Today we’d like to introduce you to Gal Musette.
Hi Gal, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in a town called San Juan Capistrano, south of LA. When I was younger, I danced as I didn’t play any instruments, but I started playing piano when I was ten years old when my grandpa noticed my interest in playing his piano. Around that time he started teaching me his favorite standards like “Blue Moon,” “Chloe ” and more in his ragtime style. After he taught me some of the classics, I went about writing my first few songs with the chords I stole from them, but I only knew one key, the key of F#, because that’s the only key my grandpa knew, he called them the black keys.
When I was around 13, I started a project under the pseudonym Gal Musette, to keep my music a secret from school friends. My goal was to write and record 70 love songs in tribute to the Magnetic Fields, my favorite band at the time, and around song 30, had the unreal and incredible experience of opening for them on some of their Midwestern tour dates, (special thanks to Claudia Gonson for that one.) Between then and 2021, there was a big gap in releasing music. I joined various bands, some original and some cover groups, but teaching music took priority as my career focus for a while. It wasn’t until 2021 that I released my first record, which was produced by Jon O’Brien, and on October 6th, we released our second collaboration, my sophomore LP Pendulum. In 2022, I moved to LA, where I feel I have found a true home and community of artists who have inspired me to pursue writing, recording, and performing full-time. One of the most special outlets and communities I have found since I moved here is the Open Folk community, based at Hotel Cafe and hosted by talented producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (guitarist, singer, mandolin, bassist, violinist… you name it) Fede Petro. It has been a beautiful awakening to find how many hardworking, pure, and devoted musicians there are in the heart of LA.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have absolutely been ups and downs, as I imagine any artist faces at some point. There is certainly a learning curve for independent artists to find their own way, and I’m still on that journey. My personal experience in the music industry has been at times demeaning, at times discouraging, but I’ve found that there is room and an audience for all art, no matter how niche it is. I am so incredibly grateful to be building a relationship with mine.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My two records and one EP that I have collaborated on with my producer Jon O’Brien are my proudest achievements. Although I am a piano-based artist and have spent most of my time on stage (an in general) over the years performing by myself, Jon has created a world for these songs soaked in harmonies, space echo, mellotron, vibraphone, drum machines, and connected me with mind blowing musicians, to name a few are: thereminist and multi-instrumentalist Via Mardot, drummer Levi Matulis, and drummer/percussionist Adam Bradley Schreiber, who brought my songs to life with their unique talents. On my next record, I’m thrilled to be bringing in some musicians who I met through Open Folk and have become a huge part of the live show, singers Amanda Carson and Daisy Abrams (both amazing songwriters and musicians,) David Landau (wonderful cellist and songwriter) and Fede Petro (raved about him and his numerous talents earlier.)
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Playing Rummy with my grandpa and sister comes to mind❤️
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.galmusettemusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galmusette/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@GalMusette?si=AeHqrvFFbPRfuYys
- Other: https://spotify.link/7FsTOt76MDb
Image Credits
All photos were taking by Alex K Justice, and my album cover was graphic designed by Elisha Zepeda.
