Gabe Madari is an alternative rock artist. In 2015 he created his own band called Benjamin Gabe with his longtime friend John Gero. In Benjamin Gabe he is a guitarist and singer, but he also write and produce all theirs records.
Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your career journey?
I was born and raised in South Slovakia. I am in music ever since my childhood. In primary school I went to a music class – I was learning different instruments and also I was a singer in the school choir. Later in my early teenage years I have discovered the guitar and that pretty much changed everything. Later I played in different bands, wrote songs for those
bands and for other artists as well. In 2015 I managed to form my own band called Benjamin Gabe with my longtime friend John Gero. In Benjamin Gabe I am a guitarist and singer, but I also write and produce all our records.
What first got you into music?
Discovering the guitar and the early 2000s best records made me jump into music and songwriting. I was like 12 when I started to write my first songs. It was a combination of elements that I heard from Eminem, Linkin Park, Green Day and Good Charlotte… it was pretty eclectic. In those teenage days I was always sitting in my sister’s room listening to my favorite records over and over again. I think that was the first step to me.
What is your creative process like?
In the past couple of years I live by one rule – there are no rules! You never know when the inspiration hits you. It really can be anything. All my best work is coming from some form of an inspirational moment. Then a lyric idea, a melody, a chord progression is born. But that is just a little spark. The hard work starts after you had that initial idea. You can’t fake hard work. I tend to work a lot on my songs, especially in the production phase. I also believe in the flow. If you have the flow while you work, magic things will happen!
What do you like most about your job?
I like to write and create. That is the most interesting part – creating something from nothing, something that can live forever. Maybe it sounds pathetic, but it is so true. I love being on the stage playing shows, that’s the most fun part! The energy I get from the audience is something that I can’t describe. I believe that there is a bond
created between the performer and the audience during live shows – that’s why we love playing live as a band. I love being on the road as well. Traveling can be tricky, but there is something romantic about being on the move all the time. It is so interesting how we can find comfort in being “nowhere”.
What was your first big break in the music industry?
To be honest I am still waiting for my big break, but there were some great signs – after just one year we developed a great working relationship with an American record label, we played really nice venues around Europe. I am especially proud of playing two times in the legendary The Dublin Castle in London.
What’s one of the most interesting projects that you’ve done?
Currently we are working on an interesting project – it is a film documenting the life of an up and coming band. Sadly this was affected negatively because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. All of our upcoming shows and travels were cancelled. Also we can’t be in the studio together. Me and John we are working from home on Benjamin Gabe stuff. But we are adopted ourselves to this situation and ready to come back stronger and more prepared than ever before!
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
I am trying to concentrate on the positive effects. I can make a record on my laptop and make it available all over the world within minutes. Today there is more power in a musicians hand than ever before. But fact is the noise is so big. It is really hard to get noticed, no matter how much cool things you can do online with your music. The size of your budget is still in the game, because at the end of the day music business is a business – and as a musician with a master’s degree in economics I can ensure everyone that there is a price to step into the markets. And it’s not different in the music business.
If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?
That is a really hard question. It would be so easy to say some unrealistic changes. I think the most important would be a fair compensation for our work when it comes to streaming and other digital territories. I really believe that the industry people should be more opened for up and coming or simply new bands. They are always waiting for some validation from “numbers”, but they almost never think about the fact, that they could be the catalyst for reaching the “numbers” for emerging artists.
To what do you attribute your success?
We are always very open and honest in our work and I think this comes across and the audience appreciates it. We don’t create fake images around ourselves. We are really who we are. What you see on the stage from us, what you hear when listening to our songs – that’s who we are. It works. It always works. What could be more real than the truth? – that’s a slogan we use from the first day with Benjamin Gabe.
What are you passionate about besides your work?
To be honest all my obsessions are around music and art. I love reading great literature, especially biographies and history related books. I also enjoy poetry and books written by creative minded business people.
If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
Never stop, believe in yourself and never give up! May sound clichéd but it is so true. You never know what will happen after you release your next song. The sound in your head may say you are not great enough, or maybe it will want you to stop. That is a normal human thing, don’t be afraid of it, just realize that it is a lie. You should never stop – you will regret it sooner or later!
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers, any
advice?
Never ever compare yourself to someone else. You want to be unique, right? So how can you become someone truly loved when you trying to copy someone? Be true to yourself it will pay off.
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