Interview with Gabby Young and Other Animals

One Foot in Front of the Other is the latest album to be released by Gabby Young and Other Animals, and will be available from 28 April. One Foot In Front of the Other covers the musical styles fans will be accustomed to and, as with the previous two albums, continues to defy labels, effortlessly moving between moments of jazz, opera, folk and cabaret. We speak with Gabby Young about her recent projects, aspirations and future plans.

A: This is your third album. Do you feel you have evolved since your first album at all?
GY:
Yes, I do. I feel like in each tour I do, in fact each gig I do, I practise with every new song and I grow as an artist. This whole album is a complete evolution from the last one. It feels more grown up and thoughtful. It’s definitely the most vulnerable I’ve been for a whole album.

A: You used Kickstarter to fund the album, does it make it a different experience producing an album funded directly by your fans?
GY: It’s amazing – I’m so lucky to have such a lovely, loyal fanbase – the “fanimals” as we call them! The crowdfunding was a way to get them involved, give them exclusive treats and of course, raise the money we needed to start making the album. It’s down to the fanimals that we could make all that happen and the connection I have got back has far surpassed my expectations. A lot of them have actually become my friends over the last year too, so I feel really thankful to have these new wonderful people in my life.

A: If you could perform anywhere in the world, in any space, where would it be?
GY: Ooh good question – well, I visited Red Rocks in Colorado a few years ago and it’s my dream to one day play there. It’s a massive open air amphitheatre carved out of the rocks and the most stunning location for a concert I have ever seen.

A: If you could collaborate with anyone else in the music industry, who would it be?
GY: Another good question – and this is the toughest thing for me to decide but right now the name screaming in my head is David Bowie – I mean, who wouldn’t want to work with Bowie? The man is genius and his ever changing style, genres and his experimentation to always keep us guessing and entranced is the most exciting thing in this industry.

A: What do you have planned for the coming year?
GY:
We’re going to America in a few days for a mini west coast tour on our way to play at SXSW then a day off to celebrate my 30th birthday around friends and family in London before jumping straight back on a train for promotion and a massive tour across Europe, including supporting Brigitte in France up until May. We have UK tour dates and a record shop in store being booked for May before we start an epic festival summer. Along with this, there are new videos to film and launch, Gabberdashery (my online shop) to relaunch and start writing for our fourth album.

Watch Gabby Young and Other Animals’ I’ve Improved music video.

For more information visit www.giftofthegabrecords.com.

Credits
1. Image courtesy of Gabby Young and Other Animals.