We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Gabrielle recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jessica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started sooner?
I wish I would have started sooner with my creative career. I say that because I grew up dancing more than singing, when I wanted to do both. Although dancing was something I loved doing, singing was my passion. Hearing my voice always made my soul feel better.
Jessica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
2009 , our middle school was switching to a all Arts School. I was excited about it because that meant more talent shows for us students. My best friend and I performed Mary J Blige ” Be without you” and from that moment on, I knew the stage was where I was supposed to be. Moving forward my family and I were military so that meant I had to move and leave all my friends to go live in Italy and the Middle East . There I found it wasn’t much for me to do to express myself being in a foreign country. I learned how to use Garageband on our teen centers laptop and I recorded my first cover to Drake ” Marvins Room” and I knew I had a gift with music. However, still I didn’t take myself serious. I was still dancing more than anything and creating my own dance teams with children.
I got into the industry from working with students that attended Full Sail University in Orlando. I watched and learned how to properly record myself, what it took to walk in a label, along with the business. I began to manage other artists for 2 years and it was worth the experience. It wasn’t til 2020, I moved from Orlando back to my home state South Carolina and I immediately started recording myself with a $50.00 microphone. I was coming out of a hard relationship that left me to pick up the pieces and most days I struggled with expressing myself. But behind the microphone , I did not hesitate..,things became natural and
I remembered what I was destined for.
I believe music has helped me find myself and my true potential. It gave me a way out when I was down or just needed to vent. It went from me recording in my room , to getting thousands of Tiktok views off of my own songs or choreographies. Being myself is what drew people to me. I believe what sets me apart from most artists, I am unapologetic about who I am and how I express myself with music. I never let the world or social media dictate what I can and cannot do. I stay consistent and true to who I am. I take chances on myself for example, I auditioned for America Idol this year. I did not make it however you cannot be afraid of being told no. To give up is not an option and I have a beautiful daughter that reminds me to always chase after my dreams so she can do the same.. but you have to try first.
I am most proud of myself for not giving up and believing in myself. There’s so much more to do!
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 non- creatives do not understand that just like any other talent. Things take time to nourish and to organize. The mental compacity of a Artist. We are so hard on ourselves with wanting to be perfect or making that special “hit song”. With that being said I think people just doesn’t understand the process of making music or misunderstand that you can become famous off of one song, no you have to put in a lot of work and gain to sustain a audience. That’s the hard part for me !
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the look people give me once they have heard my song, the feedback is positive, helping someone else get through the same problems I went through but MY SONG helped them get through theirs. That’s rewarding and the gift that keeps on giving. I just want to be heard.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicagabrielle29?_t=8fPPN1FrNpC&_r=1
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/_.jessicagabrielle?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jessicagabrielle2681?si=fM1b81Jp983QLhPb