By Ericka Alston Buck
Special to The AFRO
Baltimore continues to give the world voices that echo louder than the city streets that raised them. The latest to step into that lineage is Gabby Samone, the 23-year-old powerhouse vocalist who captured America’s attention as a finalist and fan favorite on “American Idol” season 23. With her dynamic blend of gospel, R&B, pop and soul, she’s now stepping boldly into her own lane with original music, a headlining tour, and major performances on the horizon.
Finding confidence on the ‘Idol’ stage
Samone looks back at “Idol” not just as a competition, but as a personal journey of transformation.
“The moment that stands out to me the most was just seeing my growth in real time,” she said. “I could feel myself getting more confident in my appearance, in who I am as a person, in who I am on stage and what I do on stage. I was just getting so much more comfortable with that aspect. That was really the best thing about the whole experience, seeing my growth and also making friends and like-minded peers.”
That growth, she explains, lit a fire within her.
“I’ve been focused on just grinding as much as I can. I’m still young, so that’s all I have to do right now — grind. I’ve been working on a project that I plan on dropping this fall, focusing on my music, creating my image, and honing in on who I am as an artist,” Samone said.
A full-circle duet with Jennifer Holliday
One of the defining moments of Samone’s run came during the finale, when she performed the iconic “Dreamgirls” anthem “I Am Changing” with the legendary Jennifer Holliday.
“That was actually insane. We see her, we hear about her, but to see her in person and to speak to her in person was surreal,” the singer recalled. “That whole experience taught me a lot about professionalism and having to accommodate other artists. She’s been in the industry longer than me, and she has a lot of experience. We had to work with her arrangement. She came in with her own arrangement, she changed the key, and I had to drop down. I sing in the sky, so when we met for the first time, the key was just lower than what I expected. But she held my hand through the whole experience. She was really amazing, and it was just fun to do something completely different and out of my comfort zone with her.”
Original music on the horizon
With “Idol” behind her, Samone is making clear that her artistry will not be confined to cover songs. She’s preparing to release her first original project this fall, one that will reflect her experiences and her edge.
“People expect ‘American Idol,’ but this is completely different,” Samone declared. “This is who I am as an artist. This is who I am, period. It’s a little bit edgy, a little bit in your face. My music that’s coming out is about a lot of things that I’ve gone through as a 23-year-old — relationships, struggling, family, all of that. It’s a little R&B, hip-hop, pop vibes. It’s going to be completely different, but I’m excited. My supporters love me, and I feel like they’re gonna rock with it.”
On tour and on stage
This fall, Gabby is taking her talents on the road with a four-city headlining tour, “Gabby Samone: Live at City Winery,” with stops in Philadelphia, Atlanta, New York and Boston. She will also open for Grammy-nominated R&B legend Eric Benét.
“I always go into my shows just trying to please my audience. I touch on my covers that I did on ‘American Idol,’ I bring some of that into it, and I also bring some fun high vibes. I’m doing Beyoncé’s ‘Deja Vu,’ for example, to get them hype, get them dancing and moving.”
She continued, “Post-’American Idol,’ I really want to show people who I am as an artist, so I’m bringing in my original music, doing some newer R&B songs, and I mesh that with the ‘90s, the era that I love so much. I just give them a vibe.”
Her schedule is already filling quickly: She was in Virginia on Oct. 1, she makes a hometown return to Baltimore’s Center Stage on Oct. 25, and heads to Ohio on Nov. 13.
Eyes on the future
Looking ahead, Gabby envisions the next year as a whirlwind of creativity and growth.
“I hope it’s just as busy as I am right now, and more,” she said. “I really hope to meet some of the goals I’ve been dreaming about. I want to do movies, I want to drop music, I can’t wait to drop my music — music videos, visuals, all of that. I just want to be out there. I want people to finally experience Gabby Samone, the artist.”
For those eager to keep up, she encourages fans to join her world.
“Stay updated on my website, GabbySamone.com. Put your email in. Stay updated on my Instagram, subscribe to my channel. I put a lot of behind-the-scenes on my Gabbyverse channel — that’s what I call it, the Gabbyverse. Just stay updated, stay tuned for everything that’s to come.”
FOLLOW GABBY SAMONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram: @gabbysamonemusic
TikTok: @gabbysamonemusic
YouTube: @gabbysamone
Website: https://www.gabbysamone.com/