Gabe Woodrow took a little time out of his busy life to answer our questions about his music and how he makes it.
First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
My name is Gabe Woodrow. Short for Gabriel. No story just a kid who got called Gabrielle a ton as a kid haha
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
I have been obsessed with music since a baby. My father, John Woodrow is a frontman still to this day in a couple rock bands and plays on the weekends. He taught me guitar and inspired me to tap into my creative side with music. I grew up listening to The beatles, Stones, and old Hank Williams, Alan Jackson. I then gravitated to rock with Van Halen, ACDC and then eventually into emo,post hardcore, poppunk. Anything from As I lay Dying, Bless the fall, Escape the fate, Silverstein, Taking Back Sunday, The Early November, Brand New. You name it. I probably owned all of their albums and blared it on my ipods.
How would you describe your sound?
I kindve hate putting a genre on me. I write sad emo acoustic songs, angry heavy songs and even country tunes. Im somewhere between Emo and Appalachia BUT Im always striving to let everyone know they aren’t alone. Topics of grief, loss, anxiety and depression are what drive me to write. Its my therapy every time I hold the pen or play a guitar. I have struggled with these things my whole life. Im no longer scared to admit it and I want to use my music to encourage others to never give up and dive into themselves, feel the good and bad and also feel the sounds to carry on. Taste my pain.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
The Early November,The Wonder Years, Silverstein, Brand New, Hot Mulligan, Hit The Lights, This Wild Life, Driveways, Valencia
What’s the last song you listened to?
STFU by Neck Deep
What’s your source for hearing new music?
Spotify is my go to. Maybe its weird but I love my Gabe Woodrow Radio on Spotify. It constantly puts me with other bands and artists that I enjoy. Ive made a ton of friends with a bunch of these bands and even played tour stops with some as well so that’s really awesome. Shoutout Spotify for that!
Who is your dream producer?
I have recently worked with Ace Enders of The Early November with my single Traitor and the acoustic ep Paint With Your Pain and I am thrilled to be doing a full album with him starting in July . Ace has been a huge mentor to me in helping me learn and grow into being a better musician and to be a pro. He has always been inspiring to me since the early 2000s but finally meeting, ripping songs together in the studio, getting feedback, learning from someone who I have looked up to for years has been monumental to me. I cant say enough good things about that guy. He is a workhorse and a true family man and I really respect that. I don’t take it for granted that I am working with him. I try to be a sponge. Ask questions and leave the studio sessions with more knowledge every time.
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Dan Campbell. The Wonder Years or Tades. Hot Mulligan For sure.
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
I feel like Ive always been trying to help others as much as possible. I felt like I was a “healer” if you will. Even if most of my lyrics are definitely sad, they carry weight in positivity and to Keep Going. Always. My friends were the o.g. motivators. Ripping acoustic songs in partys was always one of the coolest things ever I felt. We screamed emo tunes all night long just to feel or feel nothing at all. I started for them and continue to do so but its also for me. Im very self motivated. Creativity is my therapy. I feel lost not performing, practicing or writing. Nowadays ive had some incredible messages sent to me from some of my songs and I have to say that’s been the most amazing thing ever. Again. I don’t take it for granted. We all have a story.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
I feel like im pretty basic on writing typically. I fumble around on guitar humming non sense until I start to speak real words. Im old school, write on paper mostly. I don’t worry about topics so much or try to create something its not. I like to let a song be what its going to be. I do enjoy tapping into storytelling whenever I can. I feel like I am growing as an artist
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
I am transparent. Wether its social media or meeting a new fan or making friendships. Im not scared to talk about some of my troubled past. It helps me to get things off of my chest and has allowed me to connect with people to realize One, Im not alone and Two Neither are they. Building a bond over things that are very hard to express is a very meaningful one to me always. The connections are real and vibrant. I am very active on social media talking to anyone and everyone I can. I love meeting new people and I say it often at shows and I mean it. Come Say Hi! Follow me on Spotify, itunes, facebook,Instagram,tiktok. I love meeting new faces!
Instagram
Facebook
Spotify
Tik tok Gabe Woodrow Music
LinkTree
What’s next for you? Anything else you’d like to add or let us know about?
Whats next for me is the album. I start in July and I am gearing up for a process I have never underwent. Im expecting a ton of work and ton of decisions to be made. I have written a million songs and I am in the process of eliminating ones and holding onto others for future things as well as making ones better. I will have some great friends joining me in the studio to help be just that little bit more creative and Im so glad to have Eric, Joe and Kurt join in to contribute. I know we will have a fantastic time and cant wait for all of us to rip these songs full band afterwards. It will make it that much more rewarding. Stay tuned July 3rd. I hate to see her go but I love to watch her leave will be dropping on all platforms. It’s a song I wrote back in 2012. It’s a bit heavier than anything on the album but my friends love that song so I felt like releasing it was a great way to give some things back to them for supporting. Stay tuned for a busy summer! Keep Going yall! Thank you!
