We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabrielle Besse a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gabrielle , appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My mother is also an artist, the only one beside me in the family. She always pushed me to explore my different creative desires and manual projects. Thanks to her I started music very young, did many sports and dance styles, and quickly fell in love with singing and theatre. Sometimes I needed the tough pushes she gave me when I felt like people were failing me, and she always showed me how to feel safe within me, no need for a boss, a certain teacher or mentor. I almost quit singing at 16 yo, after 8 years of singing, because I felt I was going nowhere and the rejections were too many. After talking about how I felt, she agreed to let me have a “gap year” in my musical career and re-think my position a few months later. I never took this gap year because covid happened (and was in a way, a gap year in itself), I pushed through the rejection and understood what she was hoping me to understand: the career is not easy, the work is enormous, but I should not wait for any one or any project to “validate” me before I start enjoying the process.
I never grew up with a monthly salary in mind, and what I imagine of work, workload and lifestyle is pretty much in accordance with my career thanks to her career.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started music at 3 years-old, playing violin then harpsichord before joining the choir of Notre-Dame de Paris, the Cathedral. I went on a “double program” as we call in France, where I had classes in the morning followed by musical education in the afternoon. I later on, joined the Conservatory of Paris in Singing and received my diploma in Polyphony, piano accompaniment, music theory and vocal technique. But I quickly figured out I didn’t want to pursue a classical career solely.
I joined theatre improv classes at 15, while dancing salsa and jazz on the side. And before I knew it, I was enrolled in a Musical Theatre program in Paris for 2 years.
Growing up, I used to travel a lot and it came naturally that I wanted to study abroad, so that’s what I did! I came to New York to follow the Musical Theatre Conservatory program at AMDA and graduated last June!

My passion for singing, acting, dancing and the arts in general is undeniable. My many years of training in the classical world gave me many keys on how to achieve excellent work, techniques I now use for the various project I am part of.
I now sing, act, dance, in productions, films, cabarets while exploring the uses of my voice, my writing and acting. I am always on the look-out for touching, intellectual, exciting projects!
I also share my journey online, on Instagram, in videos between humor, tips and vlogging, sharing with my views on this environment I call home, so far from the home I love.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I believe the difference a professional artist and an enthousiast only reside in their personal desire and projections.
As a young artist, my life is full of little gigs, amazing projects, job on the side and my day-to-day life is not perfect and far from what I would have imagined it.
I know my lifestyle is not as stable as a employee, but it is my priority. And sometimes time flies by and I am not in a position where I can spend all my time doing it, but unlike an enthousiast, my fears are not about this “stable” life style, but about my craft. We have to compromise, and sometimes on certain matters where people would not, it is not a sacrifice in my eyes, but an investment in myself.
Being an artist also gives you this weird confidence in your own capacities! It is a very joyful life in this sense!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

It is trendy to talk about mental health, we can all admit this. But it is also very important.
I am so happy the conversation has been opened about taking care of your body and your mind. Unfortunately early on in my career, as a working child and teenager, many adults used our passion as an excuse to exploit us: physically and mentally.
I had to unlearn all the codes of conduct expected in the business in order to understand my own needs and create, though I am still in the making, of a new code of conduct, more ethical and respectful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gabriellebesse.com
• Instagram: @gabrielle.besse

Image Credits

Sarah Robine (picture with purple dress)
Mike Petri (Headshot with skirt)
Marion Stenfort (Photo with mic in hand)