Our editor Toya Haynes recently interviewed our June Artist of the Month Carla Gamble about her new album She Is. Read what she had to say about some of the songs on her new album and what it’s like being an artist in today’s Philly soul music scene during this very unique time in Black music.
PSN: When did you realize that singing was something you wanted to do professionally?
Carla Gamble: I actually started recording when I was about 13. I recorded a poetry album. It was called From My Lips to Your Ears. So we were basically you know, walking around selling albums on foot and such. An amazing producer and guitar player from Philadelphia, Richard Tucker, produced most of my songs. I feel like I really got my feet on the ground with recording at a very young age.
PSN: Does writing poetry influence your songwriting at all?
Carla Gamble : It does a lot. It is a major key to how I write my music and how I perform, how my voice flows on the mic, the rhythm of poetry… it definitely does.
PSN: With the project being called She Is, is it safe to say that this is definitive of who you would say Carla Gamble is as an artist? Because you do funk and you can rock out if you want to, you can do spoken word, you can rap, etc. Tell us how She Is encompasses everything that you feel you are as an artist.
Carla Gamble: I definitely feel like it does and it’s funny because even right now I could say that I’m not done yet. I have so many other different genres or things to touch on. But it definitely just pulls everything full circle for me. I feel like people that know me or will know me will be able to get a good variety of the music I’m able to produce. I want people to know who I am and what kind of music you’ll be able to get into with me. I’m definitely that funky girl. I love the energy of music.
PSN: Tell me about the first single “Get Right”. At your album release party, you mentioned the influence that singer Lady Alma has had on you to do a house record like that.
Carla Gamble: Yes, Lady Alma is such a beautiful person. She calls me often to give me really good advice to empower me and motivate me or just to give me some good encouraging words before a show. We talk and she’s just really someone good in the music industry that you would want to know.
Like I said, I wanna do all genres, you know? So when I got the chance to, I said “ OK. I think I’m gonna do a house song.” Cause that energy and that ‘bump bump’, I love all of that. She recommended Rio Drumz and he made it.
PSN: There’s sometimes a perception that artists can’t get along or artists can’t put each other on. I don’t feel like that’s the overall experience here. Talk about how it is to be an artist in Philadelphia right now.
Carla Gamble: Oh my gosh. I’ve been wanting to be in this particular scene for years since I was a child since listening to Kindred The Family Soul and Jill Scott. So to be acknowledged by certain people or to be around certain people, it really makes me feel so good. It’s a feeling I can’t even describe because it’s just so joyful, you know, I’m so happy. There’s different collectives. It’s still a family environment of supporting one another. I love the energy of an artist being on stage and another artist being backstage hyping them up, giving them that energy that they need. I want artists to know that we all can do this. We all can make it, you know? This is not a competition.
PSN: Let’s talk about some of the other songs on the album. You’re looking at a fan of the show “Catfish” right here. That’s my true crime guilty pleasure show right now. Tell me about writing that song and who produced it. What made you wanna talk about that?
Carla Gamble: So “Catfish” is definitely a true story. It was produced by Eric Wortham III. It’s exactly the way I wrote it. It’s exactly how it went. So you are just thinking you’re gonna meet somebody and they are not actually the person that you thought that they were.
PSN: Your song “Pretty Girl Magic” is also on the album and was released before the album dropped, long before “Get Right”. Was it your initial idea to have that song on the album?
Carla Gamble: “Pretty Girl Magic” wasn’t really supposed to be on the album itself, but we were like, we’re just definitely gonna put it on there because once you get through the album, you’re gonna wanna hear it. It’s a hit. When I perform it, people love it. It’s empowering, it’s fun. So, yeah, I’m really glad it’s on the album.
PSN: When did you realize the song was a hit?
Carla Gamble: I noticed that “Pretty Girl Magic” was taking off when after I would come home from a show and check my (online platform) streams. I would gain so many followers and have so many people requesting it from then on.
PSN: Why do you think that song’s caught on?
Carla Gamble: It’s empowering and it’s energetic. I don’t really specify. I make it about all women, you know, like all women can enjoy this song. You’re a pretty girl whatever you wear, you’re a pretty girl whatever you look like; if you’re thin, if you’re thick, etc. I’m a plus size girl and I don’t shy away from that. So I just like to celebrate people being in their own skin and their own beauty. Recognize it and embrace it because it’s special.
PSN: Another song on the album is “Get to the Money” which was written by your wife and manager Nina. Tell me about that. I didn’t know Nina was a writer!
Carla Gamble: Nina does everything, she really does. Nina is my team. You gotta walk with somebody who is so supportive. She wants to make sure that I am protected. You need that because you know, this lifestyle gets tough and it gets discouraging. You wanna have somebody in your corner.
PSN: June is Black Music Month and it is also Pride Month. You are a queer artist that is out during a time that we have never seen before in Black music. We have never seen this wide acceptance of queer Black artists being out. Have you ever felt that maybe that was something that you kind of needed to keep to yourself in order to be accepted as an artist or did you just feel like, ‘you’re gonna get it all’?
Carla Gamble: I have never felt any apprehension about it. I knew that once people started to really listen to me and I started to put myself out there, people would know. I’ve never hidden my wife. She’s always been around. You see me, you see her.
I’m in the music scene in Philly but my music is gonna reach all around the world. I want people to be proud of who they are and to be black and be queer and on the front lines of it and let people know that that’s okay.
PSN: So you are fresh off of your album release. What’s next?
Carla Gamble: I really just wanna tour this album so I’m hoping to get some dates coming in September and October to really take this and go with it. I really feel like people need to see me in other places. I was just in Miami last year and the show was really good so I’m definitely returning. I’m just really looking for more opportunities to be able to tour. We just take each day as it comes.
For more on Carla Gamble, visit https://www.therealcarlagamble.com/