Gabby’s World, new single, “Face,” opens with delicate piano chords, underlined by a shuffling drum machine groove. “I’m not okay / I laugh into your arms / We sway / And together fall apart,” Smith sings on the final verse. From start to finish, the song equally evokes Transatlanticism era Death Cab For Cutie and chic ‘90s trip-hop. “Face” arrives ahead of the full-length Gabby Sword, out December 1st.

On the track, Smith offers: “”Face” emerged from a raw and unfiltered outpouring of feelings. It’s a journey through melancholy and introspection, a stream of consciousness that I hadn’t anticipated. At the time, I was having trouble accessing my feelings, but as I sat at the piano, the lyrics and melody flowed out of me as a stream of consciousness, revealing layers of feelings I didn’t know I was experiencing.

As a guitarist primarily, writing on the piano was a unique experience for me. I found excitement in exploring different voicings for the simple chord progression, and the initial piano recording held a certain magic that I wanted to preserve, so I chose to keep the arrangement minimal. But I also drew inspiration from artists like Dido and Portishead, which led me to incorporate electronic drums to infuse the song with energy. I love how the drums sneak into the mix, even though they’re the first instrument on the track.

Collaborating with my wife, Barrie Lindsay, kept my confidence intact throughout the arrangement process. Her genius way of approaching production was so important throughout the arrangement and finishing touches of the song.

For the visuals, I found myself unintentionally drawn to the spirit of Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” It’s a tribute to an artist who left an indelible mark on the world, and her recent passing weighed heavily on my mind. Her influence seeped into both the single artwork and the video I created with Grace Weir.”

Gabby’s World
Gabby’s Sword
Tracklisting

1. Sank
2. Closing Door
3. Corrina
4. 33
5. Fabby
6. Restore
7. Mussel
8. Just for You to Hear
9. Powerful
10. Open the Door
11. Face
12. Magnify
12. Theme from Gabby’s World

Pre-order Gabby’s Sword by Gabby’s World HERE