Gabz Exclusive Interview

Best known as a runner up on Britain’s Got Talent in 2013 after impressing the judges and audience with her ‘Lighter’ performance; MarkMeets showbiz reporter Hannah Fuller caught up with ‘Gabz’ as the talented 15 year old from Stevenage tells us about: juggling her music with her GCSE’s and which member of One Direction she has a secret crush on!

You starred on BGT last year and now your back with a new song ‘Holiday In Brazil’. How did you get involved with that?
A guy called Paul Baker approached me as he wanted me to sing on the song. So together we re-wrote the verses to the rap to make it more my style. It was so nice to be asked. I had so much fun doing that!

The song certainly looks lots of fun – did you enjoy making the video?
Yeah it was so much fun. It was the first time I’d made a video with people I knew in it. My brother and two cousins were in it also and loads of my friends which was really cool. I think they found it a lot of fun as we were all together but they also found it hard work. They didn’t realise just how many takes you have to keep doing!

You have a very unique look! Are there certain celebrities who have influenced your style?
Not really, I just go shopping and if I see something I like, I just buy it! If it looks cool and I like it, I’ll wear it. When I was younger, I thought caps were really cool, so I started wearing them and anyway, I think they suit me. I usually go to JD Sports to buy stuff – I’ve bought lots of caps from there!

When you’re not doing your music; how else do you like to spend your time?
Well I’ve got quite a lot of schoolwork to do, so I’m usually doing that! It’s usually revising or homework. I’m doing some of my GCSE’s these year but most of them I’ll be doing next year. I’ve already started my drama GCSE’s though. But if I’m not doing anything to do with my schoolwork, then I’m definitely doing my music.

In the vid, I spotted a Harry Style look-a-like, do you fancy any of 1D?
(Laughs) Yeah I do actually – Zayn! I think he’s really good looking and he’s a really good singer too. I like One Direction; I think their music is really good.

Do you follow football? Can you name 3 current England players?
I only recently got into football and I’m a fan of Arsenal! They’re doing really well at the moment, I was so happy when they won the FA Cup Final last month!

Yes I can name 3 England players – Alex Chamberlain is one, Jack Wilshere also plays for England and Joe Hart is Goalkeeper.

All the proceeds are going to Make a wish foundation, what does this organisation mean to you?
It means so much to me. It’s to help children and as I’m a child myself, it means a lot to help other kids too, especially when they are ill. It’s a great charity. 25p for each download goes to the charity, so it’s all for a good cause. I hope to make as much as possible for them.

At only 15, you have a long career ahead of you, what do you want to accomplish?
I’d love to do a world tour! And to have a platinum album (laughs). I just want to keep doing what I’m doing – singing and song writing. I’m a huge fan of Jessie J. I’d love to be a big as her one day.

Did you have any other ideas of what you wanted to do whilst growing up or was it always singing and songwriting?
I always wanted to be a singer, but as a back up, I wanted to be a forensic scientist after watching CSI! I thought that would be quite interesting.

Can we expect any more piano rap from you?
I’m going to be doing a few more charity singles and after my GCSE’s have finished, I’ll be doing an album with all the rap stuff on it.

Have you a final message for your supporters?
Yes, thank you to everyone that has supported me – it means so much to me. Thank you to everyone who voted for me on Britain’s Got Talent and downloaded my music, it means a lot!

Thanks Gabz and best of luck with your music and of course, your GCSE’s
Thanks so much! Bye Hannah!