‘Afraid To Forget You’ is the brand new single from Los Angeles-based artist Gabriel Munoz, and it sees him walking a different sonic path from his previous club-ready dance tunes. With a gripping piano, powerful strings, and Gabriel’s heartrending vocals, the track swept me off my feet with its beauty.
I wanted to delve into the brain of the song’s creator and was stoked when Munoz agreed to an interview! Taking us through his creative process, some of his early influences, and what he would be if he wasn’t a musician, please give a big welcome to our new friend Gabriel Munoz!
Thanks so much for chatting with us Gabriel! It’s awesome to be able to introduce you to our ever-growing audience! Your first official release ‘Sayonara’ came out over two years ago and I’m wondering if you could give our readers a brief overview of what has led you to where you are today musically.
Thank you! It’s an honor to speak with you as well. ‘Sayonara’, along with the other songs on my EP ‘Ride’, are all carefree, fun pop songs that capture a younger time in my life. I just wanted to make fun music that wasn’t attached to any deep meaning, and that’s what that was and I still enjoy them. Now, after going through some life experiences, my heart feels a little more present in my music and has naturally changed the tone and sound.
I’m ashamed to admit that my introduction to your music came just a few days ago with your recent single ‘Afraid To Forget You’. It’s an absolutely beautiful little number! What does the song mean to you?
I really appreciate that! I’m glad you love the song and that was your introduction to my music. I’m really proud of that song. The song for me was a release of pent-up emotions that hosted a lot of grief and loss over the years. The tipping point was my parents’ separation after 20+ years together. That was the event in my life that helped me create that song, and so I hope it provides a space for people to listen and grieve over loss, and acknowledge that pain if they haven’t already.
We’re always intrigued by the different approaches that artists take when it comes to their creative process. Can you tell our readers a bit about yours? How do you take an idea and turn it into a complete song?
This is always such a fun question for me because it usually always happens one of two ways. The first is I get a hook idea, many times out of nowhere, and will write the song around that with the melody centered. Other times, I’ll have more concrete inspiration and start from scratch, from the first lyric to the last. After either of these scenarios, when I meet with the producer we create the vibe of the production from there until it’s finished.
Now, I know this is a toughie, and possibly like asking you to pick a favourite child, but which tune of yours are you most proud of to date, and why?
Oof, that is a toughie! I have to say, every time I listen to ‘Don’t Want Me’ it feels fresh. Like the first time I heard the final version back from my producer De’la. It’s a moody, danceable song and I think that’s kind of my overall vibe and signature style. It was the first song I released that was directly about someone and a situation I misread, so I’d say that one I’m most proud of.
Who would you credit, or give a shout-out to, for helping shape your overall musical soundscape? Who did you grow up listening to?
I listened to a lot of 90’s pop and R&B growing up, so I’d say some of the greats like Usher, Britney Spears, Brandy and Backstreet Boys are some of my really early influences. I’d get in trouble in class for singing and humming those songs out loud all the time! I also grew up singing in church, so that was definitely an influence on my slower-paced stuff as well.
Einstein famously said, “If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician.” If you were not a musician, what would you be?
I would definitely be an interior designer or a screenwriter. I love telling stories whether they be visual or written, and those are professions I thought of since junior high.
Which of your lyrics would you like to see printed on a T-shirt?
Probably some lines from my song ‘Fake Highs’. The opener could be really good; “does anybody even get eight hours of sleep anymore?” Or maybe “running on caffeine and trauma”. I feel like that’d be a hit!
Thank you so much for chatting with us Gabriel! I have no doubt that there are many more songs up your sleeve, and I truly can’t wait to hear what else you have in store! But, in a broader sense, what do you hope for in your musical future?
Thank you for chatting with me too! This was awesome. I definitely have more music coming, and my hope for my musical future is to just keep writing and recording, having fun, performing and just seeing where that all takes me!
