Gabrielle Aplin

Gabrielle Aplin
Aplin at Bestival Festival, Isle of Wight in 2015
Background information
Birth name	Gabrielle Ann Aplin
Born	(1992-10-10) 10 October 1992 (age 31)[1] Chippenham, Wiltshire, England
Origin	Sutton Benger, Wiltshire
Genres	Folk, indie folk, indie rock, synthpop, pop
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	2008–present
Labels	Never Fade, Parlophone, BA1 Records, Warner Bros
Website	www.gabrielleaplin.com

Gabrielle Ann Aplin (born 10 October 1992)^[1] is an English singer-songwriter. After amassing a following for her acoustic music covers on YouTube, Aplin signed a recording deal with Parlophone in February 2012. She rose to prominence the following November when she was selected to record the soundtrack for a John Lewis television commercial with a cover of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "The Power of Love", which went on to top the UK Singles Chart.

Her debut album, English Rain, was released in May 2013 to positive reviews. It debuted at number two on the UK Album Chart and led to more singles: "Please Don't Say You Love Me", "Panic Cord", "Home" and "Salvation". English Rain has since been certified Gold in the UK, selling over 100,000 copies. Aplin's second album, Light Up the Dark, was released in September 2015, followed by the release of her third album, Dear Happy, in January 2020. She has also released multiple extended plays throughout her career.

Her fourth album, Phosphorescent, was released in January 2023.

Early life

Aplin grew up in Chippenham in Wiltshire. She is the eldest of three children. Aplin's parents bought her her first guitar when she was 11 years old.^[2] She is a fan of the singer-songwriters Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, as well as the rock band The National.^[2] Aplin went on to study music at Bath College,^[3] participating in the college's in-house label, BA1 Records.^[4]

Music career

Career beginnings (2011–2012)

Aplin's first release was the five-track Acoustic EP, which she self-released under her own label, Never Fade Records, on 13 September 2010. Her second release, another extended play titled Never Fade, was released on 9 May 2011. In this EP, she expanded her sound, showcasing a more folk rock sound and playing all the instruments herself.^[5] In April 2011, Aplin was invited to perform for BBC Introducing at Maida Vale Studios, where she played three tracks from Never Fade and a cover of the Coldplay song "Fix You,"^[3] which was the most-viewed video on the BBC Introducing YouTube channel.^[6] Aplin released her third EP, Home, on 12 February 2012, again under Never Fade Records.^[7] She described Home as "the most honest thing I've ever written and recorded."^[8]

English Rain and Light Up the Dark (2012–2016)

On 29 February 2012, Aplin announced that she had signed a deal with Parlophone Records.^[9] Her first major label single titled "Please Don't Say You Love Me" was released on 10 February 2013.^[10][11] Later that year, Aplin was confirmed as the soundtrack to the John Lewis & Partners Christmas advert covering Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "The Power of Love".^[12] The song went on to top the UK Singles Chart in December 2012.^[13] On 13 May 2013, Aplin released her debut album, English Rain.^[14] Following its release, English Rain charted at number two on both the UK and Scottish album charts, selling over 35,000 copies. It also reached the top ten in Australia, number 11 in Ireland, and number 39 in New Zealand.^[15]

Aplin at the Gibraltar Music Festival in 2013

In 2013, Aplin's record label, Never Fade Records, signed Welsh folk-jazz singer Hannah Grace, who had previously supported Aplin on tour, and indie folk artist Saint Raymond to deals.^[16] Never Fade Records' first release since Aplin's own extended play Home in February 2012 was Saint Raymond's extended play Escapade on 22 April 2013. Saint Raymond has since departed Never Fade Records.^[17]

In May 2015, Aplin announced her second studio album, Light Up the Dark. The album announcement also featured the release of the title track's music video.^[18] The video for the second single from Light Up the Dark, "Sweet Nothing," was released on 6 August 2015. The album itself was released on 18 September 2015.^[19] In September of the same year, it was reported that she had signed a modelling deal with Select modelling agency.^[20]

In 2016, Aplin gained popularity in Brazil when her song "Home" was used in the popular telenovela Totalmente Demais.^[21] Aplin visited Brazil in May to make a cameo appearance in the final episode of the show. Following her appearance and a live performance on Domingão do Faustão, "Home" reached number 1 on the Brazilian iTunes chart, marking Aplin's fourth number 1 single worldwide.^[22] On 26 June, Aplin played at the Glastonbury Festival on the Acoustic stage and then on the BBC Introducing stage.^[23]

Extended plays and Dear Happy (2016–present)

Aplin performing at The Troubadour in Los Angeles in 2018

On 9 November 2016, Aplin released "Miss You", the first single from the extended play of the same name.^[24] The song has been described as a departure from her previously guitar-driven sound on Light Up the Dark, and the production as being much less 'bare bones' than her previous efforts.^[25]

In February 2017, Aplin parted ways with Parlophone Records to focus on releasing material via her own independent record label, Never Fade Records. She said of the decision, "I really enjoy getting involved with everything—from my image to my artwork. It's been quite nice to be in control."^[26] Aplin released a single titled "Waking Up Slow" on 9 August 2017.^[27] She then released her next EP, Avalon, on 6 October.^[28] "Waking Up Slow" was lauded as one of the best pop songs of 2017 by Popjustice.^[29]

Aplin announced the first single from her third album, "My Mistake", on 20 November 2018; it was released on 28 November, with Aplin describing it as her "most honest and raw song to date".^[30][31] Aplin collaborated with Hannah Grace on a Christmas extended play titled December, which was released on 4 December 2018. On 27 March 2019, Aplin released the second single titled "Nothing Really Matters" from her third album,^[32] followed by another single titled "Losing Me", which features English singer JP Cooper, on 14 August.^[33] The album, titled Dear Happy, was released on 17 January 2020.^[34]

Her fourth album, Phosphorescent, was released on 6 January 2023 on Never Fade Records.^[35]

In 2021 Aplin's song 'Home' was featured in videogame Life is Strange: True Colors

Personal life

Aplin is vegan.^[36] She is in a relationship with musician Alfie Hudson-Taylor.^[37] The couple reside in Somerset.^[35][38]

Discography

Main article: Gabrielle Aplin discography

• English Rain (2013)
• Light Up the Dark (2015)
• Dear Happy (2020)
• Phosphorescent (2023)^[39]

References

1. @GabrielleAplin (11 October 2022). "Thank you for all the birthday wishes my friends! Can you believe I'm 30 lol wtf..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
2. Thomas-Corr, Johanna (13 November 2012). "Gabrielle Aplin: the jingle belle who rocks the John Lewis Christmas ad". London Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
3. "Wiltshire singer's big radio opportunity". BBC News. 19 April 2011.
4. "Gabrielle Aplin to support Gotye on European tour". City of Bath College. 2012. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
5. "Gabrielle Aplin: Never Fade". Bath Chronicle. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
6. Davies, Lynda (26 March 2012). "Tip of the Week: Gabrielle Aplin – Home". BBC Introducing Blog. BBC. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
7. "Home EP – Gabrielle Aplin". AWAL. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
8. "Gabrielle Aplin – Out On My Own (Home EP now available on iTunes)". YouTube. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
9. "Bath singer Gabrielle Aplin signs recording deal". Bath Chronicle. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
10. "Gabrielle Aplin covers Frankie Goes To Hollywood classic". South Wales Argus. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
11. Steve Holden (17 April 2012). "Introducing... Gabrielle Aplin". Newsbeat. BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
12. "Gabrielle Aplin: The Power of a Christmas John Lewis advert?". The Independent. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
13. "Power of Love cover claims number one spot". BBC News. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
14. McCormick, Neil (13 May 2013). "Gabrielle Aplin interview: 'I don't even know if I can sing'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
15. "Gabrielle Aplin Reacts to Chart Success". BBC Newsbeat. 20 May 2013.
16. Tina Hart (25 February 2013). "Parlophone's Gabrielle Aplin launches own label". Music Week. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
17. "Nottingham musician Saint Raymond signs major label deal". Nottingham Post. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014.
18. "Gabrielle Aplin: Singer-Songwriter Announces New Album 'Light Up The Dark'". Inveterate.co.uk. 18 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
19. "Gabrielle Aplin – 'Light Up The Dark'". Universal Music Publishing. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
20. Morgan, Clive (16 September 2015). "Listen to Gabrielle Aplin's Light Up the Dark – exclusive album stream". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
21. "Gabrielle Aplin estreia no Brasil embalada pelo sucesso de 'Home', em 'Totalmente Demais'". Rede Globo (in Portuguese). 27 May 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
22. "Domingão do Faustão". Rede Globo (in Portuguese). 22 May 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
23. "Glastonbury Line-Up 2016". Glastonburyfestivals.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
24. "Miss You Nylon Premiere". Nylon.com. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
25. "Gabrielle Aplin Switches It Up With "Miss You"". Idolator.com. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
26. "Gabrielle Aplin says there's so much to write about now she's independent". Evening Standard. 2 February 2017.
27. Donnelly, Matthew Scott (August 2017). "Gabrielle Aplin's 'Waking Up Slow'". PopCrush. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
28. "Gabrielle Aplin - Avalon CD EP (Signed) - TM Stores". gabrielleaplin.tmstor.es. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
29. "Gabrielle Aplin interview: "I didn't try to change, I just stopped trying not to". Popjustice. 11 August 2017.
30. "Gabrielle Aplin on Instagram: "Chapter 3 begins! I'm so happy to announce my new single My Mistake, out on 28/11/18! Make sure you pre-save here to hear it first:…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021.
31. "Gabrielle Aplin Finds Self-Acceptance in Her Vulnerable New Single 'My Mistake': Exclusive". Billboard.com.
32. "Gabrielle Aplin Releases New Single 'Nothing Really Matters'". Broadwayworld.com.
33. "Gabrielle Aplin and JP Cooper join forces on striking pop single "Losing Me"". Earmilk. 16 August 2019.
34. Cunniffe, Jessie; Lal, Kish; Shand, John; Smith, Barnaby (17 January 2020). "Halsey gets lost in a sea of superstar voices on third album". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
35. Turner, Lauren (18 January 2023). "Interview: Gabrielle Aplin's Honest & Reflective 'Phosphorescent' Explores the Physicality of Life". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
36. McLean, Craig (18 September 2015). "Gabrielle Aplin interview: The Power of Love hitmaker talks Light Up the Dark, owning her own record label and music streaming". The Independent. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
37. Kelly, Aoife (30 September 2018). "'The response has been mental' - Hudson Taylor talk supporting Hozier, avoiding Oasis-style rifts, and romance on the road". Irish Independent. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
38. Donaldson, Becky (6 June 2023). "Gabrielle Aplin on how nature and Glastonbury inspire her music". Hello!. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
39. @GabrielleAplin (4 January 2023). "Phosphorescent is out in two days!! I can't believe it's nearly here! To celebrate we've uploaded Skylight (Live Piano Version) to YouTube a little early..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links

• Official website
• Gabrielle Aplin at IMDb
• Gabrielle Aplin on Instagram