English producer Gabriel to stage solo showcase in Seoul
English producer and singer-songwriter Gabriel / Courtesy of Frederick Pearson
Fresh off a Grammy nomination for a recent collaborative work, English producer and singer-songwriter Gabriel has returned to solo work, dropping his new track “YDP” in late January ahead of a solo showcase, “One Night in Limbo,” this Friday.
The show, happening at Alive Hall near western Seoul's Hongik University, will feature SM Entertainment artist Min Jiwoon alongside a full band setup.
As a producer and musician, Gabriel lent a hand in British trio FLO’s album “All Access Areas,” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Progressive R&B album last year. He’s also worked with the likes of Dijon and Kehlani, as well as Korean R&B icons Crush and SUMIN.
Juggling show preparations along with upcoming work — both solo and collaborative — and content creation, Gabriel looks at his hectic schedule positively.
“Challenges are good for the brain,” he told The Korea Times.
Despite having moved to Seoul just six months ago, the transition was quite easy for him. “Looking back, everything fell into place quite quickly,” he said.
Even before officially nestling in Seoul, previous opportunities gave Gabriel a sneak peek into his eventual life in the city. After submitting his demos to SM Entertainment in 2025, he was invited to the company’s headquarters; the same year, he organized a session with Crush after the artist shared his song on Instagram.
Upon arrival, however, another door opened that would eventually seal the deal for him — accepting a publishing deal with Salpot Music Group. “It’s been a really fruitful partnership,” Gabriel said.
Fortunately, he finds the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of the Korean entertainment industry fitting for him. He thinks there’s more sincerity here when it comes to completing a project.
“Those I’ve crossed paths with here are enthusiastic and open to collaboration,” Gabriel said. “You can’t always say the same about artists in the West.”
He cited the making of Crush’s “UP ALL NITE” as his favorite moment in Korea so far, when he met with fellow collaborators CUBE and Devin Morrison at the studio and finished 80 percent of the song in about three hours. He was even more thrilled to attend the song’s release event and witness a packed venue in Itaewon “screaming the words to a song we made together.”
English producer and singer-songwriter Gabriel / Courtesy of Erin Hambly
While Gabriel plans to continue with joint ventures —projects involving musicians Naji and CUBE are already in the pipeline — his focus this year will shift to putting his solo songs “back in the driver’s seat.” He might be intentional and adaptable as a collaborator, but his personal work “pays little attention to trends” and “takes its own shape without forcing it into one.”
His influences come from early exposure to classical music and jazz. He lists Stevie Wonder, James Taylor and D’Angelo as artists who have impacted his work the most.
Gabriel also incorporates personal experiences into his work, and said his best songs materialize when he spends time in nature.
“Since I live in a major metropolitan area now, that hasn’t happened much recently. I do enjoy the occasional visit to Seoul Forest. I should go there more often,” Gabriel mused. “Maybe when it gets a little warmer!”
“Heart-on-sleeve” is how Gabriel describes his music.
“This covers the production choices, which are simple and warm; the vocals themselves, which are usually minimally processed; and the lyrics, which leave little room for interpretation,” he said. “Metaphor ruins a good melody. I just say what I mean.”
Throughout the years, he’s learned from countless trials and errors, which have helped shape his music into its present sound and form.
“I’ve taken a lot of losses and learned a lot of painful lessons over my 10-plus years in this business,” he said. “Now, when disappointment hits, it doesn’t hit so hard, because I know it never spells the end of the world. Maybe my work is more light-hearted now for that reason.”
As he settles further into life in Seoul, Gabriel says he wants to experiment more sonically, citing his current fascination with hyperpop and pluggnb.
“I love hearing things that get me thinking, ‘How did they come up with that?’ I’ll strive for my own work to make me ask myself the same question,” he said.
Gabriel’s upcoming showcase signals the beginning of an exciting next step.
A poster for Gabriel's event on Feb. 20 at Alive Hall / Courtesy of @hullydully
Follow @notquitemytempura on Instagram for more information, or visit srphm.co to book tickets.
Mariel Abanes (@staymmmad on Instagram) is a freelance lifestyle and culture writer/editor from the Philippines, currently based in Seoul. She promotes indie music and culture, and writes poetry and prose from time to time.