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20 Questions with Gabriel Mann

Over the years I've gotten to meet a wide variety of artists who have spent their entire career mostly doing what they love: making music. Of course some could do it because they wrote a hit song or played in a famous band but there are tons of great stories of folks who find ways to do the improbable, make a real living making music, on a human scale, without having to be a famous rock star or a pop diva. I rarely get to read about these real world success stories anywhere else, but I think these stories are some of the most important to share because most of the successes are achievable by anyone with talent, networking skills and an open mind. So I decided it was up to me to start sharing some of these stories with you myself. Today, I'd like to introduce you to JPF Member Gabriel Mann. I first learned about Gabriel as I learn about many of you reading this, through his nominated song "Lighted Up" in our 2004 JPF Music Awards (It finished a close 3rd in a category that included the overall song of the year). Here's a link you can listen to it while reading this article if you'd like: http://www.jpfolks.com/LightedUp.mp3

To set up this interview, all you need to know is that Gabriel makes music full time, takes a variety of diverse gigs in a wide array of disciplines to keep it going and his current claim to fame is his involvement co-writing the songs for the Emmy winning TV Show Arrested Development. Here's a real life and ongoing success story from a real life JPF member. If you have any questions, you can contact Gabriel directly via his website/contact info at the bottom, or you can post comments/questions here on our message board for discussion:

Enjoy!

JPF = Brian Austin Whitney GM = Gabriel Mann

Q1. JPF: Tell us a little about your background. Is it true you dropped your Pre Med studies 1 semester before finishing to pursue music composition?

A1. GM: I started writing songs when I was in high school after several years of classical piano lessons, and some singing with my father, a cantor, at synagogue in San Antonio, Texas, my hometown. I was a keyboard player in a band called Los Hurtin' Dogs for a short period – they had a single on Austin radio after I left for college. At the University of Pennsylvania I majored in music composition, where I had the opportunity to work with composer George Crumb. While in college I also had the first public performances of my own songs, first by my a cappella singing group, then with my own shows. During my Jr. and Sr. years I also had a development deal with Ruffhouse/Columbia. I was pre-med at the time as well, but dropped that (with only one more semester of organic chemistry to go) in favor of an independent study in composition in which I scored a production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Q2. JPF: Where you did go after college?

A2. GM: Upon graduation I moved out to Los Angeles, where I enrolled in USC’s Film Scoring program. I spent a year there and went through a few jobs as an assistant to various television composers, notably with Russ Landau (who now does all the music for the “Survivor” shows), and ultimately landed at David Schwartz’s (“Northern Exposure,” “Arrested Development”) studio.

Q3. JPF: That sounds like a great place to land! What happened there?

A3. GM: While I was there I did all manner of studio work. Engineering, mixing, producing, arranging, orchestrating, filing, winding cable, hooking up gear, loading samples, dealing with computers, wiring, and a little writing here and there. At some point David went on vacation, and I used this break to mix my first album, Careen, which I'd been recording piece-meal over long nights in his studio. I worked up a band and began playing out in Los Angeles, and soon thereafter left Schwartz’s to run a friend’s studio, where I began a day job recording and producing other bands, and ultimately my own music.

Q4. JPF: What kind of live performance gigs do you typically do?

A4. GM: You name it. Clubs show with the band and solo, major tours as a support act (Jamie Cullum and Alanis Morissette, most notably), headlining shows in Los Angeles and New York. I do studio work as a singer and keyboard player - I recently played on Emma Roberts’ record on Columbia, and for friends Joe Purdy and Gary Jules.

Q5. JPF: You've actually done a lot of studio vocal work for TV and Movies right? Tell us about some of them?

A5. GM: Yes. As for studio singing, I’ve been on NYPD Blue, Over There, Maximum Bob, Brimstone, The John Larroquette Show, America Undercover, Malcolm in the Middle, The Ellen Show, Office Space, Fantastic Four, X2: X-Men United, Brother Bear, Rugrats Go Wild, Cheaper by the Dozen, and probably a bunch more I’m forgetting.

Q6. JPF: Have you had any success writing songs for other artists?

A6. GM: The only major experience I've had writing a song for someone else was in the movie Sleepover, where my friend/composer Deb Lurie (who I met at the USC program) and I wrote the end credits song “Remember.” This was used a theme in the score that Deb wrote, and there is a band called Allister playing the high school dance that does a version of the song. My version plays over the credits.

Q7. JPF: What about your work as a producer?

A7. GM: As for producing, I’ve done lots and lots of demos for various people, a long-running series of Cool Whip commercials, and I produce all my own stuff (with help sometimes). I recently produced a record I love with Sara Bareilles, who subsequently got signed to Epic Records.

Q8. JPF: How did your current gig with Arrested Development come about? Was it just a matter of networking and David knowing your work?

A8. GM: Well, it wasn't exactly networking, but I guess it’s something like it. I worked as David’s assistant for a year and a half, but didn't get the chance to write much. After spreading my wings a bit, playing shows and winning the USA Songwriting Competition, opportunities started coming. When David had a chance to put some songs in Arrested Development, he gave me a call.

Q9. JPF: What does your gig with Arrested Development entail?

A9. GM: I co-write songs with David Schwartz for the show. That is, whenever there’s a need for a song (not score, but an actual song, usually with vocal and lyric) I'm there with David in the studio, and we write and record basic tracks together in one night, very much a full co-write. The amount of music differs for each show – some shows have one song, some have none, some have five. David writes the score for the show as well, but I'm not really involved with that. David’s a great bass player, and I play keys, so we can get all but guitars done while we write. The episodes are completely finished (unless we're writing something for a pre-record, where the actors have to sing what we write – that’s happened occasionally) when we write the songs, so we usually know exactly how long we need to go. They're truly custom songs for the show by the time we're done.

Q10. JPF: How does this type of gig can affect you financially? Is it something you could do as your sole job or is it simply a supplemental income type thing?

A10. GM: Well, I can say that it is not something I could do as my sole job, but it’s been a great extra income stream for me - I earn income as both a singer and as a composer.

Q11. JPF: How has the show affected you? Has it impacted your career as a performing artist much?

A11. GM: David and I have had a great time writing together on Arrested, and we did a lot more songwriting on a short-lived show on UPN called Sex, Love, and Secrets. The songs we do for Arrested aren't typical Gabriel Mann songs, although maybe at some point a few of them could be. That said, I've encountered more than a few Arrested fans at shows, and I'm pretty sure I've sold some records to fans of the show. My AD gig also led to a few addition TV writing opportunities I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

Q12. JPF: Do you see your career heading more in that direction full time or do you plan to continue as an artist or do you just take it a day at a time?

A12. GM: As for where my career is heading, you're right on the money with the one day at a time concept. I never know where I'm going to be tomorrow. I guess as long as things continue to grow and I get to write songs and sing and make a living at it, that’s good enough for me.

Q13. JPF: What have you learned from the gig that you could share with others who want to work doing music for TV or movies? What kind of training helped you (or could help others) succeed on that type of a job?

A13. GM: The first time I wrote with David on the show was very magical, like the first time you co-write a great song with a contemporary and things just go great. But we only arrived at that point after several years of working together doing other things. The fact that I worked in David’s studio for a year and a half was VERY helpful. Both David and I wear all hats in the studio, so I record him playing bass, he records my keys, etc. Studio training in general – engineering, mixing, producing – that’s the stuff that really helps. And knowing the technology just makes everything go smoothly so we can concentrate on writing songs.

Q14. JPF: Have you gotten to directly interact with the cast or crew of the show?

A14. GM: Once. Twice, actually. Well, maybe three times. Once there was a pre-record where I had recorded a rap that David Cross ultimately had to perform on the show. I went to the set and taught him the rap, which was a riot. I saw them filming a few scenes, met David and some of the crew. That was some good, clean fun. Then I went to the wrap party after the first season and met most of the cast members. Mitch Hurwitz, the creator, is very involved with every aspect of the show, so I've also met him a few times at David’s studio and spoken with him over the phone to discuss questions we've got about certain scenes.

Q15. JPF: What else is going on in your career? Are you releasing any new music soon?

A15. GM: I'm just finishing up rough mixes of about eight new songs – I'm not sure whether these will wind up on a new record yet, but I'll be sending them out to industry folk to generate some renewed interest in my project. They're much more modern sounding, as opposed to my last record which was deliberately a bit stripped down.

(Note from Brian: Despite winning the Emmy for Best TV Comedy the last 2 years, Arrested Development (AD) has struggled in the ratings and is looking for a new home, perhaps on Cable TV)

Q16. JPF: How will your life change if AD doesn't get picked up by anyone else? (Or has that decision already been made?).

A16. GM: Well, as for AD, if it doesn't get picked up (which is something I'll be the last to know), I will likely work with David Schwartz on future projects. He is already working on a new movie in April that he’s talked about in terms of some songs.

Q17. JPF: You've also done some video game work. Do you have anything coming up on that front?

A17. GM: Yes, I'm currently writing music for a video game called Spyro: Next for Vivendi Universal Games with a composer named Rebecca Kneubuhl. We're doing a full 90-minute orchestral score for this game, and it follows closely on the heels of two Crash Bandicoot video games that we scored a cappella with our old group, spiralmouth, providing the voices.

Q18. JPF: Tell us a little about your experience as the opening act for the Alanis Morissette tour?

A18. GM: The Alanis tour yielded many stories, but suffice it to say it was an incredible experience, one that makes you want to play for ten thousand people every night. We did this tour on the cheap, using a website called couchsurfing.com to find hosts in Germany, Brussels, etc. Alanis herself joined us onstage for our last night in Fürth, Germany, playing tambourine for a song of mine called “Over the World.” That was a trip, and a real honor for me and my band. Speaking of which, I should mention that my regular band consists of Adam Marcello on drums and percussion, Carson Cohen on bass, and occasionally features Steve Mazur (of Our Lady Peace) on guitar. Adam and Carson both sing backup, and when I play duo shows with Steve, he chimes in a bit on the vocals as well.

Q20. JPF: Any parting advice you'd like to share so far from your career?

A19. GM: I hesitate to give tips on what to do to get places in music, because everyone has such a different experience pursuing it as a career. But one lesson I've been learning a lot lately is that you can never hang out enough. You can never go to enough shows and hang with the artists, your friends, the booking guys, the managers, everybody. They're all just people, and we're just people, and if you're cool, cool stuff will happen to you. But it won't happen if you're at home worrying about the 3rd line in the 2nd verse of a song you wrote a year ago. Better to worry about that line when you're on the road opening for Alanis Morissette.

Q20. JPF: Thanks for the peak into your very active and diverse career. It's great to know that with talent, networking skills and an open mind, you can find so many different ways to do what most of our members want to do most: spend all their time making music. How can your fellow JPF Members find you?

A20. GM: If anyone wants to check out what I do, my website is www.gabrielmann.com. I also have a page on myspace: www.myspace.com/gabrielmann Thanks for your interest in my world!

This is cool Brian! Thanks for taking the time to do it and share with us!

Herbie

I find this as good an interview you can get with someone who is working their ass off on the way up the industry's precarious ladder.

I think it's amazing that such an obvious idea of getting out and networking gets lost on so many artists.

Jody

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Music That Makes Your Soul Happy!
www.jodywhitesides.com

I find this as good an interview you can get with someone who is working their ass off on the way up the industry's precarious ladder.

I think it's amazing that such an obvious idea of getting out and networking gets lost on so many artists.

Jody

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Music That Makes Your Soul Happy!
www.jodywhitesides.com

This was a very good & interesting read..
Thanks for writing it and sharing it..

Peace
Sub

Thanks Brian.

I checked out his soundclick and this guy is just flat out good. He sounds a little like Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. I also noticed he has a nice number of hot groupies. :-)

Hot groupies never hurts on Myspace.

= )

Brian

Thank you, both Brian & Gabriel, for taking the time to share this....Even though Gabriel's career is 300 degrees away from my musical direction, he still gives some very valuable advice...I particularly liked his admonition to 'get out there'...Forget about the 3rd line/second verse thingy & Network!

Midnite


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Satchel was right...Something is gaining on me....
www.jackcouldntmakeit.com

Thanks Brian & Gabriel -
Quite insightful. thanks for sharing.
Bottom line.. its lots of hard work ..
I have been waiting for the song to come up ... since I have dial -up I may have to wait til next week to enjoy the music

thanks again
Joanne

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[*]The Best is Yet to Be,Joanne Lurgio-singer/songwriter www.joannelurgio.com


[*] Joanne's Gig Calendar - http://www.musi-cal.com/search?key=performers&value=Lurgio

[*] http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=100751

[*] www.cdbaby.com/cd/lurgio

[*] MySpace - www.myspace.com/joannelurgio

[*]www.cdbaby.com/group/justplainfolks

Mad props!

(whutever that means...)

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Later,

Pat