Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabby Minton.
Hi Gabby, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I have been around music since before I was born. My dad is a musician as well, so me and my brother would grow up going to his gigs, watching him rehearse and record. I have always wanted to perform in front of people and knew it was possible from a very small age. I started playing guitar and violin when I was about 12. From that point on, I was the girl at the party in the corner with her guitar. As I got a bit older, I would start to play gigs in the Dallas area but took a 6-year hiatus when I had my sons, Hendrix and Kingston. It’s funny, for about the first 4 years of their life, Hen would get mad when I started to play, so I did not touch my instruments from 2016-2021. Once I started venturing out into Fort Worth, I was encouraged by one of my close friends (Hey Kim) to pick my guitar back up and perform, even if it’s just for an open mic. Jumping back into performing was terrifying, but Fort Worth has a very supportive music scene that made it way less scary. The way things have snowballed from 2021 until now are astounding to me. Before then, I had no music out and only a few people had heard my songs, and now I am nominated in the Fort Worth Weekly for Best Vocalist. It feels like I have been doing this forever, but also like I am a beginner in a lot of aspects and can’t wait to see where it all goes.
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?
I feel like it has been easier than some roads, but still a lot of obstacles. Not only being an independent artist, but also a single mother with a full-time job leads to lots of moving puzzle pieces in my daily routine. I cherish my village around me and could not do what I do without them.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. My songs start out as more or less of a therapy session with myself, stemming from my journal entries that touch very personal points throughout my life. “Sam” was written for my oldest son who is part of an open adoption. “Don’t Make A Sound” touches on domestic violence and mental health awareness. “Loopholes” and “Trash Day” touch on relationship turmoil. It sounds very cliché, but I really mean it when I say that I wear my hear on my sleeve. My hopes with every song is to have an open conversation with my fans. I live for the moment when someone comes up to me after a show and tells me how a certain song resonated with them or how they went through something similar. If at least one other person can see that someone else has gone through it too, my mission is accomplished.
If I had to pick one thing to be most proud of, I think it would be not giving up. I feel like I can speak for a lot of us when I say being a musician right now is hard (or even just a person in 2023) and breaking through with the way the music industry is set up is even harder (Looking at you, Spotify). Hopefully, one day royalties are where they should be, so all artists get compensated fairly and represented. I feel like you’ve always had to have a sincere love for performing to “make it make sense,” but now more than ever.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I could talk all day about how supportive Fort Worth has been. I grew up in Garland, so I didn’t really frequent the area until a few years back, and the close group of friends I have made are so special to me. Big shoutout to HearFortWorth for all of the support for artists. My Dad – who is also my drummer/sometimes soundman/number one fan. I have so much love for all the musicians out here too; Everyone does a great job of building each other up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/GabbyMinton
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gabbymintonmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabbyMintonMusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbyMinton
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GabbyMinton?sub_confirmation=1
- Other: https://gabbyminton.bandcamp.com/releases
Image Credits
Nance Perez
Louie Louies
Jenna Clark
Crooked2th Studios
Nick Gikasvo
