After establishing her place as one of London’s more exciting producers on the rise, Gabriella Bongo recently delivered her anthemic new single ‘All Or Nothing’.

Teaming up with Liam Bailey for the new release, ‘All Or Nothing’ has quickly cemented her as a true pioneer on the capital’s DnB scene right now. So we caught up with her to discover more about her influences and what has been inspiring her sound.

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Can you tell us a bit about your musical background and how you got started in music?

As a child, I always loved watching music channels like MTV, Vevo and Channel AKA. I also really enjoyed the primary school choir and was often made to do solos sometimes. My voice was my first instrument. I started teaching myself the piano and when my mum got me an iPad, I began to explore production on Garageband. Ever since then I’ve been writing, playing, and producing.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences, both past and present?

Rudimental are a huge influence for me and made me fall in love with drum & bass as a kid. The fact that they are still doing so well now is also so good to see. It was also insane to meet Piers in their studio! I also think Fraser T Smith is probably one of my favourite writer-producers, I really admire his versatility across genres and his longevity in this industry. 

Are there any specific artists or bands that have had a significant impact on your music style or approach?

For my upcoming debut EP, Dogger was my mix engineer and also added some additional production. I learnt so much from him particularly when it came to sound selection and parallel processing.  London Grammar serve as a huge reference point for me when it comes to the arrangement of my songs and how they move like a movie. Hybrid Minds create great ambience in their tracks which I feel I’ve really been exploring recently. 

Could you share any memorable moments or experiences that have shaped your musical journey so far?

Performing an original drum & bass track with a 96 piece orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall was definitely up there for me. It was really encouraging to know that my writing and production could be brought to a stage like that and be enjoyed by the audience. I also would definitely say being part of Apple’s 2021 Creative Studios London cohort. I met so many industry legends and that programme was quite a turning point for me – it made me realise I can do this professionally. 

How do you express your personal experiences and identity through your music?

I never actually go into a session with an idea or experience in mind to write about. But what I find so magical about writing is that once the song is done, I actually realise that I’ve just unconsciously written about something I’ve been feeling/experienced recently. I would say my identity definitely comes across through the genres I make as very ‘London’ and relatable lyrics about common emotions/experiences. 

Have you faced any challenges or obstacles as a female musician, and if so, how have you overcome them?

I’m someone that’s had to deal with being the only girl for quite a while. Especially in my Music Technology classes in school and now my Music Production class at university. I’ve honestly never had too much trouble but I have noticed that as a female, particularly in the production seat, you’re often not taken as seriously as men straight off the bat. Additionally, I do feel like there is more of a focus on your physical appearance as a female to determine whether or not people take an interest in you musically, whereas it’s definitely not the case for men.     

Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?

Not particularly – I just want to be authentic and showcase that in a multitude of ways. Real life and real feelings. 

Can you talk about your creative process and how you go about writing and producing your music?

I love a morning session – I think I’m at my prime at the start of the day. I write to minimal production – often bare piano chords with some ambient atmospheres. I always believe in vocal melody first so normally I like to get that down and then start to produce around that while writing lyrics. I really strive to always have my session demos done to a good quality because you never know who will hear them. I also like to be honest with myself and with others – if someone isn’t feeling something during the session then I like for them to be vocal about it. If I’m not too keen on an idea, I need to be honest with myself and come back to it another day.

How do you hope your music will resonate with your audience, especially with other aspiring female musicians?

I just hope it encourages people to do what they love and block out the noise. Making music isn’t only about the audience but it’s also about the people you meet along the way. Co-writers, teachers, stage runners, session musicians and the whole lot. Just enjoy the community – don’t make it a competition. If people like you for who you are and your music, they will support you. Also take advantage of your disadvantages – particularly for minority/disadvantaged groups, there are a load of schemes out there looking for people like you. 

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Listen to Gabriella Bongo’s new single ‘All Or Nothing’ ft. Liam Bailey below.