Q&A: Gabi Sklar Finds Her Signature Sound on “Stardust”
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY MOLLY PECK ☆
CAPTURING THE SOUND OF STARDUST – Gabi Sklar feels like she has finally found her own unique style with her single, “Stardust.” Released on July 18, the track blends Sklar’s raspy yet classical vocals with a country backbeat and shimmery pop production to create a fun and memorable dance track.
The young artist is perhaps best known for her short-form social media content, which features her covering popular songs in echoy rooms that amplify the strength of her raw, powerful vocal abilities. Sklar has been compared to Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey, and Shania Twain for her wide vocal range and the throaty quality of her voice that lends it a natural maturity. One of her Miley Cyrus covers caught the attention of some big names in the music industry, and she has been working on launching her career for the past five years.
Now twenty-five, Sklar has released two EP-length projects, Heartbreak in Heaven and America’s Most Wanted. The tracks on these projects range from melodic and emotional, to upbeat and cheeky, to guitar-forward rock songs. Her latest two singles, “Miami” and “Stardust,” feel like the culmination of all of this experimentation. They both feature strong melodies that have a rich, deep sound that complements Sklar’s voice, set over danceable pop beats perfect for summer listening. The emotion in the tracks is evident in the vocals, but the sexy lyrics and glittery production add a wild sense of fun to both singles.
If Chappell Roan and Lana Del Rey were poured into a jar and shaken up with champagne, you would get “Stardust.” The single details one of those precious nights out where you feel like you’re dancing on puffy pink clouds. Sklar dances joyfully around a hotel room and takes a nighttime ride on a carousel in full glam in the music video, radiating the feeling of finally letting loose after a long week. She also directed the video herself, and nails the pop-country vibe by including several scenes of herself on horseback, wearing a top made out of strings of pearls and enormous white, fluffy pants. The single easily fits into the current pop scene, reminiscent of artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift, who like to incorporate a little country twang into their pop songs.
We caught up with Sklar about “Stardust,” directing her own music videos, and making her first full-length album.
LUNA: You said on social media that a video of you singing “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” by Miley Cyrus changed your life. How did that launch your career?
SKLAR: For so long, I was pursuing a career as an independent artist, but one video that I wasn't even sure I was going to post ended up opening me to an entire community of people. That [community] has lasted even a few years later, and it's definitely allowed me an opportunity to pursue my dream. It's funny how a video that you don't really think anything about can affect people.
LUNA: Speaking of Miley, you’ve cited her, Lana Del Rey, and Dolly Parton as some of your musical inspirations. Were there any other specific inspirations behind “Stardust?”
SKLAR: Honestly, I've been in the studio so much, and I was writing so many sad songs that were very emotive. I just wanted something that was fun, something that people can play this summer and dance to in clubs, and really introduce people to the feel of my upcoming music. So that's what inspired “Stardust.”
LUNA: You’ve said before that you're working on finding a signature sound. Do you feel like you're getting closer to that with “Stardust?”
SKLAR: I definitely think we found it. I think “Stardust” is an introduction, and there's a lot more coming next that dives into the chapters of who I am as a person and as an artist.
LUNA: You were the director of the music videos for “Stardust” and “Miami.” What is it like working in front of and behind the camera at the same time?
SKLAR: For me, it's always come easy, because I'm a very visual person when it comes to songwriting. Even if I'm in the studio and the song's not even complete, there are usually already ideas happening where I can see the lyrics in visuals, and a lot of mood boards definitely help as well. My Pinterest is a little crazy, but I love it, I really do.
LUNA: What was your favorite part of making the “Stardust” music video, and which scene was the most fun to shoot?
SKLAR: My favorite part of the “Stardust” video was actually something that wasn't captured on screen. We had shown up to set, and it was a stable, so there were a bunch of horses. During the lunch break, we were roaming around in the stables and saying hi to all the horses. One of the horses leaned over to my friend and started going towards her belly, and she was pregnant! It was just so beautiful and so emotional. We were just all screaming, and it was so crazy to see how in tune they are. So that was definitely my favorite part, but I think also just being in nature. You know, I'm a girl from New York. I grew up a lot of the time going into the city, so being away from that with nature was really special.
LUNA: How was it having horses on set? Did you have experience with horses before?
SKLAR: I really didn't, but I'm very ambitious, and I don't know when to say no to myself. When I have an idea, I'm like, I need to follow through with it. I actually learned to ride horses for the video. It was the hottest day of the summer, so it was definitely challenging, because me and the horse were like, “Okay, we want to break!” But it was really beautiful, forming that relationship because I had known the horse before the shooting day. They're very smart; you just have to listen to them. But they know, if you feel any fear at all, they'll hold off. Yeah, it was really cool.
LUNA: Like you said, you're from New York, but your single “Miami” shows your love for the city. Can you talk about what makes you feel so connected to Miami?
SKLAR: I actually lived in Miami for three years. It's not something I really talk about, I think, because now I'm back in New York, and I'm just in a different chapter of my life, but I always find myself going back to [Miami]. I've been there when all of my friends were there, and it felt like home, and I've been there when all my friends were gone, and it felt like the loneliest city. So I think there's a lot of duality in it, and that's what inspired “Miami.” There's no place like Miami. It's very much its own experience.
LUNA: On Labor Day weekend, you're performing with Shaggy at the LIV Nightclub in Miami. What does this opportunity mean to you?
SKLAR: It means everything. I'm trying to go out of my comfort zone, play shows, and really learn from the live show experience, because every single one is so different. I've also never played a show in Miami, and I'm so honored that Shaggy is willing to have me on stage. So it's very exciting. Also, I haven't played “Miami” or “Stardust” live, so this is a first for that.
LUNA: You've previously released two EPs. Is there another EP or an album, maybe, in the works?
SKLAR: We are in the works with my debut album, and I'm finishing it in September in Sweden, which is where it originated, two years ago, with the same people who co-wrote and produced my last two EPs. It really feels like a friendship, and they've seen me evolve, and my music evolve. It's a very exciting experience.
