Gabby Young

Tell us something about Gabby Young And Other Animals?

We are a troupe of 8 London musicians who can't sit still and have to make music and gig our socks off!

A brief history of how the band started?

I have been writing songs and doing shows by myself for a few years.
The band started as drawing on scraps of paper and over time grew into a motley crew of failed acrobats, injured sword swallowers and more than a few clowns.

What kind of "Animals" do you have in your band?

Wild animals!! Some of our animals haven't even been classified yet! There's a complete mixture of people in this band - we are like one big random dysfunctional family!

We really love your sound. Describe it in a few words?

Thankyou! ok a few words… twisted circus swing!
This is your first album with The Other Animals, and you had two solo before. What are the main differences between now and then?

I have definitely grown up and learnt from my mistakes- I produced the first 2 by myself and friends with a very very low budget - in fact half of the tracks were recorded in my bedroom. So having an amazing producer, Dean James, and a proper commercial recording studio really changed things and opened up a world of possibilities- I was like a kid in a candy shop when I got into the studio. Also I am lucky enough to have Stephen Ellis (from Revere) working with me on the arrangements of the songs which brought them all to a new level. He made my little ditties into masterpieces!

You re-record two songs from "Mole". Why did you chose those two?

I personally think they are 2 of my strongest songs and I didn't do them justice first time round. I have been playing them both live for years and they have changed a lot and I wanted to put that down on tape.

You have your own "style blog". Are there any plans for creating your own clothes?

Aha! There are indeed - I am working on a line of accessories and items for my new line - GabberDasher which will be online next year so watch this space!

Through your web site anyone can become "An Animal". How many "Animals" are there in the world right now?

It actually changes every day - we are adding people all the time - it's definitely in the hundreds and we are happy and thankful to have everyone on board with this exciting project.

Are there any song that you would like to cover and any artist that you would like to play with?

"Minnie The Moocher" by Cab Calloway - I'd love to do a huge big band version of this- but not the same as the original - it's just a jumping off point! I would love to play with Ani DiFranco - she is an incredible singer, musician, spirit and lyricist and I would love her to give me some guitar tips!!

Song/album that changed your life?

'Grace' by Jeff Buckley -I was going to be an opera singer until I heard this album. The song 'Lover You Should've Come Over' is the most beautiful I have ever heard a recorded voice and nothing will ever come close.

What do you think about Myspace, Facebook and other sites for promotion of music?

I am all for them - the give us all so many opportunities to reach the world by ourselves with a label, a producer, a studio, a PR team - just in our room posting demos to the world on myspace- that is how I started my career. I love Facebook as I have reconnected with old school friends as well as chatted to new fans from Australia!



What do you listen when you're at home, on tour, right now…?

I am addicted to REVERE - I won't go a day without hearing them - they are epic yet fragile, dark yet uplifting and always inspire me. Other than that I love lots of different artists- early Jazz makes me go crazy and all excited about life especially Louis Prima and I have a huge collection of female singer/songwriters -Feist, Imogen Heap and Cat Power being top of my list right now.

Tell me something I would never guess about you?

It took me SEVEN attempts to pass my driving test!!

pedja // 21/12/2009