Gabby La La
Encyclopedia
Gabby La La, is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist
(including sitar
, ukulele
, accordion
, theremin
and toy piano), signed to Prawn Song Records
. Her music is self described as "fun, unique, crazy (and) kooky". La La's eccentric debut album, Be Careful What You Wish For...
, is a collaboration with Les Claypool
that though "peculiar... reveals gems of pop merriment."
Gabby La La is primarily a solo artist but at times she has been a member of Weapon of Choice
and currently is a member of Les Claypool's Fancy Band
.
for 8 years, then received a Bachelor of Fine Arts
in Sitar Performance from the California Institute of the Arts
. La La is a founding member of dAKAH Symphonic Hip Hop Orchestra
, and played with Weapon of Choice
, and J Boogie's Dubtronic Science
, while continuing her studies of Indian classical music
. La La toured in the U.S. with Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains
in late 2004 as an opening act
in their national tour, which included stops at venues like The Warfield Theater in San Francisco.
After this tour, Gabby La La released her first solo studio album
entitled Be Careful What You Wish For... on Les Claypool's Prawnsong Records. She was the second non-Primus
act to be signed to the label. This album featured Gabby on sitar, ukulele, accordion, theremin and vocals and Les Claypool on bass, drums and percussion. The two produced the album at Rancho Relaxo Studios, beginning with Gabby La La's concepts and lyrics.
To promote the album, La La and Claypool performed at Bonnaroo Music Festival
, All Good Music Festival
, Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival
, Joe's Pub
in New York City
, and the Jammy Awards at Madison Square Garden
. La La also toured for several years as an official member of Les Claypool's Fancy Band
.
La La has also toured with Morcheeba
, Marco Benevento
, Particle
, The Sippy Cups, and Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
.
La La's second album, I Know You Know I Know, was released on February 18, 2011 and features songs about "School Days". This album was produced and performed entirely by Gabby La La, using a Pink Nintendo DS Lite
, sitar, ukulele, theremin and voice.
As writer, arranger, and/or performer
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
(including sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
, ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
, accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
and toy piano), signed to Prawn Song Records
Prawn Song Records
Prawn Song Records is the record label owned by Les Claypool of Primus. The name and logo are a parody of Led Zeppelin's famous label Swan Song Records.The label was created in 1989 for the initial limited release of the Primus live album Suck On This...
. Her music is self described as "fun, unique, crazy (and) kooky". La La's eccentric debut album, Be Careful What You Wish For...
Be Careful What You Wish For...
-Personnel:* Gabby La La – sitar, ukulele, accordion, theremin, lead vocals* Les Claypool – bass, drums, percussion-Production:* Les Claypool – producer, arranger, engineer* Stephen Marcussen – mastering* Jesse Rice – project supervisor...
, is a collaboration with Les Claypool
Les Claypool
Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
that though "peculiar... reveals gems of pop merriment."
Gabby La La is primarily a solo artist but at times she has been a member of Weapon of Choice
Weapon of Choice
Weapon of Choice may refer to:* Weapon of Choice , a high-energy funk band led by Lonnie Marshall* Weapons of Choice, a 2004 novel by John Birmingham...
and currently is a member of Les Claypool's Fancy Band
Les Claypool's Fancy Band
Les Claypool's Fancy Band was a lineup of musicians on tour with Les Claypool from 2005 to 2008. The band consisted of Claypool on bass, Skerik on tenor and baritone saxophone, Mike Dillon on vibraphone, marimba, tabla, cuíca and percussion, Gabby La La on sitar, ukulele and theremin and Paulo...
.
Biography and career
Gabby La La started studying and playing piano when she was five years old. She kept switching instruments, guitar, accordion, sitar, ukulele and theremin until she realized that she had the tools to create her own music. She studied with Ali Akbar KhanAli Akbar Khan
Ali Akbar Khan , often referred to as Khansahib or by the title Ustad , was a Hindustani classical musician of the Maihar gharana, known for his virtuosity in playing the sarod...
for 8 years, then received a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
in Sitar Performance from the California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
. La La is a founding member of dAKAH Symphonic Hip Hop Orchestra
Dakah
The dAKAH Symphonic Hip Hop Orchestra is a symphony orchestra augmented by turntables and a rhythm section as well as several rappers and singers...
, and played with Weapon of Choice
Weapon of Choice (band)
Weapon of Choice is a band from Los Angeles fronted by bass player Lonnie Marshall. They play a mixture of rock, alternative, funk, hip hop, jazz and reggae called Nutmeg, a term created by Marshall...
, and J Boogie's Dubtronic Science
J Boogie
Justin "J-Boogie" Boland is an American DJ/producer from San Francisco, California. He was born in September 1973. He is signed to the Om Records label, and has 2 full length Album's as well as several mix cd's. He has also been featured on several compilations such as Mushroom Jazz and the OM...
, while continuing her studies of Indian classical music
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
. La La toured in the U.S. with Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains
Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains
Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains was an experimental supergroup featuring bassist Les Claypool, guitarist Buckethead, keyboardist Bernie Worrell and drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia.-History:...
in late 2004 as an opening act
Opening act
An opening act or warm-up act is an entertainer or entertainment act that performs at a concert before the featured entertainer...
in their national tour, which included stops at venues like The Warfield Theater in San Francisco.
After this tour, Gabby La La released her first solo studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
entitled Be Careful What You Wish For... on Les Claypool's Prawnsong Records. She was the second non-Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
act to be signed to the label. This album featured Gabby on sitar, ukulele, accordion, theremin and vocals and Les Claypool on bass, drums and percussion. The two produced the album at Rancho Relaxo Studios, beginning with Gabby La La's concepts and lyrics.
To promote the album, La La and Claypool performed at Bonnaroo Music Festival
Bonnaroo Music Festival
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an annual four day music festival created and produced by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment, held at Great Stage Park on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. It hosted its tenth annual event June 9–12, 2011...
, All Good Music Festival
All Good Music Festival
The All Good Music Festival and Camp Out is a weekend-long event held annually in July. Since its inception in 1997, it has been held at venues along the Mid-Atlantic, including Masontown, West Virginia and locations in Maryland and Virginia...
, Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival
Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival
Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival is a four-day music festival held in early June at Mulberry Mountain near Ozark, Arkansas. The festival has been held annually since 2004....
, Joe's Pub
Joe's Pub
Joe's Pub at Public Theater is a nightclub that hosts live performances regularly. The venue, which is a non-profit operation, is located at 425 Lafayette Street near Astor Place in Manhattan, New York City...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and the Jammy Awards at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. La La also toured for several years as an official member of Les Claypool's Fancy Band
Les Claypool's Fancy Band
Les Claypool's Fancy Band was a lineup of musicians on tour with Les Claypool from 2005 to 2008. The band consisted of Claypool on bass, Skerik on tenor and baritone saxophone, Mike Dillon on vibraphone, marimba, tabla, cuíca and percussion, Gabby La La on sitar, ukulele and theremin and Paulo...
.
La La has also toured with Morcheeba
Morcheeba
Morcheeba are a British band, mixing influences from trip hop, rock, R&B, and pop.They have produced 7 albums since 1995, two of which reached the UK top ten.-Biography:...
, Marco Benevento
Marco Benevento
Marco Benevento is a pianist, organist and composer from Brooklyn, New York. Benevento is known for his effected piano work with his trio as well as his Hammond Organ and Wurlitzer Electric Piano work with the Benevento Russo Duo...
, Particle
Particle (band)
Particle is an American jam band formed in Los Angeles in 2000. The original members were Dave Simmons , Steve Molitz , Eric Gould , and Darren Pujalet . Simmons died shortly after the formation of the band due to a sudden illness. Guitarist Charlie Hitchcock joined shortly thereafter...
, The Sippy Cups, and Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players describe themselves as an "indie-vaudeville conceptual art-rock pop band", from the United States. Originally from Seattle, Washington, they are now based in New York, New York.-Overview:...
.
La La's second album, I Know You Know I Know, was released on February 18, 2011 and features songs about "School Days". This album was produced and performed entirely by Gabby La La, using a Pink Nintendo DS Lite
Nintendo DS Lite
The is a dual-screen handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It is a slimmer, brighter, and more lightweight redesign of the Nintendo DS, designed to be aesthetically sleeker, while taking styling cues from the Game Boy Advance SP, and to appeal to broader commercial audiences...
, sitar, ukulele, theremin and voice.
Studio albums
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Be Careful What You Wish For... Be Careful What You Wish For... -Personnel:* Gabby La La – sitar, ukulele, accordion, theremin, lead vocals* Les Claypool – bass, drums, percussion-Production:* Les Claypool – producer, arranger, engineer* Stephen Marcussen – mastering* Jesse Rice – project supervisor... |
| 2011 | I Know You Know I Know |
As writer, arranger, and/or performer
- 2004 The Big Eyeball in the SkyThe Big Eyeball in the SkyThe Big Eyeball in the Sky is the 2004 album by Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, known by fans as "C2B3", released on Les Claypool's own Prawn Song label.- Reception :Hal Horowitz of Allmusic gave the album an above average review, writing:...
by Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie BrainsColonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie BrainsColonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains was an experimental supergroup featuring bassist Les Claypool, guitarist Buckethead, keyboardist Bernie Worrell and drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia.-History:...
(CDCompact DiscThe Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
; Prawn Song) - 2005 True & Livin'True & Livin'True & Livin is the third album from Oakland Hip hop duo Zion I, their first on self-owned LiveUp Records. Zion and Amp Live expand their creative and experimental sounds on the album, featuring a wide range of musical styles, laced with intelligent, socially conscious lyrics...
by Zion IZion IZion I are a hip hop duo from Oakland, California. The duo consists of producer DJ AmpLive and MC Zumbi. The group is known to its followers for Amp's futuristic production techniques, using a mix of live instrumentation and samples, and Zumbi's positive and socially conscious lyrics. Zion I...
(CD, 2×LPDouble albumA double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
; LiveUp) - 2006 Of Whales and WoeOf Whales and WoeOf Whales And Woe is a solo album by Les Claypool, the bassist of Primus. The album was released on the May 30, 2006. The album features Skerik , Mike Dillon , and Gabby La La . "Back off Turkey" also features Les' children, Cage and Lena...
by Les Claypool (CD, LPLP recordThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
180 gr.; Prawn Song) - 2007 Turn My Teeth Up! by Baby Elephant (CD; Godforsaken Music)