Gabrielle Aplin

Did you do any creative writing before you got interested in songwriting?

Yes! I taught myself to play instruments so before then I was writing, painting, generally making stuff. When I was able to play a few chords I managed to stick my words and chords together and discovered how to write songs that way.

Did growing up in England inspire the sound and feel of your music in any way?

I guess so. I grew up rurally I guess and went to college in Bath, so being surrounded by nature and also having the contrast of spending my week in a city probably had some effect on my music. Though the internet was really starting to buzz with musicians and bands from all over the world and I was also really into discovering new things when I started.

Who were some artists that you often listened to growing up?

Growing up it was a mixture of what my parents played me and what was on the radio at the time. Bruce Springsteen, The Carpenters, Joni Mitchell and lots more!

What motivated you to start posting videos of yourself singing on Youtube?

I never really had a motivation really. I wasn’t really obsessed with any YouTube at the time either. It was a way to share my music with people and it was more something I was discovering as I did it I guess. I was just rolling with it!

Since you started out posting on Youtube your thoughts on the industry and social media may be a bit different, but do you feel as though social media has changed the music industry in a drastic way?

Absolutely. It’s completely changed how songs are released, and how you present them. There’s not really a tradition anymore. But I think social media is an amazing way to keep in contact with people and to build relationships with fans.

How did you come up with the name for your label? Does Never Fade have a special meaning to you?

Never Fade is the name of one of my releases and it was the second song released on the label before we decided to work with other artists!

Your sound has changed throughout your different projects. Is this because you like to experiment or do you not want to be put in a box when it comes to your sound?

I don’t really try and be or create a certain sound. I just make what I want to make at the time I want to make it! I like experimenting! If I was making the same album over and over I’d be so incredibly bored! But I don’t really think about it too much. It’s also way less of a change and more of a development. I don’t compare every song I write or idea I have, but if they were all placed on a timeline the development would be obvious.

What inspired your new song ‘My Mistake’? Can you walk us through the process of creating that song?

The process was so easy. I just didn’t want to write that day, my brain wasn’t having it. So we decided to not try, and My Mistake happened!

Can you tell us anything about your upcoming album? If so, what can listeners expect?

It’s structurally, a singer-songwriter album. I’ve really focused on writing good songs that I love. I’ve been enjoying experimenting with production and writing quite personal songs and unravelling my brain a bit. I cannot wait to share the tunes that I have been working on.

What advice do you have for aspiring singers?

Be inspired by others, but develop those inspirations into who you are. And have fun!

Interview by Carol Wright

Photos by Ellen Offredy

#NYOTAmusic