Oscar Nathwani-Hall | 25/07/2025

Alice: Black Eye deals with loneliness and isolation after your return from Nigeria. How do those experiences continue to resonate through the rest of the EP? 

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Gabriel Guy: 

They continue to echo through the EP as I explore themes like love, depression and bullying — all through that same “fish out of water” perspective. When you don’t have anyone to talk to, you end up learning things the hard way — through pain. 

A: How has the process of releasing this EP helped you process your own experiences with isolation and belonging during your school years? 

GG: Writing and releasing this EP was like a therapy session. I unpacked a lot of trauma from those years, broke it down, and looked at it from different angles. I realized that, deep down, I just wanted to be accepted and loved for who I was. I was mature and thought differently — and I guess that intimidated some people. 

A: How do you hope it translates to listeners? What do you hope they take away from it? 

GG: It really depends on who’s listening. If someone relates to my story, I hope they feel less alone — that there’s always hope. Even though life can be a tough fight, it’s worth holding on and not compromising what makes you feel alive. And for those on the outside looking in, maybe it’ll open their eyes to what others go through — and inspire them to be kinder, more open, and less judgmental. 

A: What role does vulnerability play in your creative process? Do you find it therapeutic, draining — or both? 

GG: For me, it’s 100% therapeutic. If I don’t write about something that’s weighing on me, I never fully understand what happened — or what part I played in it. Songwriting helps me see the truth of a situation, even when it hurts. It gives me clarity and maturity I can’t get any other way. 

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A: It must have felt incredibly vulnerable when writing the EP. Was there a moment where it felt the opposite and emboldening? 

GG: It was always vulnerable — these are stories I’d never share in a regular conversation. ‘Jealous’ was a bit more fun to write, but it’s still about a one-night stand and rejection, so… still kinda triggering, haha. 

A: How did the making of ‘Jealous’ unfold during writing and recording? 

GG: My producer, Omri Bear, started playing this Latin-style rhythm on the piano. I grabbed my phone, hit record, and started singing whatever came to mind. That’s when the chorus came out: “Maybe you should be mine / I think you’ll be surprised / trust me, we’ll be fine.” It felt like I was trying to convince someone to stay.  

We built it out from there, layering in a cool beat over the piano, and the rest of the song followed naturally. It brought back the memory of my first one-night stand, where I thought there was something real, but looking back, I was just young and naive. The pre-chorus has this almost circus-like chaos to it — like I’m about to explode — and then the Latin rhythm returns, as I try to convince myself I’m enough for the other person. 

A: How did your influences feed into writing the EP? 

GG: I’m constantly inspired by new music. While working on this EP, I was listening to a lot of MIKA, Frank Ocean, Jessie Reyez, James Blake, Melanie Martinez, and Labrinth. There’s something about their music — it’s playful on the surface but packed with meaning underneath. I wanted to do the same: use upbeat rhythms and interesting textures to carry heavy, honest emotions. 

A: ‘Bullies at Recess’ evokes childhood and schoolyard memories, a time where formative often feels like grieving moments you didn’t get to live through. Has the EP helped you process those emotions? 

GG: Absolutely. Today, I feel much more confident in who I am. Back then, I used to blame myself — thinking I was the problem. But I’ve realized that kids are often cruel to what they don’t understand. Social status means nothing in the real world. Now I know I deserve to be around people who are kind, open, and genuine. Those people are real and all around us. 

A: How do you protect your mental health while being so emotionally exposed in your lyrics and visuals? 

GG: I go to therapy, spend time with my family and friends, and try not to overthink everything. That support keeps me grounded. 

A: Are there any mental health practices or support systems — therapy, journaling, music itself, that you personally rely on? 

GG: Definitely. Therapy has helped me so much — just having a safe space to let things out. Writing music is truly a lifeline for me. And exercise helps too, it keeps my body and brain in check. 

A: What does the future look like to you, in terms of your hopes and dreams? 

GG: My dream is to release a full album and take it around the world on a sold-out tour. That’s the vision I’m chasing. 

A: Having experienced moments that weigh so heavily, what brings you joy now? 

GG: Just creating — writing, performing, making music, and even writing for others. I feel like I finally found what I was meant to do. I never thought I’d be a singer-songwriter, but now it’s my biggest passion and it brings me joy every single day.