We’re so Obsessed with GIGI - Gigi Watson on her latest single, “Obsessin’”
Written by Rebecca Calvar
Image courtesy of @shootoexplore
GIGI is a Boston-based pop artist who refuses to stay in one lane. I had the privilege to sit down with the recent Berklee alum about all things Obsessin’ as well as discuss what’s next in her pop star world!
Q1: Who is Gigi Watson? Tell me more about yourself as an artist and as GIGI!
Before getting into the questions, I just wanted to say thank you so much for having me. Dreamworldgirl is such a special, and needed project. It’s been so inspiring to watch all the growth that has happened since the start; I’m grateful to be a small part of it!
I’ve always considered myself to be a Jane of all trades, and a master of some…I define myself as an artist of many disciplines: a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, creative director, producer—but in a broader sense, a lover, a daughter, a sister, comedian, a friend, an entrepreneur, an actress, and fashionista. Most importantly, and I’m sure those who know me closely can vouch, I think I’m the biggest dreamer [I] know. Always have been and always will be. I am a last semester senior at The Berklee College of Music and graduated this spring with the class of 2026! I am so thrilled and proud of myself and my peers.
Q2: When was the moment you realized that music was your calling? Where did the passion stem from and is it still a factor in your drive to create music today?
A: Great question! I have a distinct memory of performing in my first opera, Bizet’s Carmen. I had to have been in middle school at the time. I was on the stage of the Detroit Opera House—which I truly believe to be one of the most beautiful opera houses out there—with the full cast. I just remember looking out at the sea of people, tearing up and thinking WOW! This is what I want but more so need to do for the rest of my life. Ever since then, I haven’t stopped working towards this dream.
On the opera lore….this is a really important part of my story: It’s important to mention that after this, I continued to pursue a career in singing opera for the rest of my childhood into young adulthood, with the ultimate goal being to end up at a classical conservatory—and that I did. I spent a short time at The Boston Conservatory. My peers and professors were wonderful and incredibly talented, but I started to become disconnected from my work. Deep down in my gut and in my heart, I just knew that all I wanted to do was write songs and be a total rockstar. At the time, it all felt impossible. I remember calling my mom sometime in November to break the news. I felt like an utter and complete failure. Though a bit shocked, my parents were extremely supportive, which I am forever grateful for. We agreed that I would finish the semester to get the credits and then come home. When I did, I wanted nothing to do with music. I felt super lost and tears were definitely shed. After about two and a half months I started to slowly play my guitar again, messing around with melodies and old ideas. It was probably about a month later that I told my parents:“ I wanna audition for Berklee to pursue music business and to learn about the industry.” The rest is history! For those who see themselves in me, I want you to know that it’s okay to change your mind and it takes a lot of courage to be able to step back from something that you once thought was your dream. You are strong. I see you. You got this.
I believe that my passion for music is a gift, but also a product of my environment. My parents, though not musicians themselves, are huge lovers of music and are really knowledgeable about pop culture as a whole. I grew up listening to all different genres, from pop to jazz, to reggae, to hip-hop. Having the freedom to listen to what I wanted played a big part in how I listen to and create music to this day. Being a student of many genres has allowed me to learn about the proper origins and innovators of each one, most of these innovators being incredible Black musicians. It’s important for me to keep learning as much as I can about the variety of styles out there and to give credit where credit is due, especially when there’s heavy influence from a culture that’s not my own.
All of this being said, I’ve had a long journey to get to where I am now, and that’s a big part of what inspires me to keep making music and sharing my story. Through all the pain and struggle, my dreams have always been my dreams and I have the opportunity to keep persevering and working hard to achieve them through my art.
Q3: You have released your newest single AND music video,“ Obsessin’! Congratulations girlie! I’ve been listening to it so much these past few days! Tell me more about the songwriting and production side of the process: What is a songwriting ritual you like to do to prepare for studio time? What is a day in the life of recording, and producing up to releasing a single?
A: Thank you so much! Oh my goodness, I’m so happy you like it. I had an LA based producer named Olivier Bassil reach out to me via Instagram. He asked if I’d be down to have a couple sessions with him, along with some other wonderful collaborators. After doing my research, I decided to take him up on the opportunity. We had a couple sessions on Zoom while I was still in Boston in preparation for the in-person LA sessions. I brought in a playlist of about 30 reference tracks and we went through each one, establishing the genres and sub-genres of each piece. This gave us more insight on what kind of songs we wanted to create. 30 tracks became 5 and If I remember correctly, the set vibe for“ Obsessin’” was“ Atmospheric Energetic Alternative-Pop Anthem”. I remember when I got to LA, I felt immediately at home, and I got that same feeling when I started working with everyone in the studio. It was a really different experience for me because prior to the“ Obsessin’” session, I’d never had a sesh with a group of completely new people. I’ve been in multiple cowriting situations with one or two new people, but I’m used to familiar faces. It ended up being super fun. The energy in the room was high and I got to tell so many funny stories, which is one of my favorite things to do, in sessions and in life. We wrote the song in about 4 hours, recorded a demo with polished production, and then I came back into the studio a couple days later to do the final vocals for“ Obsessin’” and another new single that may or may not be released in the coming months. It was a pretty quick process, obviously excluding all of the post-production that needed to be done, but it was really cool for me to experience a fast-paced, industry standard writing process. Now [I] feel ready for any session that comes my way.
In terms of getting ready for sessions, my approach is to do a lot of self-care prior, mentally and physically. When writing music: happy, sad, sexy, or angry alike, you’re re-hashing an experience that made you feel some type of way, and that can be a lot to handle! That’s why it’s so important to do things that make you feel zen. For me that usually means taking a long shower, eating a substantial meal, drinking a hot cup of tea, preferably spearmint, putting on a cute outfit that makes me feel confident…honestly getting glam in general. I consider makeup to be another way I pursue my artistry; it’s so soothing, not to mention, I listen to music when I do my makeup, so if I’m getting ready for a sesh I’m most likely jamming out to my reference playlist. As a vocalist, I always want to make sure that my voice feels warmed up before the session, as I’m not in the business of wasting precious studio time. I do lots of different vocal warm up’s and laryngeal massages to get my voice up and running, and to promote vocal longevity.
Q4: Prior to the release of the single, in an Instagram story you describe this song as a“ Cheeky Pop & R&B” track fused with “GIGI Personality.” I’d love to know more about this personality music fusion! What makes your sound essentially pop out from the other pop artists?
A: Well yes! I love all the pop girls that are out there right now, I think they’re all KILLING it, but what makes me unique is that I refuse to stay in one lane. The industry tells you that you need a niche, which is completely understandable for marketing purposes, but I despise that. I want to show my audience that you’re allowed to be versatile, and it’s cool to put in the work to be able to do it all. I wanna be a rockstar-babe and a pop-princess and an indie-queen and a hyper-pop baddie. I take pride in the fact that I have range and can do whatever my heart desires genre wise. It is my personal belief that true artists are chameleons who are able to adapt and change with all the different phases of life and their artistry. Another thing that sets me apart is my rhythmic lyricism in a pop context. Like I said earlier, I’m super inspired by hip-hop and I love all of the nuances that make the genre so addictive. I love the rhymes, the internal stream of consciousness flow, the innuendos, and finding the perfect switch-up from one section to the next.
Q5: In your artist biography on Spotify you credit pop stars Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera as influences on your music. How do these influences help you shape your own sound as an individual pop girlie? Who do you credit for the inspiration behind the fusion of your pop/R&B sound?
A: I have so many artists that inspire me, but I always feel super ignited every time I hear either of them come on; it’s like a switch flips in my brain and I have to start singing and dancing, [and] it’s been this way since I was a kid. What really inspires me about these women is their versatility, from the topics that they write about to being able to perform in multiple styles. To add, they know their references, and are able to take inspiration from their own favorites, while still being able to create a sound that’s uniquely their own. Britney is infamously a fan of fellow pop icon Janet Jackson (as am I) and you can 100% hear her influence on Britney’s music. Christina credits artists such as Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston for shaping her sound, and as a student of pop culture, that to me is evident when I listen to her songs. As for the Pop-R&B realm, I’ve always been a BIG Tinashe fan. I think she is the coolest and her last album Quantum Baby is so good, y’all should definitely check it out. Fun fact: the OG version of her song“ No Broke Boys” was part of the final reference playlist for“ Obsessin’”. [I also love] Victoria Monét, [she] is absolutely incredible. She’s an amazing vocalist and performer, but [the fact that she was] a songwriter for other artists was what initially drew me to her work, as I myself am open to working as a songwriter. It would be a dream to write with her one day.
Also what are your favorite Britney and Christina songs? Name your top three of either!
A: Britney is so hard because I feel like it changes so frequently, her catalog is so diverse. Right now I’ve been really into the Blackout album, specifically“ Why Should I Be Sad” and“ Piece of Me”. One of my other all time favs is“ That’s Where You Take Me”. UGH so good!
For Christina, I know my exact faves right off the bat:“ Genie in a Bottle”,“ Beautiful”, and“ Fighter”, of course.
Q6: If you could create your own music genre based on your discography (future and present) – what would it be and how would you describe it?
A: Oooo, I like this question. I would have to say atmospheric trap-pop [that channels] some [of the] smooth tones [found in] R&B. I really love writing super feminine, sassy upbeat verses, and then usually there’s some sort of emotional chorus that gives me the freedom to riff and experiment a bit. Underneath everything, there’s gotta be a nasty bassline along with some trap drums: hi-hats, 808s, all of that good stuff.
Q7: What do you want your audience to feel and get out of your sound when they listen to“ Obsessin”’?
A: One thing that I really want my audience to do is feel like they can groove to my stuff.“ Obsessin’” [in particular] has this funky vibe to it that makes you wanna swing your hips and give your head a lil bop. I also think that it’s one of those songs that I would’ve danced in the mirror to in my childhood bedroom; there’s a certain angst to it. I’ve learned that it’s not really up to me how my listeners feel about my music. Once [a] song is out, it’s up to the listener to determine what it means and how it feels to them.
Q8: What’s next in your music journey?
A: There are so many exciting things coming up. I am really looking forward to this next chapter of my journey. First off, the official music video for“ Obsessin”’ is out now on my YouTube Channel @Gigiwatson222. I had the opportunity to work with an amazing team, and I’m so excited [that it’s] out in the world. It was truly such a joy to film. I’m currently rehearsing a live session video version of“ Obsessin’” , another original, and a surprise cover, with some of my dear friends and peers from Berklee. There will be a new single, maybe even singles coming in the next few months, that I am super proud of and can’t wait to share. This summer I’ll be back home in the Detroit area, experimenting with new sounds and building my discography, as well as continuing to work on a bigger body of work that I hope to release early next year! I’m [also] planning some collaborations with other artists, musically and visually and am working to secure some brand collaborations as well. All this being said, I have a lot on my plate, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Any day that I get to make music and engage in my creativity is a good day.
