motel void

MOTEL VOID: You’ve just released your new single “Howl” – can you tell us a bit about the recording process? Will it be part of your debut album?

GABRIEL COMBA: Well, originally I wrote Howl to be a quiet acoustic song, super sparse. It wasn’t until I started playing it with my band, the Barn Cats, where I noticed that it could be something that sounded more like a rock song. I recorded it at my friends home studio, and it was a lot of fun. We wanted it to sound exactly how we played it live. Although we’re going to be putting the debut album out later this year, Howl won’t be on it. It’s a stand alone single, and I got a whole new batch of songs for the debut album.

MOTEL VOID: Who has been your biggest inspiration in your current work?

GABRIEL COMBA: I love artists like the Beatles, Neil Young, Hank Williams, the Zombies, Joni Mitchell, the Moldy Peaches, Deadmau5, Blaze Foley. Those are my favourites, all of them.

MOTEL VOID: Before releasing music as Gabriel Comba, did you work on any other projects?

GABRIEL COMBA: I had a ton of other projects. When I was a little kid, me and my brother made this band called Swords and Shields. Then in high school, I had some bands and monikers called Spaceman Spiff, My Oblivion, and the Tantors. I finally decided to just go under my own name. Maybe in the future I’ll explore some more stuff like that.

MOTEL VOID: You’re from Canada, specifically Ottawa – how would you describe the current local scene? Do you feel like you’re a part of it?

GABRIEL COMBA: I’d say the current local scene is pretty scattered. There’s a strong folk/ragtime scene, a pop punk one, even like a hardcore emo one. I’m still finding my way through it all, but I’ve met some really good people that make me feel like I’m part of a community.

MOTEL VOID: Do you have any favourite local artists or venues?

GABRIEL COMBA: Yeah. Shout out Based Frequency, Baked Goods Record Store, Dana Dufour, Sas, Meadow, Robin Kenny, Jackrabbits, James Croteau, Barn Cats, Dipper, Maurice my Pet Dragon, Ben Kissner.

MOTEL VOID: Do you plan to support your new album with live shows as well?

GABRIEL COMBA: Yes, I’m going to be playing a lot of live shows in the fall with the band and solo. I’m playing shows in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Gatineau, all over. If you live in those cities, come hang out and see the show!

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