Gemma Felicity

Hiya Gemma thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide to become a soloist?

I’ve always preferred the idea of being a soloist versus being in a band, as I love being able to write what I want to write, express my own ideas and have complete creative freedom. I think it would be really hard to get your personality, ideas and emotions into your songs if you were part of a band. I’m a Taurus so I’m not that good at compromise, I prefer to be able to do what I want to do. I guess there are always downfalls of being a soloist though, as it would be fun to do everything with a band, and you can all learn from one another. But in general, I am quite an independent person, and I like to do my own thing.

Introduce us to you and your musical history?

So, I’ve been obsessed with music since I was really young. When I was a baby I would always put musicals on the TV and watch them over and over and dance around. I probably started singing when I was around 8 or 9, and started proper singing lessons when I was 11, so music has always been a huge part of me. I’ve definitely always been very creative. When I was at secondary school my music teacher quickly noticed me, and put me forward to be in all the choirs and for all the solo’s. I took all my singing grades, but at this point I was singing both pop and opera/classical, which I think helped me to learn good technique early on so I am grateful for that. But when I left school at 18, I went to University to study Public Relations and my soul just really missed singing. I spent all my time just partying and I became really unhappy. I felt like I had really lost myself. I ended up taking a year out from uni due to some health problems, and I suddenly realised I had given up the thing that made me happiest. So, I applied to do a Masters in Songwriting and Music Performance at Leeds College of Music, and I honestly had the best time. Now I’m doing this full time – gigging, session singing and releasing my own music.

What’s one question you’re sick of being asked when interviewed?

​”How would you describe yourself.” I find that question so hard because I believe we are always in a state of change and humans are complex, we are never just one thing.

Do you sign up to any conspiracy theories?

I think there potentially could be aliens on earth. And this isn’t a conspiracy but I do believe that a large percentage of the world are on some level psychic, which lots of my friends think is a bit strange. I have quite a few weird opinions to be honest.

Did you buy anything you don’t need in the pandemic?

I spent money on a lot of clothes I didn’t need – I went a bit mad on internet shopping at one point just out of boredom. I also ordered a lot of Dominos pizza and I bought a puppy, but both of those were definitely a necessity to get through that time period.

What useless party trick do you have?

I have quite a few useless talents actually haha. So, I can dislocate both my shoulders, I can make myself look about 6 months pregnant, I can whistle with my tongue, and put my tongue into the shape of a flower.

What was the most fun you have had on stage?

Probably when I have gigged at outdoor events and mini festivals, because the audience are always having such a good time, the weather is great, and everyone is in great spirits. It is so fun to be a part of that. I’m a huge festival fan.

What was the worst experience on stage?

I did a performance a while back and I got so nervous that I completely forgot my lyrics and just stood there for ages with a mind blank. I suddenly couldn’t remember the song at all. Is scary how nerves can do that!! But I’m working on controlling it. I hope it doesn’t happen again, it was horrendous.

Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about?

That’s a hard one!! I’m not sure what would surprise people. Maybe the fact I lived in Thailand for 3 years when I was really young.

If you had to describe your band/music to an alien how would you describe it?

I would say my lyrics are dark, honest and real with a lot of meaning, but my music is also usually upbeat and something you can dance to. I would call it dark pop. It makes people think and feel deeply, but also makes people dance. I like that contrast.

What makes you stand out as an artist?

I like to write about real things which affect us in everyday life, and my real and honest feelings. A lot of the stuff I write is literally like me reading my therapists notes to everyone to be honest. I don’t write just to please my audience and I am incapable of writing anything surface level – I selfishly just write from the heart and I think that is becoming more and more rare nowadays with Tik Tok etc.

Right now, what’s pissing you off the most?

The fact that I am really hungry but have no food with me.

What’s your favourite song to play live and why?

​I love singing my single This Place live because the audience always seem to vibe a lot with it. It has a good beat to it and gets people moving and grooving, which is really nice to see. I also love singing my own version of Toxic by Britney Spears, because it is always so fun to put your own spin on other people’s songs and make it your own.

I hear you have a new single, what can you tell us about it?

So, my new single is called This Place. I wrote it a few years ago when I was hanging out with people who would talk a lot about Instagram followers, what people looked like, designer trainers, and a lot of other superficial things. I just felt really left out and like I couldn’t relate at all. It all felt really empty to me, and it actually caused me to feel really depressed and lonely. I wrote it one day when I felt sad and just couldn’t deal with being in that kind of environment anymore.

Talk me through the thought process of the single?

So, the song began, as I said, when I was feeling really lost and sad that the world has become so superficial. I remember I felt really down the day I wrote it. I wanted the song to empower people to not feel like they need to fit in with the crowd, and also to realise that social media isn’t reality and there can be so much more going on underneath a perfect picture. I wanted the song to sound both dark and eery, but also have a meaningful story behind it, plus have a strong beat and be good to dance to.

What was the recording process like?

So, I recorded this single with Frankie Harper, who produced the track. We recorded all the vocals in his studio in Leeds, so firstly we did the main vocals and then we figured out some harmonies together and added them in. Frankie is so so amazing at what he does and he’s a great guy, so I wasn’t nervous at all, which I think helps when you are doing something like that. It helps to be in an environment you feel comfortable in.

What was the biggest learning curve in writing the single?

Well honestly, it was my first ever song I’ve written, edited and then produced and filmed a music video for, and then followed it through all the way to releasing and promoting it, so it was my first ever experience of that entire process. I learned SO SO much in the whole process. Mostly I learnt how many different aspects come into creating, releasing and promoting just one song. It has been such an interesting experience though. I can’t wait to release more music now.

Would you change anything now it’s finished?

No, not at all. I love the song exactly as it is and I am really proud of it. The stuff I am writing now is slightly different, but that is to be expected. Everything grows and develops and changes over time.

What are your plans for the year ahead?

So, in terms of music, I want to release 2 more singles and one more music video by the end of this year hopefully. I also want to be gigging and busking a lot over the summer. And I want to work hard on building up my social media profiles and producing good quality content. In terms of personal life, I want to take good care of my health, travel and have a lot of fun. Those are my main aims.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?

​Just go check out my single and music video for This Place if you haven’t already. Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts – I would love to hear any feedback!! - Carl Maloney

Welcome to a brand new video showcase here at RGM, today we have the brand new video from Gemma Felicity, here are a few words from the artist, enjoy!

“I wrote this song a few years ago, people around me were always talking about likes on Instagram and how pretty people were and I found it all very empty. It made me feel really depressed and lonely having such surface level conversations all the time. I tried hard to fit in by drinking a lot of alcohol but I think it just made me feel worse. I always felt like the odd one out. I wrote this song on a day when I was feeling really lonely and down and felt like I couldn’t be in that environment anymore. I think in general the world can be very superficial nowadays with Instagram etc and I do think it has a big effect on our mental health.”

“I had a lot of fun shooting this music video. I’m so grateful to have worked with really talented people on this project – Yaro the director and videographer is so insane at what he does. I wanted the video to reflect the point of the song that someone can look so perfect on the outside and have everything they want, but inside be so deeply unhappy. Social media projects a false image, but is rarely the reality of someone’s life.” - Carl Maloney

Now more than ever, the internet dominates our lives. I mean, you’re online reading this right now. But our obsession with social media in particular has become quite the global pandemic of its own. London lyricist Gemma Felicity explores this superficial fascination in her first single ‘This Place’.

Gemma contrasts some pretty deep and candid lyrics with a danceable upbeat sound making the over three-minute track gorgeously dark pop.

With wavy synths, echoey percussion and sombre piano movements – the addition of the artist’s sweet, soulful and reverbed-soaked vocals feels very end-of-the-night aching dancefloor-filler. Albeit with an incredibly meaningful and thought-provoking message.

In a world obsessed with Instagram likes, celebrity culture and keeping-up-appearances – it’s no wonder many people struggle with their mental health as a result of these pressures. Lyricism talks of following the latest fad, only showing people the ‘best bits’ of your life, and how social media allows us to project a false image regardless of what is going on behind the scenes.

“I can’t be in this place / They all say they like her face, but / Oh who cares about it / If her makeup’s down it / And she’s always drinking, sniffing powders / Trying to drown it out”

‘This Place’ is a song you can groove to, but also one to make you stop dead and really think. There’s an almost off-kilter vibe to track which elicits a sense of uneasiness, and the layered vocals towards the end evoke a sense of information overload we can often feel from non-stop scrolling.

Reminiscent of fellow female artists like Robyn, Charlie XCX and Nina Nesbitt, Gemma Felicity makes a striking debut with ‘This Place’. And I don’t mind admitting that if I could, I’d double-tap it. - Cat Allan

Showing us inside a world that seems to care more about things that don’t actually matter, Gemma Felicity sings with true love and insight to inspire our precious souls to look deeper on her spellbinding debut track, ‘This Place‘.

Gemma Felicity is a London, UK-based indie-pop singer-songwriter/poet who writes from the heart and has the kind of vocal ability that will have you pressing repeat.

”The happiest saddest most chilled overthinker.” ~ Gemma Felicity

Exposing the world for what it is as many drown out the noise with strong drinks and evil powers while talking about meaningless subjects, Gemma Felicity is quite incredible as she reminds us that we shouldn’t change for anything or follow shallow fads. Her gorgeous voice is pure and striking, with exquisite visuals that will stop you in your tracks, urging you to look further inside so that you remain on track to achieving your wildest dreams no matter the precarious detours tempting you.

‘This Place‘ from London, UK-based indie-pop singer-songwriter/poet Gemma Felicity is one of the most real releases you are likely to hear this year. Her vocals are sensational and calming, with smart lyrics that show us that she is a deep thinker who detests the superficial energy that can break your priceless glow forever if you let it.

Life is surely about taking action and thinking about things that can change lives, not pointless chatter that just seems to heighten your anxiety and make you wonder if you can actually be in this fake place for much longer. - Llewelyn Screen

Gemma Felicity is a 27 year old singer songwriter living in London – a self described empath, an overthinker with a big heart.

She thinks and feels very deeply, and this comes out in all of her songs, as she likes to use music as a way to express her deepest emotions and experiences.

“Music is medicine” is a motto she lives by. She finds music very healing, and her lyrics can be dark and exposing.

She has been singing and performing since the age of 9, has written poetry since aged 8, and begun writing songs at the age of 21.

After quitting music for a few years during her undergraduate degree she went on to study for a Masters in Music Performance and Songwriting at Leeds College of Music.

Gemma Felicity has just unveiled her debut single ‘This Place’.

The lyrics of ‘This Place’ have a sombre feel to them but the track delivers catchy melodic hooks, which compliment Gemma Felicity’s vocal style. - Boulent Mustafa