Continuing on with our introductions of the winners from the LA Music Critic Awards for the first half of 2016, our featured artist today is Gabe Dixon, the winner of “Best single” for his hit song “Crave,” as well as Best Pop/Rock Male Artist.
When we reviewed his album Turns to Gold back in May, the comparison was made to Dixon’s music being akin to that of Bruce Hornsby and Phil Vassar. Come to find out during our almost one-hour interview that Dixon has connections with both of these superstars. The Gabe Dixon Band once opened a concert for Bruce Hornsby, while Dixon and Vassar are friends, having shared the stage at a huge gala in their native Nashville.
Ready to learn more about Dixon and his music? Sit back, dig in and learn things. Let me warn you – this is a long one (I did mention the interview ran an hour, right?)
IVB: How long have you been performing?
GD: I started performing pretty young, around the age of 12. I had started learning piano at the age of 7, and got into the music of Elton John, Ray Charles and the Beatles. I grew up in Nashville, and my mom encouraged me to audition for a teen band. I did and was selected to be a part of the band Six Shooter, signed to Curb Records. We were basically a country version of a boy band. I wasn’t a big fan of the music, but they did keep us on tour a lot, with weekends during the school year and then all summer long. The touring gave me a lot of experience and the ride lasted about four or five years. It also gave me the confidence to start writing my own stuff, which I did around age 15. It also gave me the confidence to start playing whenever I could, mostly keyboards in other people’s band. By the time I got to college at the University of Miami, I was doing my own stuff. After graduation, I moved to New York City, and I have been playing off and on ever since.
IVB: Who are your influences?
GD: My early influences were blues and songwriter based musicians like Jerry Lee Lewis, Elton John, The Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as stuff my parents listened to, late 60s and early 70s artists like Joe Cocker, Ray Charles, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson and U2. Their music gave me a sense of songwriting and the basics. That style was planted deep within me. Everything I do now springs from that. As I matured I got into my own stuff and loved jam band and improvisation stuff, and artists like the Dave Matthews Band and Phish, which led to Jeff Buckley and Radiohead. Since those early days there have been so many influences that I can’t identify a single source.
IVB: What made you decide to DIY?
GD: I’d never done it before and many of my friends had done it their whole careers. I had previously signed with both Warner Brothers and Conchord Records, and had shopped my stuff around and gotten offers. I just didn’t feel there was strong interest anywhere, so I decided to sever ties and try it as an indie. I have never owned my own masters before so that’s a different experience. Basically, I just wanted to try it all out and wanted to take charge of what I was doing. I was intrigued by the whole crowd funding model of working directly with my fans. I raised the funds I needed and got to become closer to my fans. It was a good learning experience for me, allowing me to be more extroverted and interact with my fans. When I was signed to a label, I never had this much say in who was working for me, so this is a great new experience. I even left my old management firm after 10 years. Doing it DIY has allowed me learn to trust myself and my intuition. When it came time to get a publicist, I interviewed a bunch of them but never felt that connection until I met Laura (Goldfarb of Red Boot PR). I want those who represent me to all be good people. I never understood this before when the label did everything for me.
IVB: Do you want to go back to being a mainstream artist?
GD: I’m not sure at this time. Just released my last album (Turns to Gold) in April. (Going back) will depend on who the label is and what type of services they provide. Their business models have all changed. Right now my managers also own a publishing company and everything is more centered around me. I’m transitioning more to being a songwriter, and I like not having to be on the road all the time. I’ll never stop being an artist. If it makes sense next time around, then I’ll probably go with them.
IVB: What are your future plans?
GD: I’m going on tour with David Ryan Harris (Twobadours) around most of the US. I’m planning to take some time in late fall/early winter to do more songwriting and then maybe another short run in December. I’m also hoping to go overseas next spring to Europe and the UK. I want to work this album as long as I can. I am doing a show with my friend Kenny Loggins. I spent two tours opening for Loggins & Messina. Someone is doing a documentary retrospective on the band and I was asked to be part of the taping in Chicago this weekend (July 29-30). Other than that, my main focus right now is writing songs for my own project. I will probably do something else in the next couple of years.
IVB: Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?
GD: I have lots of embarrassing stories, but we won’t go there. I never can come up with these on the spot. I’ve spent so much time on the road. There was this one time in high school when I was playing in a blues band and we had a regular gig on Tuesday nights. One night we were playing along and we heard that The Black Crowes would come by. They showed up on our last song so we decided to continue playing. They watched us and clapped and then got up and sat in with us for a “shake your money maker” jam session. I was 16, and never thought they would remember me. Many years later I was performing at SunFest in West Palm Beach. We were coming off the stage when they showed up. I went up and introduced myself and they totally remembered me. They said I was a legend in their band and they kept telling people about this young kid who was killing to on blues piano. Today, my son and the son of their drummer go to the same school.
IVB: Where can your fans find out more about you?
GD: I have the usual social media. They can follow me on Twitter and Instagram, like my fan page on Facebook, and check out my website. I love hearing from my fans. They can also subscribe to my YouTube channel.