Gabriella Cilmi: Embracing Change and Musical Evolution

As Gabriella Cilmi reflects on her career, it’s clear that her journey has been marked by significant growth and transformation. Over a decade has passed since the release of her debut album, Lessons to Be Learned. Looking back, Cilmi observes that the music industry has undergone a dramatic shift. “The way we consume music has completely changed,” she notes, highlighting the transition from the era of illegal downloading to the current dominance of streaming services. Despite this shift, Cilmi has maintained a personal connection to physical media, finding joy in collecting vinyl records, which she believes sound superior to digital formats.

Cilmi’s second album, Ten, was a period of experimentation and personal challenge. Reflecting on that time, she admits, “I had just turned 18 and unfortunately I was no exception to the timeless ‘Girl comes of age, make her an all singing, all dancing, sexy robot’ narrative that the music industry so often re-writes.” Despite the pressures and challenges, she acknowledges that there were standout tracks on the album, particularly noting her inspiration from Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer for the song “Love Me Cos You Want To.”

The release of her new EP, The Water, marks a significant return to solo artistry. During her time away, Cilmi engaged in a variety of creative endeavors, including starting a band and immersing herself in Americana music. “I discovered Americana and started listening to Gram Parsons and The Band,” she explains. This exploration of new musical influences helped shape the EP’s country-infused sound. Cilmi cites Janis Joplin’s version of “Me and Bobby McGee” as a key inspiration for the EP, revealing that she sings it before performances as a sort of personal good luck charm.

The early success of Lessons to Be Learned was a whirlwind experience for the young artist. Cilmi remembers the excitement and nerves of performing on Later with Jools Holland, saying, “I couldn’t believe it, I had always watched my favourite artists perform on that show and to be there on set was completely surreal.” She reflects on the challenges of balancing performance with promotional duties and the overall learning curve of her early career.

If she could offer advice to her younger self from 2008, Cilmi would emphasize enjoying the moment and trusting her instincts. “I would give her a big hug and a glass of Milo milk and tell her to enjoy the moment, don’t be too hard on yourself and follow your intuition as it’s your greatest tool,” she shares. She also fondly recalls meeting Robert Plant, her hero from Led Zeppelin, suggesting she might have been too starstruck to fully articulate her excitement.

Among the tracks on The Water, Cilmi’s favorite is “Forgiveness,” which she describes as coming together quickly and embodying a traditional, simple beauty. The song’s creation involved a meaningful collaboration with her brother, incorporating influences from Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris.

Cilmi’s fun collaboration with The Sims video game, where she performed one of her songs in Simlish, was a highlight. She found it amusing and a refreshing change from typical promotional activities. “It was a little difficult, but it did make me laugh, especially the chorus ‘Sneedi boom wa’ and the sneaky ‘yibs’ instead of ‘yeah’ at the end of the chorus!” she recounts with a smile.

Looking forward, Cilmi expresses interest in working with The Felice Brothers, a folk/rock band she admires. She also emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and persistence in songwriting, believing that “a bit of luck and divine intervention” can lead to creating something truly memorable.

As for recent listening, Cilmi mentions enjoying Raoui by Souad Massi, an Algerian folk artist whose work she finds wonderful. When asked if there’s anything else she wishes had been covered in the conversation, Cilmi simply appreciates the thoughtful questions and excitedly shares a forthcoming performance: “I’m playing a gig next year at ‘Oslo,’ Hackney in London on the 27th of May!”

Lead image credit: Jess Brohier