Music's Week: What inspired you to start making music, and what was your earliest musical memory?
Gable Burnett: There was a heritage festival around the 4th of July in Knoxville when I was a little girl. There was a lot to do but I was interested in singing on the top of the hill in the outdoor amphitheater. It was a karaoke of situation where you could tell the band you wanted to sing and they would accompany you. I asked to sing “Tomorrow” from Annie, the one song the band didn’t know. I didn’t care though and sang it acoustically anyway! By the time I was done, a small crowd had gathered and I got some good applause. The organizers also gave me a goodie bag and told me I did a great job. After that, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.
Music's Week: How do you approach songwriting, and what do you think sets your songs apart from others in your genre?
Gable Burnett: I approach songwriting the same way I approach my life. From a place of adventure and authenticity. I write my songs based on my experiences and do my best to experience the most out of life.
I think what sets my songs apart from other writes is my willingness to write about everything. From small town gossip to my love life I write about it all! I’ve noticed a lot of other female country singer will only write love songs. Love songs can be so impactful and personal but there’s so much more to a person than who they’re in love with. Unfortunately, I feel like so many women in country music have been made to feel like our songs, our stories, don’t matter unless they are about some else. So many of us have been told that no one will be able to relate to any other part of our lives. I don’t think that’s true which is why I write about everything.
Music's Week: Can you tell us about your latest release? What was the inspiration behind it, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?
Gable Burnett: My latest song, Trouble, is about all of the trouble I got in as a little girl. I was insatiably curious which caused a lot of problems. I’d run away in public, stayed up all night and I even tricked my grandmothers friend into holding deer poop. I’ve been sharing the stories in all their glory over on social media.
The song is meant to be satire because even though I did things that got me in trouble it didn’t make me a troubled kid. Unfortunately, I still got that reputation.
I hope that people enjoy the song and maybe get a little laugh out of it!
Music's Week: Who are some of your musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound?
Gable Burnett: Because I grew up with streaming, I don’t have very many musical influences. I wasn’t limited by whatever CDs my parents owned or what was on the radio, I had an entire symphony at my fingertips. So I really had the chance to listen to everything from everyone and was able choose who I really loved. All that being said, I really only have two influences that consistently inspire my music. Dolly Parton and David Allen Coe.
Everyone else is on a song by song basis.
Music's Week: What's been the most surreal or exciting experience you've had as a musician?
Gable Burnett: The amount and love and appreciation the my music has gotten from people has been so surreal. I really didn’t think that people would have enjoyed it as much as they have. It’s been truly humbling and I’m so thankful.
Music's Week: How do you balance staying true to your artistic vision with the pressure to appeal to a wider audience?
Gable Burnett: It’s a really tricky task. When I first came to Nashville, everyone told me that there was no way I’d ever been successful making the kind of music I wanted to make. I didn’t listen to them and worked to find other people who shared my vision. Songwriter, producers, engineers and anyone else who I collaborate with has to be on the same initial page with me. Because we all share the same vision we’re able to work together to make something we enjoy that also fits what’s currently popular. It’s the best of both worlds!
Music's Week: How do you come up with your lyrics, and what themes do you often explore in your songs?
Gable Burnett: I think I included this answer in question 2! So please just refer to that <3
Music's Week: What's the most important lesson you've learned throughout your career, and how has it impacted your approach to music-making?
Gable Burnett: Chase your dreams while you have the chance! I can’t tell you how many older people who I’ve met that moved to Nashville to pursue their dreams as part of their retirement or because their adult children finally flew the nest. They just held on to that dream and the idea of “what if” for their entire life and couldn’t enjoy where they were because that dream was stuck in the back of their mind. Some of the incredibly talented people see little bits of success despite their age but never as much as they have if they’d just gone after their dreams when they were young. Watching that those people go through has really inspired me to go after my dreams with everything I have. That way, if for some reason it doesn’t work out, I can move on with my life with the peace of knowing it wasn’t meant to.
Music's Week: What do you think is the key to creating a successful music video, and how do you approach visual storytelling in your own videos?
Gable Burnett: I haven’t released a music video yet but I can tell you about visual storytelling though photography and fashion! It’s all very intentional. You have the be that way because you have so much to get across. With Trouble, for example, I intentionally went overboard with the cover and promotional photos. The police cruise, the buck skin coat and everything else was meant to play into the satire of the song.
Music's Week: Looking ahead, what are your goals for the next year or so, and what can we expect from your upcoming projects?
Gable Burnett: Overall, I’d really like to keep releasing music that people love. If we’re talking about specific goals though, I’d like to get to sing the national anthem for some professional sports teams and get to perform at The Grand Ole Opry.
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