Meet Latin Pop’s Rising High Priestess GALE
By Michelle Rose @heymichellerose
GALE, Latin pop sensation arrives just in time for the summer heat and dance party mayhem with her debut album “Lo Que No Te Dije ” out now via Sony Music. A fist-pumping, body grooving soundtrack for a “cruel to be kind” never-ending summer, get ready to shift into sonic sensory overload with an array of genre-bending high voltage Latin Pop bangers.
“Lo Que No Te Dije ” serves catharsis on a silver platter with an extremely spicy double picante. These infectious melodies and hypnotic beats will transform any Brooklyn rooftop party into an MTV’s Y2K Cancun fever dream; hip-shaking beats, feet stomping, sweat beads of shimmering sass dripping down your neck – hold onto your puka shell or Mudd pearls! A seasoned songwriter, GALE has been putting in the hours working behind the scenes with musical icons like Christina Aguilera and Marshmello (just to name a few).
Stepping into the limelight, GALE serves up toe-tapping empowerment anthems, while staying true to her narrative craft of writing from core vulnerability and personal experiences. “Lo Que No Te Dije ” embodies fearlessness, a coy and subtle self-awareness, eloquent sensuality, stoic grace, and mild shock value. Far surpassing your run-of-the-mill “break up then break down” ballads, GALE brings dramedy (finally someone made a song about unsolicited dick pics). Heavily influenced by the emo and pop punk era of the 00s,’ the record alchemizes wakes us up to the not-so-trivial experience of love, loss, lust, and pursuit of true romance.
Be ready to soak up the sun with “Lo Que No Te Dije” on repeat.
Our high priestess sun goddess GALE has arrived, with unwavering confidence and magnetic agency, and she’s here to stay. I had the pleasure of chatting with the rising star on her mystical and transformative breakthrough musical journey of 2023.
Featured Interview:
How does it feel to finally arrive at this milestone in your career to release your debut album “Lo Que No Te Dije” with Sony Music?
I feel so excited, grateful, and inspired. This album is my dream. I and my team have worked on it so much… It’s a blessing to see it finally out in the world and read everyone’s messages about it and how they’re connecting with the songs.
How would you describe your evolution from the topline writing world with Warner Chappell and working on your own project? Can you discuss stepping out of the networking behind-the-scenes session world and claiming your place front and center as a singer?
It’s weird because I always wanted to have my project as an artist, and write my songs and share them with the world, it’s just that my process started with writing with/for other artists. But no doubt ever, this, right now, is the moment I’ve been preparing for it my whole life. Every decision, every class, every musical theater show, every song written by myself in my room has prepared me for this Moment. In the beginning writing for other artists, and still now, it’s a learning & inspiring process. I also understood the role of being the listener in the room and helping the artist put their feelings into words and melodies… Now, writing for myself, it’s always a cathartic experience. Always scary, vulnerable, and magical. I love it so much.
Have you ever left a co-writing session and felt the song was destined to be your break-out anthem?
Never, ever. I love this question though. To me, it feels like acting. From the moment I step into the studio (if I’m writing with other artists), I understand the role I’m playing there (being a songwriter). I focus on helping the artist express their feelings. It feels like therapy. If you’re lucky to work with an artist that’s not afraid of sharing how they feel, the first two hours will be a conversation, and hopefully, from there, you get the inspiration for what you’ll write that day or at least the vibes. Writing for myself is different. It’s very personal. I say things how I wanna say them, with my own style and melodies… When writing for other artists, I study them. So every suggestion I’m making is going through my own filter of that artist.
What advice would you offer other female writers on the journey of venturing out of the publishing world and stepping into the recording and performance industry?
Be honest with who you are, have a plan, trust your vision, be curious, and learn how to love the process.
Can you talk a bit about the experience of hearing Christina Aguilera track a song you wrote?
It was such a beautiful experience. I wrote “SANTO” during the pandemic via Zoom with the producers, and I immediately felt that song was special. I’m so happy she loved it and made it hers, and that the feature is Ozuna, who’s from Puerto Rico too. I also really enjoyed being in the studio with her creating “Brujería” which ended up in her album as well. She’s been one of my inspirations growing up, so it was definitely a full-circle moment.
Latin music has been on an enormous upswing on the streaming and radio charts,
including many moments for music you’ve written for others and your own project. How does it feel to have songs like “El Merengue” (written for Marshmello and Manuel Turizo) and “Nuestra Canción” from your own album both rising on the Latin Airplay charts at the same time?
It’s such an incredible feeling!!! To think that something so personal could resonate with people who support me, listen to the music, and find a little bit of themselves in the songs… It’s the best feeling in the world.
Who were your main musical influences growing up as a child?
Shakira, Avril Lavigne, Selena Quintanilla, Britney, Daddy Yankee, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani. A lot of Girl Power.
Who has been your main musical mentor or rock throughout your career?
I would have to say my Papi (stepdad), who passed away last year from cancer. I miss him every day. He was not a musician, he was a CFO at an Advertising company, but he oversaw everything regarding my career and was the one who taught me how to do things with fear, make bold decisions, and believe in myself. I would also have to say my mom, for always being there for me; my dad for gifting me with music, and Juanes for the best career and music advice and for also believing in me.
What is your creative process for expanding and tapping into your authentic vulnerability in your songwriting process?
I’ll never take this process for granted because I honestly love it. It’s scary, honest, and fun at the same time. I always try to connect with the music first, with some chords, and start working from there with the producer. Then I like to improvise with some melodies based on the color and vibe of the chords, and then I start opening that portal to my feelings and try to stay as honest and vulnerable as possible.
What was the process for creating your single “La Mitad” and creating the visual world of the song?
I was going through a breakup at that exact moment when writing the song. I remember being nervous writing it… It’s always nerve-wracking when writing a song so vulnerable like this one. I remember we all cried in the studio. I wrote this one with my go-to writer Dani Blau. I love her and I feel so comfortable sharing my feelings with her. The song says a lot of specific literal things like every line in the first verse, which paints a picture of what I was going through, and it’s about understanding that at the end of a relationship, a part of you will always stay with that person. I wanted the video to be like a movie, dancing between the past and the present. The director is Mateo García (@teograph), the same director with whom I’ve worked on all my previous music videos and with whom I’ve been able to create all these stories for the videos.
Can you discuss the infusion of early 2000s emo and pop punk into your music and debut album?
When I was 10 I was certain I was Avril Lavigne. “Let Go” & “Under My Skin” are two of my favorite albums ever. At 11 years old, I bought my first electric guitar because of Avril… I was so influenced by this Pop Punk movement, with its sounds, the guitars, the distortion, and very characteristic melodies, that I wanted it to be a part of “Lo Que No Te Dije”, my album. I also used to listen to a lot of Simple Plan & Evanescence, so that genre has always been very present and has been inspiring to me.
What other artistic passions fuel and transmute your live performances?
Definitely dancing. I love dancing with my whole heart, and I love feeling free on stage. I also love playing guitar. I like picking it up every now and then to play a specific part, but I need to dance while performing my songs, this is why I choose not to play that much guitar on stage. I feel too much electricity on stage and I don’t wanna be still.
Do you have any sacred special pre-performance rituals?
Honestly, it’s not something crazy or anything. I just try to be calm and really connect with myself. Those minutes right before a show can get a bit intense and there’s always so much happening, so I try to be by myself, take deep breaths, say a prayer, drink some hot chamomile tea, stretch, and warm up.
What are you most looking forward to during this upcoming album and press cycle?
Performing live and getting to know more Galiens, and the people that support me and listen to my music.
Team Credits:
Talent: Gale
Creative Direction/Photography: @shamyllle
Art Direction Assist: @valeria.sartoo
Wardrobe Styling: @justinelogue
Hair-Stylist: @masterofglam
Make-up: @artistry.nat
Personal producer/coordinator: @kiarafreeman_
Interview: Michelle Rose @heymichellerose
