Gabrielle Papillon’s new single “Among the Queens” is a soft yet powerful preview of what is to come with the release of her new album Shout. Teaming up with award-winning South African musician Toya Delazy, she delivers a dreamy vision of her artistic ideals.
The song introduces itself with a simple steady beat accompanied by textured soft metallic jangling in the background that helps create an interesting atmosphere throughout the verses. The moment the piano enters the scene is the same moment her voice is telling you “I don’t want to be somebody else, I was born to live inside myself”.
The single plays like a different kind of protest song. Not one of a political nature or the issue of the day, it’s a song urging you to let go of those feelings and insecurities every person who enjoys a creative outlet of any sort has experienced, a feeling of which Papillon and Delazy had a deep mutual understanding.
“From the moment Toya and I met it felt like we were on the same wave-length. There was an instant trust and openness there,” Papillon says of the session. “We talked about struggling for acceptance, and especially self-acceptance, and about really fighting those inner demons that can overwhelm and make us feel small, inconsequential, insignificant. We both understood that we didn’t want to go about our lives and our careers by following rules it felt like the old guard had set for us.”
“Among the Queens” is the finale of the upcoming 7-track album, and it feels like it, especially compared to the previous single, synthpop toe-tapper “Shout It Out”. The song may be more laid-back but it’s packed full of emotion and depth, two tight verses from Delazy, and when you hear Papillon’s silky vibrato in the first bridge you might just melt.
Gabrielle Papillon will be touring in November in support of her upcoming album, Shout which is being released on October 25, 2019.
Tour Dates:
11.7-9.19 – Truro, NS @ Nova Scotia Music Week
11.14.19 – Fredericton, NB @ Grimross Brewing
11.16.19 – Woodstock, NB @ Crossing Paths Guest House & Event Centre
11.19.19 – Peterborough, ON @ The Garnet
11.20.19 – Toronto, ON @ The Burdock
11.21.19 – Trenton, ON @ Old Church Theatre
11.22.19 – Ottawa, ON @ National Arts Centre
11.23.19 – Shefford, QC @ Stanstead House Concert
11.24.19 – Montreal, QC @ Casa del Popolo
11.30.19 – Halifax, NS @ The Bus Stop Theatre