Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Gabe.
Hi Briana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always been a music fan, and when I was 8 my family realized I could sing. They pushed me to keep exploring that interest, and I was performing wherever I could: small festivals, school events, and my dad’s work events. In the meantime, I found a passion for writing and realized I could write to music and create real songs. I continued writing and singing for a few years, but my main focus was actually on golf. Once I earned a golf scholarship to Daytona State, I decided to major in music production. Since I’ve been in this program, I’ve been able to share the songs I’ve written with so many more people, and I’ve started to produce with my other classmates. It has been difficult to balance being a college athlete and majoring in such a hands-on program, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. My sophomore year of college, I became the Music Industry Club Vice President. This club has helped us work together on so many projects and greatly expanded our skills. I have since earned a golf scholarship to play for Belmont University in Nashville in the fall of 2022 after I graduate from Daytona State. I will be majoring in audio engineering there and will be continuing to write and produce. This summer I will be interning at my church to be involved in worship leading, and all of the audio engineering behind it. I cannot wait to see what the future holds, and I am so grateful for all the people who have pushed me to become a better artist.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been some struggles with balancing golf and music. Music has always been a passion of mine, but it was difficult to find the mindset that it could be a priority. In my high school everyone had plans to be a lawyer or scientist, and I felt as though pursuing a career in music was impossible. Music always felt like a side pursuit, and golf constantly held a priority in my life. As it worked out, golf brought me amazing music opportunities like being able to attend Belmont University. Once I convinced myself that it is okay to prioritize music, I was able to write so many more songs and produce content I am proud of. I think I have finally found a good balance of golf and music.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a singer-songwriter, and I would say I specialize in songwriting. If one of my classmates needs help with writing a song, they will often come to me because I have such a great passion for it. I am most proud of the most recent songs I have written, which I debuted at The Apartment Sessions. The Apartment Sessions are an open mic night my friends Livestream on YouTube every other Thursday. It is a great way for us to learn more about live sound while also giving us a place to perform. I think what separates me from others is that I write from a very honest place, and I try to find ways to convey what I am feeling without saying it directly. I like to use hyperboles and metaphors in my songs, and I like for it to take a few listens to find the deeper meaning. I get this style of writing from some of the songwriters I grew up listening to such as Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Adele.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a very quiet kid and mostly kept to myself. We moved a lot, so I put more of my focus into hobbies than I did making friends. I was always interested in athletics, but I would also implement music into my everyday activities. I was constantly studying, and while I studied, I would write songs to help me remember the content. For one class in fourth grade, I had to memorize all the countries in Europe, and I wrote a song to help me remember. I was interested in choir, but I didn’t like that I couldn’t put my own spin on the songs we sang, so I didn’t pursue it after middle school. In fifth grade, I submitted a song I wrote about bullying to a “Reflections” competition and won an award at the state level. This small win gave me the courage to keep writing and pursuing my craft. Ultimately, everything I was interested in growing up showed my parents that my passion for music was very real.
Image Credits
Samuel James
