We’re back with another installation of our latest series, TuneCore Tuesdays, which aims to highlight artists and other music professionals who are writing, recording, and hustling on their own terms. By showcasing creatives doing it their way all over the globe, TuneCore Tuesdays aims to empower and inspire our diverse community of artists.
This week we’re talking to Virginia-based Indie R&B singer/songwriter Gabrielle Lynn. Check out her video below and be sure to learn more about her journey!
Gabrielle Lynn has been working all of her life for this moment, and now she has the vision to be exactly the type of artist that she wants to be. Backed by Grammy Award-winning producer DeMario “RioTheyNeedaHit” Bridges, Lynn is tapping into her soulful sound with more ease than ever. “I hadn’t really gained the confidence to pursue music seriously until adulthood. But now, I feel like I know who I am, in my music and in my life; I get to do what I love every day and share this amazing journey with my kids. I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Lynn starts out by declaring that her connection to writing and performing was always natural–at her own pace– and never forced. This introspective approach allowed her to truly realize the distinct sultry and ethereal quality that dominates her latest tracks. “I started recording in this tiny, little studio out in Minnesota. There I had all of this freedom to really get comfortable with recording, writing, hearing, and listening to myself. After several years of establishing that routine, I was finally ready to put my work out there.” Her timing was kismet, as that’s when she crossed paths with Bridges, and the pair clicked. “When I connected with Rio, it was like we immediately synced. We truly believe in the same artistic goals and have been creating together ever since. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but the greater the challenge, the greater the reward.”
With the same ease that she exudes when discussing her burgeoning career, Lynn is humble and leaned back as she looks back on her achievements so far. Even with over 1 million streams across 167 countries on Spotify in 2021 alone, Lynn emphasizes: “Even one stream makes me so happy, and every little milestone is still overwhelming for me. I think it’s amazing that I can look at Spotify and see people listening to my music all over the world.” Some moments still stand out for her, though, like when her track “This Is Love” reached over one million streams, followed by her EP ‘Irresistible‘ exceeding over 3 million. “And on top of that, I landed on Billboard’s Top 100 Independent Artists…It’s been the blessing of my life.”
“I hadn’t really gained the confidence to pursue music seriously until adulthood. But now, I feel like I know who I am, in my music and in my life”
Despite her notable achievements, Lynn feels a large part of her success is due to good fortune and excellent timing. “Before I met Rio, I wasn’t familiar at all with the music business. I’d put my music out organically and just hope for the best. When I put out my first song “Better Than That” with my friend Ivan, I didn’t know anything about music promotion. I just uploaded the track through a distribution platform, posted it on my Instagram account, and then I didn’t really think much of it. And I was so lucky because that first song did really well online, just by word of mouth. It was incredible.” Even so, Lynn recognized that good luck could only take her so far, and the next step would be crucial. “When I connected with Rio, he shared this wealth of knowledge about being an independent artist. Now as my music evolves, I feel a lot more confident with the decisions I make for myself, and I’m able to move through the business with more wisdom. I definitely know the impact that having a proper marketing and promotion plan can make on my work. I want my music to reach as many people as possible and with limited resources, I have to make sure to do the most that I can.”
Taking stock of other lessons she’s learned since beginning her career in 2018, Lynn shares that while there are extra pressures that independent artists face, there are also exceptional rewards. “Something I’ve had to face and overcome is how hard I am on myself. I really love what I do and take my craft very seriously so I want each project to be better than the last. That can be difficult, especially being an independent artist and not having the same resources that a major label provides; limited resources really are the biggest challenges that independent artists face. But, on the other side of that, being independent gives me total creative freedom. I still feel very fortunate to be able to record my music whenever I like.” Taking a more holistic approach to her music production, Lynn now records her new material in her home studio. “Prior to COVID, I was working out of Rio’s studio, and now I have a small studio space in my home that I record in. I honestly prefer it because, for me, home is my safe haven. When I’m needing a break, or if I’m frustrated with how my session is going, I can just go grab some tea and regroup in the comfort of my own space. It’s completely mine.”
With new music just released, and more on the way, Lynn is eager to get out of the studio and in front of fans for the first time in over two years. “I had only performed live once for a very intimate audience before COVID hit. It was an amazing experience, but I haven’t had the chance to do anything since. I really took that time away to study my artistry a lot more, so I can bring what I’ve learned back with me to live performance when the time comes. I still rehearse as if I’m going to perform live because I can’t wait to connect with my fans.”
Gabrielle’s latest single ‘Let Me Know‘ is now available on Spotify. Discover all of her latest music and follow her journey here.
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