Hiya Gabe Jones, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
What was life like for you before you got into music?
For me, I genuinely cant even remember life before music as it has been a major part of my life forever and as long as I can remember. From liking bands such as The Beatles and artists like Robbie Williams younger on to becoming huge fans of popstars like Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish later on. Following after them and being inspired by them through my music where I found myself to be a pop/r&b artist which is shown on my debut album ‘The Heart Eclipse’ however I have always grown up with music, especially with a father who has always been in the music industry. He is Stephen Jones the lead singer of the band ‘BabyBird’.
What’s the live music scene like in Manchester right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
Specifically in my town in south Manchester there certainly are bars for karaoke and lives gigs to perform at. I personally have not performed at any of them but I definitely will be open to performing some of my favourite cover songs and own originals off my new debut album when I start BIMM university for the course popular music performance and song writing where other students and the university will offer out gigs to perform, especially to help grow my own stage skills.
It seems like being a social media curator has become added to the many jobs of amusician, how do you feel about this?
I certainly agree that social media has become a huge part of being a musician as is now a crucial place to promote yourself as it is the most popular areas for people around the world to showcase themselves and there skills. It is extremely important to get your music all over social media to generally grow a much wider and larger audience. This is also going to be important when trying to grow your own music business in terms of releasing music and reaching out to others.
How do you manage engagement on your socials?
Generally, to keep my social media engaging for followers is to keep being active.This is really key to not bore your follows. To keep followers clicking on links andwanting to hear more about what you have to say. Which is exactly what I try to do. Especially with the build up to my debut album ‘The Heart Eclipse’, where I have been trying to post lots everyday just keep followers viewing my page to stay updated with new information I have to showcase. Using all social media platforms to do so as well. It is definitely very important to keep everyone interested in your posts. So posting a variety of different things e.g covers/originals/posters is needed as well.
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
Obviously I know the current music industry is not for everyone. Music is completely subjective and everyone is into different artists. I couldn’t judge and comment toomuch more on the music industry in other genres as I don’t pay too much attention to it. However I definitely am aware of all genres and how the music industry is even subliminally as I am very involved in music and who there current popular artists are.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
I previously mentioned I strongly feel artists like Ariana Grande are extremely talented and have been crucial to the music industry, specifically in pop. Apart from that, I think the industry massively lacks a male popstar with great vocals. I am a male artist that is involved in the genres pop and R&B which is a benefit.
Whats the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
Patience is key as it takes time to perfect how you want your music to sound when transmitting your brains, thoughts, and ideas into the music to help the songwriting and production, and the general ideas and concepts that you have for the music makes sense when it all comes together which is also particularly really important to make your artwork as a musician to make sense to other people when listening. When I started writing the album in May 2024 I had many ideas, but after a few months I realised they weren’t good enough and I didn’t like them so learning. Patience is key is the main thing for me now to not put anything out that I do not love. To make sure that you are proud of it as well, it’s always extremely important.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
That I am also following in the path of my father who has written many hits that were in the charts back in the 90s, Stephen Jones from the band Babybird who is known song is you’re gorgeous or unlovable where he worked with Johnny Depp on the song together. However, we certainly do not go down the paths of similar genres. I do also play the saxophone and also play tennis regularly.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
My debut album ‘The Heart Eclipse’ is a 12 track pop vocal / R&B album which allowed me to pour out genuine and real emotions into the songs which I hope other people can connect to as well. Generally ranging through happy up-beat tracks to slow ballads to also show of my voice and for people to get to know myself further as an artist. There is definitely a range of different songs as I recently mentioned which should hopefully mean that there is a bit of everything for everyone… obviously if you like upbeat dance tracks to slower ballads. I am incredibly proud of it just to be able to get my music out there for people to listen toand go ahead and stream anywhere. Physical copies of the album will also become available if needed… and something I am working on too.
What was the recording process like?
The recording process generally lasted about a year, started from just making beats and recording different vocals, who sang and looking through what I liked what I didn’t like. But it also writing lyrics as I go along as well. Couple of the songs were recorded in the studio and the rest was recorded in my home, built mini studio in my room. Working on it for over a year to try and find the best songs by loved and wanted to show on the album. From waking up in the morning and deciding to sit at the desk and carry on working on the tracks to having a relaxing music making session in the evening. However recording of producing it’s not always going to be easy and definitely wasn’t. Especially when you become quite a perfectionist about how the vocal should sound, and how my vocal shouldn’t, and trying to get it perfect to reach satisfaction.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
When creating your own music, and starting to learn how to do it… overall, it’s a constant learning curve as you grow to just become better. The more you do it which is just the same if you start and learn how to practice anything you will grow to become better at it over time, which undoubtedly it’s how I feel now, and how it felt throughout the time I was creating music for the album and continue to create. Which makes me look forward to carry on working on future music to see how it will it change, and of course improve over time.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
I am very happy with how it finished and I am grateful overall to be able to put an album out. My first album complete is an incredible milestone as it would be for anyone. I wouldn’t change anything specifically about this piece of work, on land, I would look back at it and think about what I would like to do differently in the future, such as look for other artists to collaborate with which has definitely been in talks in the past with other artists that I like and have also shown interest in my own music is well. This is exciting, obviously for me, and for other people that are interested and like to listen to my art and music as it won’t stay the same forever, which would probably make it boring. To create future projects in a different way to still help and create engagement.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
I hope that everyone listens to this piece of artwork can connect and find a way of understanding it in their own way as connecting to music can help many people as it does to me. I look forward to working on future projects for myself, and for other people and I can’t wait for my debut album, The Heart Eclipse to be yours which is out on the 13th June!
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