Gabi Sklar – Good Kisser

By starrymag | September 21, 2023

By: Alejandra Gil M.

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) The music I’m making now has a very timeless sound, as if you’re not quite sure if it was released this decade or in the 60s. I think this is especially true for a bunch of my unreleased songs. I’d call it nostalgic, yet fresh.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

I love Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks, Miley Cyrus and Lana Del Rey. I honestly love all the badass females that have helped shape the music industry.

 

Q) Your new single “Good Kisser” is out now. What was the songwriting process like? Do you need music before you can come up with the lyrics?

A) The best songs are ones that can stand on their own in their simplest form — I think production just transforms and evolves the song to make it even better. The process of making “Good Kisser” was fun! It’s a relatable track about the push-and-pull between temptation and intuition.

 

Q) “Good Kisser” was also released with an official music video. How involved were you in the concept behind it?

A) I’m always very involved in the process, from the execution of the visuals to the styling. The director, Justin Thorne, came up with the concept to play with different vignettes from the 60s. It was very cohesive with the mood boards I had created shortly after writing the record, so it was a perfect fit!

 

Q) What was it like working with director Justin Thorne (House of Giuseppe)?

A) Justin is great! I think going into the filming process we were very much creatively in sync with a lot of ideas, so when the day came to film it, we just had fun with it.

 

Q) You’ve said that “the song explores the ‘maybe I should, maybe I shouldn’t’ relationship with a really good friend — it’s about that push-and-pull of intuition vs. temptation.” Since its release last month the single has racked up 250K streams, as well as praise from tastemakers like Rolling Stone and Celeb Secrets. What do you hope people take away from the song?

A) I want every song I release to be a little world that people can get lost in and/or find themselves in. Once a song is out in the world, all I can do is hope that it acts as just that. This song, to me, feels like a thread in a storyline that can go in so many different directions, which may open up the conversation into some of my other songs.

 

Q) You have quickly emerged as one of pop’s most exciting new acts. With only a handful of singles released so far, you already have 3.5 million TikTok followers, 1.1 million Instagram followers, and 126K Spotify monthly listeners. What does it mean to you to get this sort of recognition for your music?

A) I’ve been an independent artist since I was thirteen years old, so it feels really rewarding to see the progress of ten years start revealing itself. There’s still a long way to go but it just shows that an overnight success story often times has many, many years of sleepless nights, hard work and dedication. I am incredibly grateful for all the love and support. For anyone reading this, keep going!

 

Q) You’ve worked closely with Grammy Award winning multi-platinum producer Tommy Brown at Champagne Therapy Music Group, and have also worked with legendary songwriters like Dianne Warren, Isabella Sjostrand, JP Saxe and Sam Romans. Continuing your evolution into undeniable pop stardom, what are some of the challenges you have encountered in the music industry so far?

A) For a while I was made to feel as though I was always missing something. From ageism delegitimizing my credibility or work ethic, to being made to feel like I didn’t have enough “followers,” it felt like with each step of my career there were always reasons against me. Most of the reasons had nothing to do with the music itself. As much as I’d love to prove the people that didn’t believe in me wrong, it’s more important to prove the people that continue to believe in me right and focus on the things I can control.

 

Q) Some of your releases include “Pardon My French,” “Monster Truck,” “Good Kisser,” “Spoke Up,” and “Heart to the Ocean.” Was there a song that was more emotional for you to record or maybe challenging for you in some way?

A) “Spoke Up” and “Heart to the Ocean” were songs that I was featured on so although I sang on them. I don’t connect with them the way I do with all the songs I am involved with from start to finish. I leave a little piece of me in each song I create. “Pardon My French,” “Good Kisser” and “Monster Truck” are just cheeky, fun songs, but the new and unreleased tracks show more vulnerability and depth.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) I’d love to work with Labrinth and Mark Ronson. Artist-wise, I’d love to collaborate with Lana Del Rey and Dolly Parton. There are so many talented artists of our time, it would be an honor to work with so many of them.

 

Q) What album/group are you currently listening to and why do you like it?

A) I’ve been loving music from the 50s and 60s because I love the hopeless romanticism and the juxtaposition of dreamy melodies with ironic and almost comically tragic lyrics. It’s so easy to get lost in. I also loved Labrinth’s new album, Ends & Begins, and I also think Måneskin is really cool!

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) I’d be nowhere without my fans! TikTok, Instagram and YouTube have been so essential for growing my followers, and Spotify has been a great way of carrying them over into my fanbase. They’ve been really supportive and are so intelligent — I love the way they are able to piece together little easter eggs in my project! Even with only four songs out, they are undeniably loyal and keep me going. I want to give back to them as much as they’ve given to me!

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of you and your music?

A) I love you and you’ve made a girl’s dream possible! Keep going and know that anything is possible, I truly mean that. I always say you can have two different lives just one year apart.