Times-Herald reports that 17-year-old Gabi Wilson is just about ready to release her much anticipated debut album. Although she has been gaining public attention for nearly a decade, the teen says she is happy with the pace of her career so far, and seems relieved that she was not releasing albums all those years ago when her talent was first apparent. Videos of her singing and performing are all over YouTube but she says looking at them now, she laughs.
“It’s crazy how far I’ve come, ” Gabi said. “They thought I had talent (before she was 10) but I always thought I should have done better. I’m a completely different person. Every age has been different. I’m excited about the future. I’m growing as an artist and as a person.”
It can’t hurt that her artistic growth has been happening under the wings of some of the industry’s most important figures. Gabi was befriended by one of her very own heroine’s, Alicia Keys, a few years back and has since gotten some great advice from her. She cites, “being true to yourself” as the best words Alicia has shared so far.
Gabi is currently signed to Sony/RCA and is hard at work in a NYC studio finishing up her album. The young star says she prefers the New York vibe to Los Angeles and would like to move there one day. For now, she says it seems like she’s always there anyways. For the album Gabi has been recording up a storm — vocals, guitar, piano, bass, drums and even the ukulele — but has no idea which tracks will end up on the final product once it’s released. With 60 songs already recorded, the young star admits that it can get frustrating to know your work is just sitting on a shelf. “But,” she added, “I know they’ve planned a lot for me for the future. I understand developing an artist takes time.”
Knowing her career is in good hands means Gabi can focus on staying motivated by the music itself. Better yet, she keeps the music as her number one motivator, noting that doing something for the money “messes up a lot of people.” Instead, she says “You should be doing it because you love it. A lot of people don’t enjoy what they do because all they’re worried about is money.”
Gabi is certainly a true artist. Her single “Something to Prove” is getting national airplay while everyone anxiously awaits the album.
Photos:@GabiWilson
