Inspired #225 - Gemma Louisianna
Singer-songwriter Gemma Louisianna has just released her pop-punchy country bop ‘Yellow Hoodie’ - a track about a personal story of accepting and moving on from a relationship that is no more. She took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind her music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations?
Kacey Musgraves - Kacey is someone who I feel as genuinely changed the country music world and brought it into the 21st century. She brings up topics such as LGBTQ equality, musical politics, drugs, and other taboo topics that people that was so silent in country music up until now. I feel that her music has inspired others to write about real and raw subjects they once felt that they were unable to because of the stigma. Alongside this, her crafts song that have such clever metaphors that her style of lyrics has stuck with me and made me rethink how I put my own creative spin on the subjects in my songs.
Carly Pearce - Her new album ‘29’ blew me away. She has opened herself up like no other artist I’ve seen recently. She tells an honest story that the world has already heard from magazines and the music industry after being a very public relationship with another country artist and the world has watched her fall in love and get her heart broken. She writes about this journey with such grace and I applaud her bravery for turning a very person story into an album that I’m sure so many of us can relate to and bring comfort from. Her song ‘day one’ depicts the early stages of moving on from a relationship and the struggles. This is another angle from the same emotions I was trying to capture in my own single ‘yellow hoodie’.
Is there a certain film that inspires you?
Music and lyrics really stuck with me because it beautifully shows the struggle that not only musicians face, but those behind the scenes in the industry. I thought the idea of recording a whole album in different locations around a city and utilising all the natural background sounds was such a gorgeous concept and it’s something I’ve always had in the back of my mind as wanting to do since watching the film. It also champions those unsung hero’s of the small gig/open mic world which is something I’m really passionate about.
What city do you find the most inspiring?
I fell in love with Nashville the moment I stepped foot there. Music is the heart and soul of the city like no other place I have ever been. The passion that every person you meet has for their city and for the music is so apparent that it immediately felt like home. The talent that you find in the intimate honky tonks is outstanding. These musicians and locals are real story tellers and unlike a British pub where you’re shouting over the music as someone plays a cover, people are silent as they listen to each and every world. It’s a completely different live music experience.
Who is the most inspiring person to you?
My 3rd musical inspiration is the most inspiring person to me. Ask any female country artist who has inspired them and I’m sure Taylor Swift will be on the list for almost all of them, however for me, she is SO much more than just a musician.
As a similar age to me, and writing songs since I was 7 years old in my bedroom, I felt that I grew up with her. Both over coming bullying and judgements by turning to music and our diaries were our songs.
She not only writes lyrics that connects so strongly with people but as she’s grown up has become an incredible business women and a voice for women when they are struggling to be heard. She always bravely stands tall, standing up for what she believes in no matter the consequences: That’s why not only as a musician, but as a woman, she is someone that I will always respect and support.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
I had actually planned to go and record very sweet a song about someone that I cared a lot about, but 3 days I was due in the studio, I had my heart broken by the same person and I knew I had to change my plans as I didn’t have the heart to sing those words anymore. I was sat in my room feeling sorry for myself starting at the hoodie that belonged to this person that I used to wear all the time when I missed them, and I knew I needed to let go of that sentiment. After the moment I sat and penned yellow hoodie in about half an hour and after playing it to a few friends and my producer, we knew that this was THE song I had to go and record. It felt like therapy and a closed chapter. Song writing has always been my way of coping with hurt and that’s exactly what ‘yellow hoodie’ was to me.
How would you like to inspire people?
I was bullied throughout my entire childhood for writing songs in the back of my school planner and for sitting in the music block by the piano at lunch times, but this was my happy place and I didn’t let other people’s opinions stop me from doing what I loved. So many musicians give up because of pressure of those around them, or because they don’t feel good enough. I started writing music when I was 7 and I’m almost 30... nothing makes me happier and success is so much more than winning a Grammy or getting a sold out tour. I hope to inspire others to keep a hold of their passions and never let that light burn out.