Kapampangan artist shares with us memories and ideals of her youth through soothing music.
Gabrielle Galapia a.k.a. Jiji has been making music since she was in primary school. At age 15, she released her first EP called Totoo which contains songs about love, religion, and her personal struggles.
The now-20-year-old artist from Magalang town came up with the album called Ripple, released on April 27 this year under Midas Records. The album, which has nine songs, is described as “a testament to her journey as someone who is coming to terms with her identity and what led to that acceptance”.
Aside from making music, Jiji is also a beauty queen and she’s currently vying for the title Mutya Ning Kapampangan 2023. Our team (virtually) sat down with her to talk about her music, influences, and future plans.
Here’s our conversation:
Pampanga360: Where did you grow up?
Jiji: I was raised in Pampanga. I lived in Angeles for a while, but most of my childhood was spent in Magalang with my mother’s side of the family.
P360: Where do you go to school?
Jiji: I studied in O.B. Montessori for 15 years, and now that I’m in college, I study Multimedia Arts at De La Salle College of Saint Benilde.
P360: When did you start playing the guitar (or any other instruments)?
I started playing the piano when I was around 7 years old. My papa is a musician himself, and he encouraged me to start learning since I had already developed an interest in singing and music. After around a year or two, I stopped taking piano lessons because I didn’t feel like it was for me anymore; however, when I was in 6th grade, I picked up a guitar and started writing my own songs and I knew that was what I wanted to really focus on.
P360: What prompted you to make music?
Jiji: From a young age, I always knew that I wanted to be an artist of some sort. I have my parents to thank for encouraging that dream and supporting me all throughout. My earliest inspirations were 5 Seconds of Summer, and I remember starting a few “bands” when I was younger (band practice became an excuse to go over my friends’ houses to sleep over). But what really pushed me to make music was when I started listening to BTS. I was going through a really traumatic time in my life when I first found their music, and learning about how they produced, wrote, and performed their own songs really inspired me to do the same. Their story brought me comfort and strength, and I knew that was the path I wanted to take. The fact that 15-year-old Jiji found the courage to independently release her music on streaming platforms with almost no help still amazes me.
P360: What inspires you in writing your music?
Jiji: My influence comes from many things. Sometimes it comes from personal experiences, but sometimes it comes from friends’ stories or the media I consume online. I enjoy trying to feel what other people feel, not only because I feel like it makes me a better listener, but also because it trains me to be more emotionally aware of other people’s feelings. I think that’s an important skill to have since it helps you become kinder. It’s also important to have that skill as an artist because then you can channel those emotions and create art with more depth and more relatability.
P360: Who are your musical influences?
Jiji: My biggest musical influence and someone I look up to as an artist would be Kim Namjoon from BTS. His lyricism and the way he expressed his emotions through his music are something I’ll always admire, and it’s something I strive to be like with my own craft. Other influences include Up Dharma Down, NIKI, and Clairo.
P360: When did you start the album Ripple?
Jiji: I started conceptualizing the album late last year. I knew I wanted it to contain more personal songs and that I wanted the sound to be similar to the sound I started off with in the first place. Recording, producing, and compiling the songs took around 3 months, but I already had an idea of what I wanted the album to be like beforehand.
P360: What’s the story behind Ripple?
Jiji: One of my friends told me that listening to the album felt like reading my diary. I intended it to be that way because I wanted it to be more than just music; I wanted it to contain what it felt like to be in my teens. This album carries on the messages from my first EP, Totoo, which I released at 15, and it’s a continuation of the struggles I faced, the feelings I felt, the lessons I learned, and most importantly, who I came out as after all of those things.
P360: What’s your favorite song/s on Ripple?
Jiji: My favorite songs are probably see you (maybe) and 11. see you (maybe) was out of my comfort zone since I rarely make upbeat music like that, but I found that I got quite creative with it, and it made me happy to hear how it ended up. 11, on the other hand, is quite a personal song. It’s about something I don’t really talk about online, but I’m glad I was able to let those emotions out. Choosing to release it was a tough decision to make, but I ended up doing it because I thought that it could bring some comfort to others who might be going through the same thing.
P360: How many are you in your band?
Jiji: I just started playing with a band this year, actually. I used to play solo, but I felt like I needed to level it up during the time that I was releasing my album, and I asked for help from my papa. He invited some of his close friends to play with me, and I’m so grateful because they guide me with my music and help me bring my visions to life.
There are currently six people in the band: my papa plays the bass occasionally, but so do my Tito Dave and his wife, Tita Charm. Tito Brian is our lead guitarist. He owns a studio called Sevtones, where I recorded most of the vocals for my album, and he also hosts a podcast called Sapik Banayad, which features Kapampangan artists. Last but not least, Tito Mike is our drummer, and he glues us all together. He’s a very skilled artist, and I’m very lucky to have him on my team.
P360: Where do you usually play live?
I usually play live here in Pampanga! I’d like to expand more other parts of the country, but nothing beats the crowd here at home.
P360: Why did you join Miss Magalang/ Mutya Ning Kapampangan?
Jiji: Actually, I decided I wanted to join Miss Magalang after I performed at our 2022 Camaru Festival. I wasn’t supposed to, but some of my friends from outside Pampanga were performing, and I got dragged along because they found out that I was from Magalang. It was an amazing experience because I wasn’t the one to really join in on the municipal festivities, but I saw how Magaleños came together that night, and I realized that I wanted to feel closer to the community. Miss Magalang was a way of doing that, and now I’m so honored to represent my town in Mutya Ning Kapampangan.
P360: Future plans after the pageant? Gigs? Studies? etc.
Jiji: Well, I try not to tell people what my goals really are because I feel like I’ll jinx them, but I do plan on pursuing pageantry and modeling. I also plan on doing bigger things with my music, and I hope to expand the mediums in which I express my art.
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Know more about Jiji through her vlogs on YouTube and follow her on Facebook!
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*Featured photo courtesy of Jiji.
