A new week, and a brand new Track of the Week is here for your listening enjoyment!
BIMM Bristol’s Gabriel Templar released “Going Out Tonight” on New Year’s Day. Give it a listen and find out more about the track below.
What was your inspiration when you began writing the track?
I wrote “Going Out Tonight” at the end of 2019 after going through the process of a rough breakup with my ex-girlfriend. She had just started University in London and she slowly drifted away and had a lot less time for me, putting me in a position where I questioned if my girlfriend loved me anymore. She changed. I was heartbroken and writing this song was my way of coping.
Are there any artists that inspire you when writing?
The genres of my biggest inspirations seem to be completely juxtaposed from each other. The Beatles are a massive influence, along with many other bands and artists from the 50s and 60s. I’m also inspired by indie/rock music. Artists and bands such as Arctic Monkeys, The Happy Fits, Two Door Cinema Club and many more have had a massive impact on the songs I’ve written. Lastly, I’m also a massive fan of Eminem and some other hip-hop artists, and so I tend to include rap verses or fast lyrics in several songs.
What is key to your sound and how do you make your music stand out?
My sound is made up of many inspirations and influences, as previously mentioned. If I had to label my music as a genre, I’d call it indie-pop, although I sometimes struggle to find what it fits perfectly under.
I have a band play for me, which gives my music that upbeat, energetic indie sound. However, I like to include influences from ska and hip-hop to my sound by adding offbeat sections to my songs as well as rap verses. My chord progressions and melody style is heavily influenced by 60s music, as I believe that was the era where music was highly catchy and memorable.
How does your songwriting process work?
Usually, I’d come up with chords before anything else. I believe there’s such a thing as having ‘catchy chords’ as I’d struggle to write a memorable melody over chords that were seen as boring and overused. Next, I’d think of the melody and it usually comes quite naturally depending on the vibe of the song.
Lyrics are what I struggle with the most, but again, it depends on the vibe. If I write a slow song, I’ll probably give it emotional lyrics. If I write a song that has an obvious dance feel to it, I’ll probably write lyrics based on partying, etc. Sometimes, I like to use a method where I juxtapose lyrics so they’re the complete opposite (e.g. uplifting/happy energy with sad and emotional lyrics).
Describe your sound in three words…
Catchy, uplifting, energetic.
How has studying at BIMM helped you develop as an artist?
Studying at BIMM has really benefited me as an artist! Not only has it given me opportunities to play in local venues, but it’s allowed me to connect and collaborate with other musicians who are in a similar position to me. Starting a band would be something I’ve taken from BIMM that has really helped me discover my sound and develop as an artist.
What’s next for you?
Once the virus has eased and venues open, I will get gigging again and hopefully perform at some festivals, but in the meantime, I’ll be releasing some more music along with promoting myself as an artist through TikTok. I’ve managed to earn 600k followers on TikTok, which gives me the huge benefit of promoting new songs!
