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WORDS MAISIE JANE DANIELS - SPECIAL THANKS WHITEBOARD PR
Seventeen-year-old Canadian pop sensation Gabriela Bee is poised to captivate listeners and her loyal fan base with her newest track, "BLUE." This ethereal song, a joint effort with acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter and producer Powfu, will leave you drifting off into a safe, comforting space. F Word was eager to talk to this viral superstar as she unveils how her upbringing destined her for a career in music, the importance of platonic love, and dives into everything "BLUE." The track comes as part of Gabriela's highly awaited EP "Stories," offering a glimpse into who she is as a singer-songwriter while showcasing a vulnerable side to this one-to-watch artist.
MD: Gabriela, welcome to F Word mag! How are you today?
Gab: I’m feeling good!
MD: What is bringing you the most joy these days?
Gab: Listening to Radiohead and writing poems.
MD: You're all the way over in Canada. What’s the music scene like there?
Gab: Honestly, there are so many different branches and pockets of styles it’s all over the place. I’m noticing more new indie artists breaking out, which I like to see. But for the most part, it’s continuously growing and busier than ever.
MD: Can you tell us about your childhood and how it influenced your career in music?
Gab: My childhood was very musical. From lessons, to my parents showing me bands and albums, to me making up my own songs in my bedroom. I was always in love with music and knew it was the one thing I was going to pursue from the start.
MD: When did you realise you could pursue a career as an artist?
Gab: Really when I could talk was when I realised how special music was. I was always singing and had dreams of being a singer when I grew up. I have vivid memories of being a five year old glued to the Disney Sing Alongs my parents had on DVD.
MD: Let's talk about your latest single 'BLUE' with Canadian singer-songwriter and producer Powfu. How did that collaboration come about?
Gab: I had him in mind because I’ve liked his stuff for a while and it was earlier this year when I reached out to him. He fell in love with ‘BLUE’ and sent over his verse for it immediately. It fit in so well, this collab was just so right.
MD: 'Blue' is a beautifully atmospheric track that perfectly complements your dreamy voice. Can you share the inspiration behind it? I feel very safe when I listen to it, like I’m in a bubble.
Gab: Thank you for the kind words! I’m glad you feel that way when you listen to it. The inspo behind the song came about when my friend sent me a TikTok that said “send this to your blue” (your blue being your comfort person) and it was so cheesy and made me feel so touched I knew I had to write about it. I’m pretty sure that same day I got into the studio to make it. I wanted to encapsulate that nostalgic/safe feeling that your comfort person (your “blue”) makes you feel.
MD: Let’s talk about platonic love. Do you think it’s as important as romantic love? If so, why?
Gab: I always get so excited when someone brings up platonic love because I feel it’s just as important as romantic love if not more. ‘BLUE’ makes me think of my friends more than someone I may have a romantic crush on and it shows how much of an impact they made on my life. You don’t have to have romantic feelings for a person to deeply care about them. The soul connection in itself speaks volumes when you are there for them at the drop of a hat. ‘BLUE’ is for the people who have that special person that makes them feel listened to in a room where they felt they weren’t being heard.
MD: We’re excited for the full release of your EP 'Stories.’ When will we get to hear it in its entirety?
Gab: I guess you’ll have to find out soon!
MD: Are you excited for its release? When did you realise you wanted to make this EP? Was there a specific moment that inspired it?
Gab: I like to see the songs in ‘STORIES’ as little stories that tell my story. [LAUGHS] I think you can see the overall theme here. It’s a vulnerable body of music that delves into my thoughts and feelings as a teenage girl in this day and age, through different genres. It’s kind of like my first baby step into the music industry, an intro to my mind and who I am as an artist.
MD: Is there a recurring theme throughout the EP? Can you share a bit about it?
Gab: I see vulnerability as a main theme, something I struggle showing or even acknowledging. My followers and listeners may only know one side to me, and I hope through this they can meet a whole other part to my heart and writing.
MD: Your already-released track 'IT GETS OLD' will also feature on the EP. It feels like a very emotional song, full of confusion and declarations of not being alright. Can you tell us more about this single?
Gab: ‘IT GETS OLD’ is a very special song to me because it features a lot of the things I don’t like talking about, which almost bring comfort to me. It’s nice to have a song that kind of puts everything that weighs on me into a three minute melodic poem. My favourite thing about it is the vibey and almost optimistic beat that comes in on the second verse, despite the overall meaning of the song.
MD: Did writing 'IT GETS OLD' help you process your emotions in any way?
Gab: Yes and I’ve lowkey cried while singing it a couple of times practicing it on my guitar. I feel like when I’m at my low points, I hum it to myself or even sit and listen to it even though it’s my own song.
MD: What do you think is the biggest struggle for teenagers today?
Gab: I think authenticity is the biggest struggle for teenagers today and I’m even still battling it. We’re constantly living in the shadows of others, trying to stand out but also not be too weird, trying to be the main character but also remain mysterious, trying to have a lot of friends but also wanting a tight circle. It’s persistent swinging on this pendulum of wanting to “be yourself because everyone else is taken” but “everyone else” is trying to achieve the exact same thing.
MD: If 'Stories' was the soundtrack to an existing film or TV series, what would it be and why?
Gab: I’m not going to lie this question is tough to answer because I feel some of the songs are so different from each other. It’s difficult to narrow the EP to fit a specific show or movie that showcases every feeling this project has. So as of right now I’m going to say they haven’t made a show or movie for this one yet.
MD: You’re just seventeen. Have you faced any challenges being a young, female artist?
Gab: 100% and I feel like I just constantly want to prove myself, being a girl, but also being so young in this industry. I want to be taken seriously and really showcase everything I’ve worked toward for these upcoming projects.
MD: You have a captivating social media presence, where you make people smile, laugh, follow, and engage with your content. What are your views on social media?
Gab: For me, I’ve grown up on social media, so it will always be sort of a parent to me. I’ve learned to see it for what it’s good for and the opportunities that come out of it. It’s an amazing place to start your journey in whichever path you choose to take, whether it’s music, starting a business, or even just putting out videos in hopes of finding an audience. I’ve also met some of my closest friends on social media so I see it as a great environment if you know your way around.
MD: Is there anything coming up, aside from the EP drop, that we should know about?
Gab: Just be ready for more cool collabs and potentially some shows soon.
MD: And to end, what’s your favourite F-word?
Gab: There is only one right answer but I know my parents are going to read this so I’m going to say my favourite F word is FLUFFY!
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