Obadiah Gamble is a very young, very talented musician. He comes from a musical family but even that doesn’t explain the depth and breadth of his talent. The music a fresh and reminiscent.
Please tell me about yourself and your music.
My name is Obadiah and I am 16 years old! I’ve been making music ever since I was about six years old, starting out with a beat making app on my iPad. I began taking guitar lessons about six years ago, and I really gravitated toward songwriting with my guitars. I started taking music seriously about 3 years ago, and I turned my closet into a recording booth so I could make music at home.
You have recently released your debut album, Notice. It has a rich sound; each song is unique but suits the album. I know you had help, but you wrote, arranged, recorded, engineered the songs. That’s a lot and you’ve done a fantastic job. What was your process? Did you set out to make an album or find that you had an album of songs. Did you focus on one at a time, or write a few, record a few, engineer a few?
Thank you! I produced the entire album in my room, and I recorded most of the live instruments there as well: I played acoustic guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, then had other musicians come in to track bass, flute, violin, clarinet, and cello (yes, I fit an entire cello in my closet). We tracked some piano and a few different guitars at RiverRock studios in Minneapolis, and tracked some drums at a friend’s studio. In the very early process of the album, I was just writing songs and making instrumental ideas. As writing progressed, I was able to pick the songs I liked the most and work on them more. Eventually, after adding and removing many songs from the track list, I landed on the nine that are out now. And, I love them all!
I love the loungey sound of Eyes for You. It has a retro song with a simple message and listening to it is like watching a pleasant short film. It’s a mood changer! What inspired the sound?
I love Brazilian music, and I wanted to write a classic love song with a bossa-nova-esque feel. I had written the lyrics a few years before and had a demo of it as a Pop song, but it didn’t sound right. So, I decided to reproduce it as a Brazilian inspired jazz song. I recorded all the guitars and percussion in one night and made the arrangements for the wind instruments. I had some of my friends who play flute and clarinet come a couple days later and record their parts, then I had my friend record drums at a different studio, and then I had Michael Cain, an amazing pianist from the twin cities, record piano! It all came together pretty quickly!
I remember your Aunt Jessa Roquet a gorgeous voice and spirit. As I recall you played her memorial last year. Does music play a role in your family? Do you think having that musical-familial connection helps?
Music is quite important in my family. My grandparents were part of a touring Christian-folk group called “The Gamble Folk”, and my parents have two musical theatre companies. I grew up learning lots of different instruments and singing a lot of musicals, especially on family road trips. Music definitely brings us together as a family, and we all share a love for it.
Please tell me about your upcoming show.
I just recently had my album release show on Friday Jan 16th. The show sold out and it was such a joy to celebrate with so many friends, people who support my music, and all the amazing artists who made this album possible. And, I am planning a show at the Bryant Lake Bowl for this spring, so stay tuned! Info will be on my website.
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