotions. That was something I just found really exciting about it when it was coming out. That said, I had no fucking clue it was a hit. I just hoped people wouldn’t hate it.
What artists were your outlet growing up?
Alanis Morissette was one. She was a big inspiration. Julia Michaels also became a big inspiration for me. Especially as a writer who can also write for other artists. That was really intriguing for me. Delacey is also really inspiring. That was when I was 15 or 16, her album came out. She said things I’ve never heard someone say so…so, out there. So many people would be afraid to say it but she just says it how it is. Also, Billie, lyrically and the vibe… I’m young and a lot of people want to invalidate my feelings because they don’t think young people can go through shit. I’m going through things and I’m going to talk about it.
In the early ‘00s of pop it wasn’t cool to share your raw emotions. This year, however, popstars are validating young people’s feelings thanks to Billie and Olivia Rodrigo. You don’t have to pretend to be 35 when you’re 17 now.
There’s a lot of things where it’s like you’re either completely okay or you’re having a mental breakdown. In the past 5 years though people are talking about the in-between and are still talking about it today.
Have you thought at all about what comes after this song?
Yeah, I have plans. I filmed the music video yesterday which was really fun. I change my mind on the next single. I’m just gonna let the holidays happen before we start something up in the New Year. It’s staying in the pissed-off vibe”.
A tremendously promising young artist who, although seen as a Pop act, defies genre and boundaries. Her music has the potential to rank alongside the most popular and played of 2022. I guess an E.P. is the next step for her. With a couple of awesome singles out, there is a lot of praise, hope and attention focused the way of the Tennessee-based artist. Here is someone that you need to…
FOLLOW closely.
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Follow GAYLE
