Gabby B.

Singer Gabby B. is on a mission to bring Brazilian funk to the masses.  Funk carioca is just one of the many genres influenced by Gabriela Bueno’s background. Born in Goiania, Brazil and growing up in France before moving to Canada, then eventually landing in Florida, has enriched B’s catalogue of work.

Speaking and singing in different dialects has paid off for the young pop star and she covered Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” in four languages. Her song “Pose” captivated the charts in 2021 and garnered millions of views other hits like “Belly Dancer” and “One Too Many.”

She completed her first Spanish-language album XOXO, this year.

She is an ambassador for the non-profit organization Boo2Bullying and keeps busy with her music company Muy Bueno.

The talented songstress talked about her diverse background at her hotel in between performing the national anthem for the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox recently.

JN: (Jerry Nunn) Hi, Gabby. Was shortening your last name to the letter B inspired by Karol G. or Becky G?

GB: (Gabby B.) When I started working in the music industry, my team talked about making my name catchier and they came up with Gabby B. I decided to rock it!

JN: How long have you been in the music business?

GB: I started at 17 years old and created cover songs on YouTube. My first recording was in Atlanta and that was when I turned 18.

JN: Your mother was a performer?

GB: Yes. She focused on being a samba dancer when I lived in France. She sang and loved all kinds of Brazilian dance.

JN: Did you find Portuguese confusing with Spanish while learning languages?

GB: Yes and I am still working on my Spanish because of that. They are similar but different at the same time.

I was born in Brazil, but I started school in France when I was three years old, so I learned French very easily. English was a language I was obsessed with, like many Brazilians.

JN: I have been to Brazil, but not the area you are from.

GB: I am from the state of Goias and the city Goiania. Like Nashville, Tennessee, it’s the main city and many musicians go there to work. We have our own version of country music called sertanejo and very popular in the city.

JN: I grew up in Nashville before I moved to Chicago. Do you have your own record label?

GB: I have my own business and I work on it with my manager. It’s called Muy Bueno and I am very committed to it. I hope to have artists join it soon.

JN: Have you worked with Pitbull?

GB: I worked with one of his artists Vikina, on a song called “Leche,' so I went to his studio.

JN: Are you influenced by reggaeton music?

GB: Brazilian funk is what you are hearing. I didn’t know what reggaeton was until I moved to America. I had heard “Gasolina” in Brazil but I didn’t know it was a genre of music.

Now that I live close to Miami, I am familiar with it.

The first music I ever loved was a Brazilian funk song when I was one year old. Americans have their version of funk, but we Brazilians took it and made it our own. It speaks to my heart.

I have tried reggaeton and I consider myself a cultural artist, so I dip my toes in all types of music. I want to try dembow from the Dominican Republic. I like to try out different things because I grew up with Russians, Muslims and many different cultures.

JN: “Tu Boca” is your latest track?

GB: Yes. It is a funk beat that is mixed with pop. It is mainly in Spanish, but I put in some Portuguese to express myself more.

JN: Whose mouth are we talking about?

GB: [laughs] When I write a song, sometimes it’s about someone else’s experiences and this song is not about me.

JN: Tied into your song “Lickorish,” what is better, red or black licorice?

GB: Red. Black licorice tastes like charcoal to me and I don’t like it.

JN: You wouldn’t like the liquor Ouzo then, because it tastes like black licorice.

GB: I haven’t tried it yet.

JN: “Brinca” is another noticeable song where you experiment with new sounds.

GB: It’s an example of Brazilian funk and we mixed in the Puerto Rican performer Brray to create a fusion of both worlds.

JN: What have been the challenges of learning English?

GB: I started learning English when I was six years old and tried to pick up words. I watched Hannah Montana and didn’t understand a word. My step-grandpa is American and understands Portuguese, so I would ask him questions.

I developed a Hannah Montana accent and that mixed in with my French/Portuguese accent. I was bullied because of these accents, the way I looked, how much I weighed and everything. It messed with my head and that pushed me to work on a smoother accent.

Doing English interviews helped me get better after I turned 18, but before that, I watched Disney cartoons and I thought America was a fairytale. This was good because I was young and it was easier to learn.

JN: Is it hard to write a song in English?

GB: When I write in English, I sometimes need help to sound cool and urban. Certain things I will write sound like a Disney princess or just too foreign. I had to learn not to be too proper or oversing the songs, which happens in the pop music world. There has been a lot to learn!

JN: Your holiday song “Christmas Day” reminds me of Ariana Grande.

GB: Thank you. I love her and she’s a great singer. I have heard that from a few people, depending on how I sing a song.

JN: Your queer fans must go crazy over your track “Pose.”

GB: Yes. I put the beat first, then added melodies to the structure. I remember thinking at the time, “gay people are going to love this!”

Every time I perform that song at a Pride festival, people love it. It’s a confident song and is about accepting everyone.

JN: Have you performed at Pride festivals often?

GB: Yes, and Pride festivals are the best. The crowds are energetic and happy. I like how the people are involved and not just sitting there acting like they are better than others. They dance and wave their fans, which is nice because they actually cool me off with their fans when I am hot onstage. They hype me up!

JN: How was performing the national anthem at the Chicago Cubs game?

GB: It is always a pleasure and an honor to sing the national anthem. I was honestly very scared the first time I sang it. I was worried about forgetting the lyrics even though I knew them. I am very good at memorizing lyrics, even languages I don’t speak, like Italian.

I just didn’t want to mess up and singing it a cappella was tough. Sometimes they won’t give me an earpiece and I can’t hear myself because of the feedback bouncing back in an echo.

At the baseball field yesterday, the sound bounced back and I could hear that echo. I hope I did well and sang in key. Professional singers have to fight through a lot!

JN: Including hitting those high notes.

GB: Yes, singers have to start off low with that song or they are not going to get there.

JN: What are you working on next?

GB: I have a new song debuting soon and it’s all about the booty. The music video will have all kinds of butts and body types. It’s in Portuguese with some English as well. It’s part of a project where I have songs in both those languages, plus French and Spanish. I feel that language speaks to the world and connects everyone to other countries, but music is universal!