Gabriela Talks Latest Single ‘Most Wanted’
If you really want to put on a show, you can’t be afraid to go over the top. Pound the drums as hard as possible, make the six-string squeal, and write about big emotions in bold, colorful language. If you’re going to sing, you’ve got to make sure everybody can hear you. That’s never been a problem for Gabriela, possessor of one of the mightiest voices in the business. On “Most Wanted,” her latest single, she doesn’t merely reach notes — and emotional territory — that most singers never could. She performs with absolute confidence, tremendous skill, and the unshakable conviction that every measure and line is an opportunity to thrill the listener.
She’s had plenty of experience with that. Gabriela sings with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, specialists in dramatic seasonal entertainment and purveyors of symphonic grandeur and rock crunch. To compete with that battery of strings, horns, and wailing guitars, a vocalist must cultivate power and presence. Gabriela applies what she’s learned to her sensational solo work: songs that share the cinematic force of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra but fit perfectly on a contemporary playlist. “Most Wanted” splits the difference between modern pop-punk and ’80s glam rock, and Gabriela blows through the track like a summer storm. With every chorus, and every line, she pushes harder and soars higher; expect to be breathless by the end of the song.
To match “Most Wanted” with a video that amplifies that excitement, she’s turned to another glam-rock veteran whose flexibility and vision have been emphatically demonstrated over the past two decades. It’s hard to say whether Nuno Bettencourt is better known as the guitarist from the hard rock and glam-metal band Extreme or as Rihanna’s most reliable accomplice; regardless, he’s shown he’s an ace filmmaker, too. His clip for “Most Wanted,” directed with his partner Rene Regal, brings Gabriela back to the lo-tech era of garage-rock bands and brash attitude.
Everything in the clip is vintage — the musical instruments and the amplifiers, the fashions, the low-rise bicycles, the live presentation. Gabriela dresses the part: she’s got clips in her hair, little peach sneakers, a gummy-bear necklace, and a t-shirt advertising the Bratz dolls. She leads her suburban band through the song like a budding neighborhood rock star, and her friends are there to cheer her on. Yet there’s an intimation that this isn’t really a glimpse into a time gone by. The street looks modern, as do the cars. The message is clear: Gabriela and the gang have chosen to highlight the best and most colorful elements of the past, and they’re bringing them forward to invigorate the present.
How did you first get into making music? What pivotal moments shaped your approach to music?
I got started in the music industry at a very young age. My first live performance was at 7 years-old in a rock club in Cranston, Rhode Island and I knew from that moment on that I basically never wanted to leave the stage.
What is it like working with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra? How did this collaboration come to be?
Being a part of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a dream come true. I grew up listening to TSO on my local radio stations in Massachusetts, especially during the holiday’s and they became such a huge part of my childhood, so to now be a member of the band as an adult is pretty wild. I was brought into the TSO world a couple years ago as I have some friends who have been touring with them for years. They thought I would be a great addition and they set up a meeting – and the rest is history!
How do you think your sound and music has evolved through your career?
Getting my start in music so young has given me the opportunity to try different things and take the time to find myself as an artist. My musical influences have always been very versatile and I have so many different artists in my heart and so it took me a while to figure out how to hone in on those influences while also standing on my own two feet and creating my own sound. My sound has changed many times through the years – but it’s been a natural process of figuring out who “Gabriela” truly is.
How would you describe your sound? What has it been inspired by?
I grew up listening to everything from Motley Crue and Alice In Chains to the Bee Gees, Britney Spears and Broadway soundtracks. So, what do you get when you mix it all together? You somehow get a punky rock chick who wants to sing you the entire score of Jesus Christ Superstar… idk it’s a vibe.
What is “Most Wanted” about? What was the creative process behind this track?
Women are badass and there should be way more songs about that…. So we wrote one. Girl Power!
What was it like shooting the “Most Wanted” video? What was your favorite scene to shoot?
Honestly, shooting Most Wanted was probably one of my favorite days on a set so far in my career. Everyone on set had this vibe of just having a good time and not taking ourselves seriously, plus I got to kick the camera right in the face. My favorite scene? That’s hard because I loved being able to just jam out in the garage and give zero you know what’s…. But then there was the slip n’ slide scene.
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About the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
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Jamaican Dancehall Phenom Masicka Unveils Music Video For New Single “Most Wanted” →
