How did your journey as a singer-songwriter and rapper begin?
It all started with poetry, actually. I never imagined I'd become a musician. As a kid, I was very active in my church choir, writing Sunday School songs. But it wasn't until 2017, when I heard NF's album Perception, that I felt compelled to start writing raps. My speech always seemed faster than my thoughts, so rapping felt like a natural fit. I studied YouTube tutorials on how to rap, and for my college fest, I performed the fast part of "Rap God" at 0.25x speed, then 0.5x, then 1.0x, and finally at 1.25x. Later that same night, I sang Ed Sheeran's "Perfect." And that's how it all began.
When was the first time you performed on stage, and how did it feel?
As I mentioned, the college fest was my first stage. My first live performance outside of that was at a newly opened cafe in Mysore. I reached out to them for a gig, and my payment was a free meal that day. I performed a few covers, but only about five families showed up that night. I was a bit dejected, but I kept going. Among those families was a little girl. After my set ended, she came up to me with a flower and said, "Thank you for singing for us." I still remember getting goosebumps—it was such a meaningful moment for my first live performance outside college.
How has your experience grown over the years since you started making music?
In many ways, it's taught me patience and helped me recognize my privilege. I still work a day job while pursuing music, even though many others in the independent circuit do this full-time. It's taught me that even when people have different life experiences, we can still come together through music. I think that's something truly beautiful.
What is the most important lesson you've learned in your music career so far?
You're not competing with anyone else—just yourself. Try to be a better musician than you were yesterday. Keep grinding, not for fame, but for your own satisfaction. When you release something, even if only a few people listen, those few people matter. In a world full of fake bots, fake streams, and fake views, be authentic.
Walk us through your most electrifying live performance.
It was my first time performing in Bangalore, at a rap cypher hosted by Agniverse. There were so many rappers there, and I was nervous. But when my turn came, a calm feeling washed over me, and I just poured my heart out on stage. The audience started off sitting and nodding, but as I got into it, they came up front and began jumping and dancing along. At the end, people came up to me and said, "Dude, I generally don't jump at shows, but your performance made me." That day remains an awesome memory.
What's the story behind your unreleased track or demo?
The song is the title track from my upcoming debut album (the title is not yet revealed). The entire album is about accepting your brokenness—how being perfect isn't possible on our own, how it's okay to feel lonely but to understand you're not alone in that, and how to still carry on with hope.
Tell us about the gear or environment you use for creating music.
I recorded the entire album at Virtual Tapes Production in Bangalore. The producer and engineer, Pratap, helped me hone my voice and shape the overall tone for this album. The audio production took about a month to finish.
What does this particular lyric mean to you?
I think it's the defining lyric for this generation. No one truly knows another person's darkest moments, yet we often act as if we do. And even in a crowd full of people, we can feel alone. These lyrics fully encapsulate that feeling.
Explain the vision behind this visual concept.
The blurry imagery represents the soul, which is in a way broken because of life. The entire project is based on faded imagery and broken moments.
Contact and Follow
Email: gonepogugabriel@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisgabrielmusic?igsh=MWVkNzRyNmdlM2E5bg==
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thisisgabrielmusic?si=jFXe6Hm-bOjmAuhA
