- / Design e Architettura
L’uso dei materiali e il catalogo per Angelo Mangiarotti: la forma non si impone ma si ottiene per incastri, gravità e resistenza. Il libro Framing the Project (Corraini) ne ripercorre il gesto
ISSUE NO. 31
Gavriel’s musical evolution traces back to his pre-teen years spent exploring and creating music, culminating in his latest EP Luxe. «I had some help on a few tracks, but most of them are fully me. Each song comes from a specific part of my life, capturing the emotions I was feeling at that time. They’re all personal and meaningful» he explains.
Gavriel started crafting and experimenting with sounds at a young age, initially using GarageBand and Magix Music Maker. Reflecting on this period, he recalls: «When I was younger, I preferred instrumental music, listening to songs more for their feeling and chords rather than the lyrics. I love chords and melodies. At some point, after meeting my current A&R, I got some clarity and started to focus on structure and words as well»
Today, Gavriel’s approach to music production is based on rejecting pre-set frameworks. He prefers to learn through hands-on experimentation: «I love creating things from scratch» he shares. «I hate templates and tutorials. I never watch them unless I need to learn one specific thing. I prefer to figure things out by doing».
«I’m never excited about things. You can ask anyone that’s close to me. Emotionally, I don’t feel a lot inside». This emotional detachment contrasts with the depth of feeling conveyed in his compositions. «Music allows me to capture and replay my emotions, providing a cathartic experience. It’s about finding that melancholic yet uplifting feeling that can make you cry and smile simultaneously» he elaborates.
One of his tracks, Better Than Therapy, encapsulates this duality. «It’s the oldest song on the album and came from a low point in my life. Hearing myself express and overcome those emotions feels cathartic» he explains. His music offers a space where vulnerability and strength coexist, allowing him to process and articulate feelings that he might otherwise struggle to express.
Luxe embodies Gavriel’s blend of professionalism and DIY spirit, reflecting his discovery of what he calls “expensive-sounding music”. His concept of “Lo-Fi Luxury”, central to the EP’s title, encapsulates his philosophy: «It’s about meticulously crafting music, often in my bedroom,» he explains. «It’s lo-fi luxury in my opinion. Putting together lo-fi aspects in the most expensive way, because I’m not in a huge studio. Most of my music is made in my bedroom, in my pajamas. It’s not glamorous, but music can be a manifestation of shiny things».
Discussing creative environments, Gavriel emphasizes how spaces shape his music: «Every environment has an energy that influences the music you create,» he observes. «Bedrooms offer certain accessible energies that studios cannot, and vice versa». This awareness extends to his performances, such as his appearance at the Berlinale in February 2022: «Performing at the art and fashion house Quartier 206, full of movie stars, then going home with the U-Bahn to my apartment in Kreuzberg with a bunch of crackheads outside, felt like a lo-fi luxe experience» he reflects. «After the Berlinale, I realized how spaces impact the energy flow during a performance. It’s about capturing and channeling those energies» he explains.
Freedom and openness are at the core of Gavriel’s identity as an artist, allowing him to explore and innovate without constraints. «Berlin’s DIY ethos and freedom have inspired me to create music without borders», he explains.
His music diverges from Berlin’s predominant music scene. «Berlin is known for techno and classical music, but there’s a scene for R&B and jazz, which I deeply connect with. My introduction to performing live was through my friend Johnny Kulo’s event, ‘Family Dinner,’ where he curated a blend of R&B, jazz, and other non-techno musicians», he recalls.
Creating music that isn’t associated with the mainstream Berlin music scene poses challenges for Gavriel. «People listen to my music and feel like I shouldn’t be here,» he laughs. «But I see it as a strength. I’m doing American music fully in Berlin, and it’s a unicorn thing. It reflects modern international globalization». Despite feeling like an outsider at times, he embraces his position and the influences that shape his sound.
Fashion plays a role in Gavriel’s artistic expression. «I started wearing clothes that made me feel a certain way,» he says. «Fashion, much like music, has the power to convey feelings». Working with his styling team, Gavriel has learned to express his feelings through his clothing, aligning his visual identity with his musical one. «My dad’s German, and my mom’s American, so I have a mixed cultural background. I like to take some American vintage clothes and blend them with European style».
His “feathered cornrows” hairstyle, a blend of cultural influences, further represents his commitment to personal expression. «It’s about blending my German-American and black-white identity» he notes, underscoring how his hairstyle serves as a visual representation of his layered identity.
Collaborating with fashion houses has provided Gavriel with exposure and connections. «Doing English music in Germany is challenging,» he acknowledges. «However, collaborating with the fashion world has helped me reach tastemakers and influencers, allowing my music to resonate with a broader diverse crowd».
Among them, Gavriel mentions his collaboration with 032c at Paris Fashion Week in 2023. Reflecting on the experience, he shared, «032c invited me to their first event at Paris Fashion Week. Initially, they wanted me to perform on a runway, but they opted for a showroom and a video». Gavriel suggested writing a new song for them, and within a week, he produced a track they loved. They shot a music video using theatrics like flips over a mattress and singing directly with the crowd. «I love the versatility of these performances, being down with the people and getting close to them» he said, highlighting his preference over stage shows.
When discussing AI technologies, Gavriel reflects on his ongoing experimentation in music production. He recalls using AI to create a track featuring 24 artists such as Taylor Swift, Lil Uzi Vert, and Kanye West. While acknowledging AI’s capability to generate music, he emphasizes its limitations: «It can get kind of demotivating sometimes when you make a song, and then you’re like: “Well, hey, I could have generated this”. But in the end, AI is just a computer brain—it lacks taste. Human input is essential».
The artist views AI as a tool that can enhance creativity, yet he insists on the necessity of human touch and taste to craft meaningful art. «I’m not scared of it at all. Ultimately, AI can’t perform». This perspective underscores the balance between technology and human intuition in his approach, ensuring authenticity in his approach.
Gavriel is steadfast in maintaining confidence in his work and aims to inspire others to do the same, underscoring the transformative power of self-assurance. «Confidence is key» he asserts. «When you’re confident about something, people will accept it. I want my music to instill confidence in others, encouraging them to stay true to themselves». He seeks to create a deep connection between his emotions and his music, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in his feelings. «I want them to feel like they’re stepping into my body and experiencing my emotions when they put on headphones» he explains.
Describing his approach to music as akin to wearing a skin suit, Gavriel elaborates: «When you have creative input on every aspect—from vocal compression and guitar style to lyrics, artwork, delivery, and live performances—music becomes a ‘skin suit’». This philosophy permeates every facet of his artistic expression, from production to live shows, reinforcing his commitment to authenticity and emotional resonance.
ISSUE NO. 31
Lampoon is a cultural magazine.
Culture today means sustainability – in its honest meaning.
Culture has always been about human respect, tolerance. It’s not only about accepting human diversity but it’s about searching for the beauty of every human peculiarity.
Inclusion is the first value that defines art. Culture today means one thing only: to be part of a community, to think as a community.
Reading Lampoon, you see that these themes are smoothly aligned. A good part of the articles’ content discusses practices to restore our environment and stories about understanding the others.
Reading Lampoon, you find a dialogue between science and creativity. From sharp and edgy photo sessions to fashion, architecture, technology – the commitment is dedicated to a future that is all about us – together.
LAMPOONMAGAZINE.COM is an independent online magazine, properly listed at the Milan Court Register of Press, number 407 / 19 December 2014
The magazine is released by LAMPOON PUBLISHING HOUSE S.r.L.
Italian VAT number 08934300966 – Milan R.E.A. (Economic and Administrative Index) number 2057081 – Italian R.O.C. (Register of Operators in the Communication Field) number 26800 / 8 November 2016 – Copyright 2019 © Lampoon Publishing House. All rights reserved.
