The Music and Planet Project

We spoke with Gabrielle Ornate about her latest release Haunted Earth, her songwriting process, and what comes next.

Those of us involved in the Green Music Program are familiar with you, but for listeners who may be new, can you share a little bit about yourself and your music?

My name is Gabrielle Ornate and I am a bohemian songstress based in the UK who makes ethereal rock music. Fusing modern-age mythology with an ethereal rock edge and classic pop sensibility, my songs embody female empowerment and deep introspection. Always with a spellbinding message for the subconscious, I craft unique fairy tales and fables that weave into my mystical universe.

Your music touches on a variety of different genres. Where does this song fit for you in the evolution of your sound? 

Yes, my music is an eclectic fusion of various genres, styles and influences. I’ve discovered that there is a sub-genre that encompasses the grandeur of what I aimed to achieve with this single and it’s called “symphonic rock.” “Haunted Earth” satisfies the heavier, almost metal-esque edge of my pantheon, although my vocal melodies still adhere to pop tendencies and seek to remain anthemic and memorable. 

Do you have a favourite moment in Haunted Earth?

I like the poignant, stirring energy of the ending whereby the orchestra play us out in a dreamt way, representing the ambiguous, uncertainty of our future. I feel like this moment encapsulates the entire message of the song.

Tell us about the lyrics. What is the song about? Are there any particular themes you drew on for this new track?

Haunted Earth is a song steeped in a modern-age mythology, questioning whether we’re not long for this world or whether we’re destined to change the course of fate. I set out to create an eco anthem through a self-penned fable of a saviour, trying to convince her peers to unite and save their world together before it’s too late; a rallying call to resurrect humanity from its inevitable self-destruction. Thus, the main themes are environmental destruction and collective responsibility. 

Tell us a little bit about the songwriting and recording process for Haunted Earth.

So this song screamed out for an epic orchestral arrangement to represent the scope of the message. Originally, I’d written a song called “Caught In Between” that had some potential but wasn’t 100% right in its previous form, so my partner Orlando and I decided to take the best bits of it and turn it into what is now “Haunted Earth.” The main elements we carried across from the old version were some of the melodic and harmonic ideas in the chorus, however the rest of the song was completely transformed, as were the lyrics and message of the song. During the updated writing process, Orlando played his custom baritone “Partscaster“ guitar whilst I jammed the new melodies over the top, which set a gothic mood. Upon recording, we decided to amp up the atmosphere by creating a string arrangement with some additional orchestral elements which, all in all, made the track much more momentous. 

What’s next for Gabrielle Ornate?

I’ve been playing live a lot more recently in London and around the UK in general, and I have a Sofar Sounds performance coming up in Newcastle later this month which will be a fun adventure! More gig dates booked in around the UK next year too. I’ve been writing and recording many more tunes and have plans to release them along with artful music videos. I’m also in a steady rhythm posting pretty much everyday on TikTok so I’m planning to keep up with that with the aim of growing my audience online. 

Keep up Gabrielle Ornate on Instagram and Spotify and stream the new track here.