gabbie

Gabbie McGee

Interview 8 December 2005

MA: Hey Gabbie how are you doing, thank you for doing this.

GM: Hey Mike, I’m doing well. Thank you so very much for having me, it’s my pleasure.

MA: Tell me about yourself, your background, family…

GM: Well, I’m a southern girl. I was born and raised in Greenville, Mississippi.

Music has always been a part of my life in some way. My father is a blues musician, my grandfather (my mother’s dad) traveled across the south with our church choir and his father (my great grandfather) was very well known his work with a local gospel quartet called “The Grace Special”.

MA: You’re from the Delta, you must be feeling things since the disaster this year.

GM: Yes, the Delta is my home. There is so much history and richness to be discovered there. So many wonderful contributors to our world were born and raised in areas not too far from my hometown. There’s B.B King who was born in Indianola, MS; Jim Henson, the creator of “The Muppets” who was born in Leland, MS and then you have great social activists like Fannie Lou Hamer who was born in Montgomery County, MS.

Naturally, I was greatly disturbed by this tragedy. I will continue to pray for those broken by this disaster because I know this type of reconstruction will take years to complete.

MA: Where are you based now, Atlanta?

GM: Yes. I’ve been living and working in Atlanta for about 5 years now. Atlanta is also a wonderful place to call home. I came here the day after I graduated from college to pursue my musical goals. Shout out to the historic Jackson State University! J

MA: Has music always been in you from an early age, what kind of things did you do in music growing up?

GM: Oh yeah…there were several musical influences around me while I was growing up; my grandfather, my dad, aunts and uncles. But, I have to say the greatest influence was my involvement in church. My family is very faith oriented. As Christians praise and worship was the highlight of every Sunday service. I started singing when I was about 4. My mother would have me sing “Yes Jesus Loves Me” for Easter services. I guess you could say my love for music came from my love for the Creator of music!

By the time I was 11 I was singing in the choir and playing piano for Sunday School Services. Before I left Greenville to go away to college in1997; I was working as a full time church musician.

MA: Who did you listen to, who were some of your influences?

GM: Well, my mother, my sister and I lived with my grandparents, and they are very selective about what type of music was played around the house. They didn’t approve of much secular music. So in my early years I listened to a lot of gospel greats like Mahalia Jackson, Shirley Caeser, “The Williams Brothers” of Malaco Records, and “The Mighty Clouds of Joy”.

As I got older, I was still very selective, but I became more open to different genres of music like Jazz, Vintage Soul, and Classical. Even now I listen to a lot of Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Phoebe Snow, Anita Baker, B.B. King, Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley.

MA: You play piano right? When did you start to play and write?

GM: Yeah, I play a little piano. I’m not as good as I should be, but I’ve been playing since I was about 10 or 11 and I’ve been writing songs since about then too. I remember I used to make up songs during Sunday School Service. The congregation would stand and wait for me to announce the hymn book page. I would just start playing and singing a song I made up. You could tell the members who attended regularly because they would start looking at me like,”This song is not in the book”.

How long did it take to put the CD together?

GM: Actually, “Certified Soul” began as a demo project. My husband and I wanted to play around with some sounds just to see what happened. We worked on it for about 2 months and decided to use it as an introductory tool at the Annual Caribbean Festival in Atlanta.

MA: How did it go down and what tracks got most attention?

GM: Well, my husband was engineering a gospel project for Kevin Griffin of MMG Atlanta, so I had the privilege of meeting Kevin and asking him to assist me in the production of “Something So” and “Sunshine & Colors”. All of the other tracks were produced by my husband and me.

The response has been excellent. From day one people have been lovin’ “Boobie’s Groove”! Radio is very partial to “Something So” as well as “Sunshine & Colors”.

And we’ve been hearing good things about “Now I Know” and “This Love”.

My favorite song is “Boobie’s Groove”; I really enjoyed making this song! My husband is actually singing the bass! J

MA: It’s a very varied album, jazz, blues, soul, old skool influences; but who are you feeling today and where do you fit into the marketplace?

GM: I understand the power of music so I’m very selective about what I allow into my subconscious. I try to listen to pure, honest, wholesome music. I really like Eric Roberson, Maysa Leek, Kimberly Holloway, Julie Dexter, Rhianna Ayanna, Lisa McClendon, and Kelly Clarkston. Of course I’m a huge Jazz fan so Lizz Wright, Norah Jones, Dianne Reeves, and Boney James are a few of my favorites right now.

I’m proud to be a part of the Independent Artist Movement. It gives me nothing but pleasure to know at the end of the day I’ve handled my career in a way that does not defame my morals, beliefs or standards. I know there’s a place for me in the industry because I know there are people like me who love, support and respect “qualtiy music”.

MA What‘s your show like, what gigs are you doing?

GM: To know me is to see me live! One of the best things about being an artist is the live presentation of words and feelings that are your very own. For me it’s not just a show…it’s an experience, it’s therapy, it’s a release!

I’ve been gigging all over the place, but lately, I’ve been participating in a music series called “Harmony in Life”. It’s a forum in Atlanta exclusively for independent artists held at the historic Hard Rock Café.

MA: Do you use the same people live as on your recorded material?

GM: While I was recording “Certified Soul” I worked mainly with my husband. About a month after the project rapped I met my musical director Jesse Bond!

Jesse’s an awesome guitarist and very skilled when it comes to producing and arranging vocals.

Here’s a hint: With my second release old Gabbie McGee fans will not be disappointed and new Gabbie McGee fans will be glad we met! Stay tuned!

MA Tell me about the team of people you have around you?

GM: It’s a family affair. My husband and I are fortunate to have a very solid support system. Plus, I’m thankful that God has strategically placed us in the company of some excellent people who embrace our vision and support us in our efforts to produce, promote, and perform quality music.

MA: What’s I like getting yourself heard and getting stuff down as an independent artist? How do you feel about the music scene right now?

GM: It’s a 24 hour job. Because I don’t have a record label to promote my music, I have to be more than just an artist. I am Gabbie functioning in two parts. There’s Gabbie the artist and then there’s Gabriella the professional. Thankfully, I have a degree in speech communications so I’m not completely in the dark when it comes to promotions, packaging and branding.

The music scene is improving nationally as well as internationally. A few years ago I almost gave up because it seemed like people just didn’t appreciate true artistry anymore.

It seemed as if gimmicks and trends were more important than the preservation and cultivation of the art form.

I’ve met so many exceptional musicians that refuse to compromise their art. I’ve also met a lot of music lovers who still embrace the beauty of “real music”. That’s why I aint giving up…I’ve got a story to tell that people can relate to.

MA Are you happy with the way things are working out?
I am pleased, excited, and energized. There is so much work to do; so many songs to make. I’m truly happy!

MA What is your following like locally?

GM: I have supports I call the “Soul Family”. We interact via my website and I send out weekly email messages so that we can stay in touch.

That’s another thing I love about being an independent artist, I’m not out of reach to the people who really appreciate what I do. I encourage listeners to email me. I tell them to do so after every show. I want to know what they think. Feedback is very important to me.

MA What do you know about other markets, UK, Europe, Japan?

GM: I know that my soul sistas and brothas abroad have treated me with the utmost kindness. From Japan to Amsterdam I’ve been getting a lot of love and that makes me feel wonderful. I can’t wait to grace a few stages abroad and see some of the faces I’ve corresponded with via email and my website.

MA You were Miss Black Atlanta, what was that like? Good for stage presence and that kind of thing?

GM: Awww man…you had to talk about my big haired pageant days! Yes I was Miss Black Atlanta and it was a great experience.

I actually started competing in pageants while I was in high school. I was a contestant in the Miss Mississippi Pageant as well. It’s kind of embarrassing now, but I did have dreams of being Miss America. But, I traded in my relaxed hair and crown for an easy natural and a microphone. But yeah, the things I learned while competing will be with me forever. I’m grateful for those experiences; they taught me a lot.

MA This album is your first one isn’t it?

GM: Yes, this is my first independent endeavor.

MA What are you ambitions?

GM: I just want to sing!

I’ve done a few musicals in the past so maybe I’ll land a role as Nina Simone when some great play write makes her life story into musical…who knows. But for now…I just want to sing, sing, sing!

MA What happening next for Gabbie McGee?

GM: A tour or two or three! I’m really ready to work and yes this is a shameless plug…Book me!

MA What other things do you like to do?

GM: I love spending time with my hubbie!

We’re newly weds so I really enjoy dating my husband.

I like cooking, surfing myspace.com and shopping for vintage clothing!

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