Gabby YoungNever one to stop grinding away and working hard to cement herself as a force in the industry, Female First was over the moon to be able to put some questions to the one and only Gabby Young about her career to-date, what to expect from the future and her forthcoming new album 'One Foot In Front Of The Other'.
How best would you describe yourself as an artist for those who may not have heard your music in the past?
We always call our music Circus Swing because we find it very hard to describe and it means you have to see it live to really get it. There really is something for everyone in our music and each song seems to take a different direction but they all go together as one happy family!
What was it that initially drew you to a career in music?
Actually I have wanted to be a singer since as early as I can remember and I never really cared or was good at anything else! I went through many different phases from solos in choir, to wanting to be in musicals but I can’t dance so I turned to Opera and fell in love with Maria Callas when I was 17 – it wasn’t until I heard ‘Grace’ by Jeff Buckley that I fell in love with the idea of writing my own music that could be all these things but in my own way.
What is it about music that you love?
At the beginning it was something that made me happy all the time- singing along to jazz tapes my dad played in the car was a great way to spend my childhood then it was about belonging – when I joined the National Youth Training Choir at 12 I finally was surrounded by people that loved singing as much as I did and it felt like I was understood more than ever before. Now it’s all about the people and connections I have experienced on tour – there is no better feeling than singing my stories and getting to share magical moments with people followed by hugs and getting to know them after the show. In short music makes me happy.
Your new record 'One Foot In Front Of The Other' is released June 2 - what should fans expect from this album?
Well it’s a bit different from the last 2 but I think it’s less of a departure and more of an arrival at a new stage of my life. It is more personal and vulnerable than I have ever been on record but I think it makes it more personal. I have already sent our many copies with the words ‘allow it some time to become your friend’ because I honestly think with time it will become a very good and rewarding friend!
Gabby Young
What sort of creative process went into bringing this record to life?
I wrote this album very quickly. I am very lucky to live with the love of my life, Stephen Ellis who happens to be the producer, co-writer, multi-instrumentalist and singer on this album too so we did a lot of this album together late at night in our flat with instruments strewn around, our iPhones on record and our dog on one of our laps! The next stage we were lucky enough to have 2 band members – Paul and Niall get involved on demo-ing and scoring out pieces of music which was 2 weeks of 20 hour days, lots of ice creams (as it was during a rare heatwave in a windowless studio!) and recording all sorts of ideas. Then we were in the brilliant Miloco Square studio in Hoxton, London with lots of wonderful people making the album. The only reason we could do any of this was because of our ‘fanimals’ being so generous in supporting our Kickstarter campaign and we couldn’t have done it without them!
How would you say you've evolved as an artist throughout your career?
In the same way I have evolved as a human being – growing up and learning things all the time and being open to new opportunities wherever possible.
How was the experience of playing at SXSW Festival this year?
Man, it’s just crazy there – so many bands, so much going on and for such an ‘early granny’ who hasn’t been to a party for many many years pretty scary at times but we were lucky to get together with amazing Austin based band who played the socks off our main show and we also met and hung out with brilliant new friends. I am still blown away by how well attended our shows were with all the competition it made me very proud of our project and a little over emotional!
If you could work with anyone going forward who would you choose and why?
Oh there are many on my list of dream collaborators like Bjork, Imogen Heap, David Bowie and Tim Burton but really I love the way we make music in this band and the freedom I have to write with Stephen is pretty amazing.
You also work on your boutique website Gabberdashery, how did that come about?
It all started at a gig where we were launching our first album and I invited people I knew to have stalls there and my good friends Hungamunga had a craft corner for people to make things at the show and I loved to see how people enjoyed that side so much – shopping at gigs made it like an all encompassing mini festival and I wanted that to become a full time part of our music so I launched the online and pop up shop, Gabberdashery and everything we sell is influenced by the music or is something I would wear, use or hang on my wall!
Do you have any other projects you're currently involved with that you can share some details about?
Oh I have so many ideas but at the moment when we are constantly touring and weeks away from launching the new album, I don’t even have a minute to think! I do really want to start a Gardener’s skincare range so if anyone has any ideas for that please do get in touch!
Gabby Young's brand new album 'One Foot In Front Of The Other' is released Monday, June 2.