Gabby Durden’s dedication to music began with a life-altering knock on the door. Her mother took her own life. When grief threatened to consume Gabby, she turned to music.
Gabby was previously known as LeTigress – a trailblazer in the male-dominated esports scene, making her mark on a fandom of millions as the first-ever woman play-by-play commentator on the League of Legends Championship Series. As Gabby Durden, she breaks past “LeTigress” to breach new boundaries as an emo rap singer-songwriter.
Gabby has turned to music as a form of escapism from tragedies, traumas, and reality for as long as she can remember. Losing her mother so tragically spurred the urge to stop focusing her career on highlighting the stories of others and start sharing her own.
The core of Gabby’s lyrics focuses on mental health, overcoming life challenges, and self-empowerment. This doesn’t preclude her from telling haters to fuck off with any of their sexist or racist bias – something she finds all too familiar from her time in gaming.
Ultimately, Gabby knows from experience the impact of her voice. She believes in the healing force of music and hopes to give her fans the emotional connection they deserve. Gabby shares, “My mother’s suicide awakened something in me. I began reevaluating a lot of my life. I couldn’t keep bottling myself up. I refused to stay quiet…enough was enough. This is a new chapter. This is who I truly am.” Gabby is a unique asset to the music scene: a female, emo rap icon-in-the-making with a splash of refreshing vocals. This is best demonstrated in her premiere single “ribcage (awakening).” When asked about the meaning behind “ribcage (awakening),” Gabby explains, “‘ribcage’ sits in the shock of what I call the ‘point of impact’– or the moment I learned of my mom’s passing. I felt thrown into a crossroads: either collapse under grief or save myself. My draw to music felt desperate…the only way to gain control over my life when I felt powerless. ‘ribcage’ is all about that decision. To awaken. To take control.”
Gabby has honed an impressive set of musical skills. Her eclectic performance training–from childhood musical theater to a collegiate minor in music–gives her the edge she needs to stand out in the less-melodically-driven genre that is rap. Gabby cites musical influences such as NF, Eminem, Ashnikko, Cardi B, Run the Jewels, Bo Burnham, and even the alternative rock edge of Linkin Park, Gorillaz, and The Killers. Gabby is working alongside an incredible female-dominated team out of Nashville and Los Angeles with plans to aggressively release music throughout 2023 and beyond. She cites the BROCKHAMPTON’s SATURATION trilogy as a source of inspiration for hustling to make a name for yourself.
When asked about the meaning behind “ribcage (awakening),” Gabby explains, “‘ribcage’ sits in the shock of what I call the ‘point of impact’– or the moment I learned of my mom’s passing. I felt thrown into a crossroads: either collapse under grief or save myself. My draw to music felt desperate…the only way to gain control over my life when I felt powerless. ‘ribcage’ is all about that decision. To awaken. To take control.”
Featured on episode 13 of Discover Her Music Podcast
Song: Ribcage (awakening)
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