Singer and songwriter Stacy Gabel is a former Nickelodeon promo producer and writer, who took that creative aspect to the front of the screen as a successful musician and songwriter. Hailing from Eastern Pennsylvania, she’s received numerous accolades and awards for her local performances included worldwide awards such as two Global Music Awards for Lyricist, Song, along with the musician and the Lehigh Valley Music Awards for Fans Choice Award, Discovered Artist, Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding All-Around Performer, and Best Song for 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Stacy’s music is fun and light-hearted, she has a good time performing and singing, and her enthusiasm is infectious. In her latest music video for “Stir Crazy,” she acts and sings out about how we spend our days at home, especially during a pandemic. She goes from the bedroom to the living room, wearing an oversized pajama set for every outfit. The song was “inspired by a whole lot of nothingness going on in my life.” The clip shows Gabel fighting with her dog over a slice of pizza and trying to keep up with everything else in life, while anticipating her next move, all in a kind way.
You were previously a Nickelodeon promo producer and writer, when you decided to perform your own music. What led you to carving your own path as a musician?
Stacy Gabel: I have always been a singer, always performed in many musical theatre productions, and have also worked as an actor and model in TV and Film. I started writing music as soon as I learned my way around the guitar. Once I was confident enough to accompany myself on guitar and piano, the door was wide open for me to start performing my own music.
You also are an actress and a naturally gifted performer I might add. What draws you to acting and singing, respectively?
Stacy: I really enjoy the energy of performing for a live audience. Performing is my outlet for creatively expressing myself. Music allows me to connect with people in a way that we wouldn’t connect otherwise. When I’m not performing I’m generally a quiet person.
Your latest music video and single for “Stir Crazy,” is a comical, yet humble ode to the current pandemic. Is there a specific experience that influenced you to write this song?
Stacy: “Stir Crazy” was written after a 3 month period of a pent up roller coaster ride of emotions. I knew something would come out of being locked down in the house and I wasn’t sure quite what it would be. Then I sat down with my guitar and Stir Crazy poured out onto the page. That was my release.
The music video for “Stir Crazy” is filled with fun and humor. What was the collaborative process like filming it?
Stacy: Once the song was written and I decided to move forward with producing it, we moved quickly and safely to get it out to the world. The video was shot in one day. I just grabbed the dog, we set up the room, and the camera rolled.
You are also a participating member in a few other musical groups; what do you like most about performing solo, then performing with a group/duo?
Stacy: I feel fulfilled as a performer to be able to perform as a solo musician where I get to make all the decisions and can change my mind as much as I want one day, and then to share the stage with others and to collaborate and make music with others the next day.
Anything fun and exciting coming up for the rest of the year?
Stacy: I just wrote a new song for a short film, I shot a commercial, and I’m currently writing a treatment for a movie. I also entered a few songwriting competitions and I hope to be nominated for our local Lehigh Valley Music Awards again at the end of 2020. (You can only nominate and vote if you live in or around the Lehigh Valley…any locals out there reading this?)
Fun Questions
Who was your first concert, and who has been your favorite?
Stacy: I think a friend and I stumbled upon a free Joan Jett concert in a park. I was so young and I didn’t even know who she was at the time. But I remember wanting to be up on stage with her. Favorite concert?? That’s a tough one. It’s either Santana at the Hollywood Bowl or Dave Matthews in San Diego. Both were amazing in person.
What was your first album on cassette, CD and/or vinyl?
Stacy: I’m really not sure which one it was but it was most definitely a Disney album
Which five albums and/or artists would you not want to live without?
Stacy: I have a hard time playing favorites to the many amazing artists I enjoy, but I could not live without one old school Holiday album, a Disney album, a few TV & Movie soundtrack albums, several acoustic folk albums and a variety of jazz & pop albums.
Do you have a guilty music or entertainment pleasure?
Stacy: Since music is my career, my guilty pleasure right now is TV. I’m usually too busy to watch TV but during quarantine I binge-watched Tiger King and Rached. Sometimes I fall into the reality TV black hole and I get swallowed up by a singing show or The Bachelor. In most cases once I get off the sofa, I feel like I wasted my life and I go back to practicing guitar.
How are you keeping your creativity going during the pandemic?
Stacy: I have been writing a lot and working on some new cover songs that I always wanted to learn but just never had the time for. I also picked up the violin again after several years of it collecting dust.
Connect with Stacy on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
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