Gabi Sklar is truly a force to be reckoned with. The twenty-year-old songstress is not taking no for an answer and is carving her own musical path as she pleases. Sklar’s voice is soulful with a distinct pop appeal. Her lyricism is clever, cool and relatable. We had the pleasure to talk with Sklar about the inspiration behind the “All The Things You Never Say” music video and the importance of having badass music role models.
Pass The Crown: When did you start singing? Did you always know you wanted to pursue a career in music?
Gabi Sklar: At a very young age, I wanted to sing for whoever was willing to listen. I had this growing passion for writing poems and stories and eventually, when I was seven, I started playing piano and that's when the two—singing and writing—kind of crossed over. When I was 13, I eventually signed to my management and it was around then that I began flying across the country working with writers and producers. Fast forward to now, I'm twenty-years-old and all I really want to do is continue spreading love through music for the rest of my life.
“All The Things You Never Say” is a great song and music video. How did you come up with the idea and what was the creative process like?
I wrote “All The Things You Never Say” two years ago and it applied to my life then, and it still applies to my life just as much if not more. This February, right before Valentine's Day, I went through a breakup and as a joke my best friend sent me a ‘perfect man’ made out of chocolate. It reminded me of a gift someone actually gave me called ‘grow a boyfriend.’ It's just a little doll and you put it in water and it grows into a literal boyfriend. I called my team with this idea and we developed it from there. I flew out to Nashville to shoot the video. The filming took about sixteen hours. It was crazy but it was worth it.
I love the concept. It really cuts through. Your EP, a hot mess, recently came out; can you speak to the writing process? Is there one song that was particularly fun to write?
The actual writing process of the EP took only about a week which is crazy because it took so long for it to eventually come out. I flew out to LA and I worked in the studio every day with a producer named Ryan Marrone who I have been working with since I started out in the industry. It was me and two writers, Hoops and JP Saxe, and we were in the studio writing for seven days straight. It took about two years to finalize the entire process with creating content and visuals and everything surrounding the project.
I think the song that was the most fun to write was either “I'm Sorry You're Boring” or “Fake Tans, Fake Tits & Drug Problems” because I wrote them with JP Saxe. He's just really fun to work with. It actually didn't feel like work at all and I think both songs are ridiculous in the best way and very matter-of-fact, which is why I love them.
Were there any nuggets of wisdom you learned from JP Saxe?
I think it's so easy to overthink lyrics and I think he's one of those people who everything he says can instantly be turned into a song. He has this very funny sense of humor and it’s very relatable. A basic idea that you would say one way, he says in this very intricate way that makes you rethink everything. You're like, “Wow, I didn't know you can take something so simple and turn it into art.”
What was the inspiration behind “Fake Tans, Fake Tits & Drug Problems?”
I was living in between three places. Long Island, New York, which is where I was born and raised and it’s a little bit of a bubble. It's one of those places where if you try to do something different everyone kind of looks down upon you. In Miami, another place I was living, everyone is trying to do and be the same thing and then LA, the third place. On one hand, everyone is trying to be different but they're trying so hard to be different that it's all the same. I think all three places are very different, but they all share that common thread of superficiality. The point of the song is that we're all guilty of it, including myself. It’s a reflection of what society is now and no one is really excluded from it because in the end we're all the same.
How has your time in Miami influenced your music?
Miami influences my music because it has influenced my personal life so much. All my music is heavily based on personal experiences and my day-to-day life. I moved to Miami by myself when I was eighteen for school and I feel that experience taught me a lot about growth and independence, navigating life, making friends, losing friends, having my first relationship and my first break up. Miami to me is all my firsts.
Musically, who are some people you look up to?
My biggest musical influences are probably Lana Del Rey and Arctic Monkeys. Recently, I've been loving Nirvana. Throughout high school, I listened to AM, Paradise, and Born To Die. I have those three albums on loop, but I also love strong female artists with definitive sounds like Stevie Nicks, Lennon Stella, Dua Lipa, Ariana, Miley, Kehlani. It’s a never-ending list.
Have you received any great advice that has stuck with you throughout your creative journey?
I’ve been in the industry since I was thirteen, so I’ve definitely experienced both ends of the spectrum. I would definitely say the best advice that I got and I continuously remind myself of is to stop comparing yourself to people because there will always be someone doing this and that. I think we are all really guilty of comparing people and images and accomplishments and it’s really unhealthy especially with social media and everyone's lives being so public. We forget that people only show what they want people to see and everything is very filtered. The more you focus on yourself and develop your craft, the more you will grow, but comparing yourself to others, in my opinion, will only stunt that growth.
What kind of energy do you imagine a Gabi Sklar concert would emit?
If you met me out on the street versus seeing me perform, you’d see two completely different people. I think when I perform it's a mix of the adrenaline, being on stage, hair and makeup and having people out there supporting you and coming to see you perform. It's really humbling and gratifying and I think it's moments like those that make you feel like all of your work has finally paid off. The energy that I try to give when I am performing is similar to that of all the female artists that are so badass. They have this confidence and acceptance and it's important to have that open conversation and connection with the room and everyone in it.
What is next for you? I know we're living through uncertain times, but what are you excited about?
I have my EP out. I have the two singles out, “All The Things You Never Say” and “I’m Sorry You're Boring” with videos. For now, I am just going to let the EP sit for a little bit because there's so much craziness in the world. It's definitely hard to release music when there's so much going on and also being at home kind of suppresses inspiration, so I'm trying to get more into that kick again. Hopefully, when things start opening up probably towards 2021, I will definitely be doing more live shows. I think long-term, definitely performing, definitely more music and just continuous cycle of releases because I was doing spontaneous singles and then there would be times with no music in between that time of release, so just continuously releasing music for sure.
You’ve lived in Miami, LA, and NY. Is there one spot you could see yourself settling down?
I feel like I will always be going back and forth. But I think LA is kind of where it's at. I'm a New York girl at heart but I think I'm going to give into the West Coast.
Stream a hot mess on all streaming platforms!
Follow Gabi Sklar on instagram + watch the Official Music Video for “All The Things You Never Say,” below.