(Not Just A) Pretty Face:
Gabriel Jayne
INTERVIEW BY VISUAL TALES
August 2022
Talent: Gabriel Jayne
Photographer: John Tan for Visual Tales
Styling: Gabriel Jayne
Location: Green Point, Brooklyn
Visual Tales: Tell us about your earliest memories of wanting to be a musician/singer/songwriter? Who are your influences?
Gabriel Jayne: Ever since I first started playing drums at age 4, I always knew I loved music. I was always banging on drums or blasting music in my headphones. Some of my influences include the Sex Pistols, Queens Of The Stone Age, Led Zeppelin, and many more. These bands stuck to me because of the live, raw energy all these bands give off when performing.
VT: There are a lot of musicians and recording artists who are from LA, what is it about LA that inspired the youth culture there to want to become a musical artists?
GJ: I would say LA is a place for artists and creatives in general. I feel like it’s a breeding ground for the performing arts. I feel like once you are in the industry, you start to just attract other energy and vibes from other artists. LA has perfect weather and is chill so why not be the perfect place to make music? Haha
VT: What are some essential albums u listen to over and over again?
GJ: I love Houses Of The Holy. Led Zeppelin as a band is truly incredible. The drummer has been one of my favorite icons I’ve looked up to for years. The drive I hear in that record is unmatched. It sounds like a wall of sound that just surrounds you. I love it.
VT: What instrument do you play when u are composing? How does one gravitate toward an instrument?
GJ: I typically play guitar or piano when composing a song. I find it easier to find a melody with one of the two when developing in the early stages of songwriting. I usually start by singing something from my head and trying to find the melody I like. Then try and play it on an instrument. After that, I put a solid drum beat on top to hear what kind of song I’m gonna make.
All clothing are Gabriel’s own except crochet knit sweater by Batsheva; green shirt with sequin embroidery by Nihl by Neil Grotzinger
VT: You have a new EP forthcoming, can u tell us a bit about this project and a tour of Japan u are embarking on? Share with us some details about it.
GJ: My EP “Love Me When I’m Dead” is coming out by December. I hope everyone is ready, I’ve been working on this for two years. I’m super stoked with how it’s coming out and can’t wait to release it. Mixed with live violin to an edgy bass line with trap beats, this record is everything. I’ve been playing in LA and will be returning to the Viper Room sometime soon. I also might be going on tour in Japan so that would be amazing exposure for my new EP.
VT: Modeling: You are represented by Wilhelimina and recently signed with Heroes in NY, tell us about your journey through modeling and what you enjoyed the most doing this.
GJ: I’ve been modeling since I was about 19 years old, now I am 23. I’ve found that modeling has shaped my fashion and image so much because I have been around amazing artists and influences the last 6 years of being in the industry. In every job, I meet amazing people and learn even more about fashion, and find my own individuality. Modeling in a sense is all about yourself and why you are unique and sometimes based on your own image. So it’s been super important in my music career to establish the kind of style I wear and the vibe I give off. Modeling has definitely helped me find that. Also, I’ve been signed with Wilhelmina my whole career and they have been nothing but the best family I could ask for. Recently I signed with Heroes NY and couldn’t be happier with my representation. I’ve been working a lot and continue to make art come to life with these campaigns.
VT: You are part Asian (Filipino decent) any memories of culturally growing up?
GJ: I am Filipino/Irish. I’m mostly American but have a huge mix in my background from all around the world. I like being diverse in my background because I have learned a lot about different cultures and that has shed some light on what I know about my ancestors.
VT: You have a very distinctive dressing style, tell us about your personal preferences when it comes to dressing.
GJ: I love dressing in clothes no one has seen before. I love dressing outside the “norm”. I feel like when I wake up I can truly pick “who I wanna be today.” It’s super important to feel comfortable and confident in your everyday lifestyle. I can only succeed by wearing what I want and how I want. I love being gender fluid and wearing the opposite sex’s clothes. I see it as a challenge in my styling and love putting together things no one would expect. I support all types of genders and people I just wanna spread love and rock and roll. So I say WEAR WHAT YOU WANT!
VT: Is there a motto in life u go by?
GJ: "Let it go and make it happen." - Bobby Furst
Special thanks to:
Recording artist/Model Gabriel Jayne for his time and meeting to do the shoot while in NY; Jonathon Reis at Heroes Models; Neil Grotzinger at Nihl; Batsheva Hay at Batsheva
(Not Just A) Pretty Face