The gravity & grace of Gabrielle Smith; photographed by Sang Moon, styled in Junya Watanabe, Comme Des Garçons.

Transcendence and transformation defines the trajectories of mercurial spirits that open themselves to unlimited change. Nothing ever remains the same, life and time are not static constructs, motion is a part of the human exchange as history moves us forward into new chapters and new paradigms. Gabrielle Smith leads us into the frontiers of the strange and terrains of new discovery on the much awaited Gabby's World album, Gabby Sword. Co-produced with partner and Lindsay Barrie (otherwise known by just their surname), Gabrielle presents a voyage of healing and hemming the threads of today and tomorrow's musical textiles that allude toward future creative progressions.

Gabby Sword opens up with the percussive mix of synths and sentimentality on the candid "Sank", mixing intimate anecdotes of journal drawn expressions that leads toward the uphill climes of timid vulnerabilities and courage with "Closing Door". Gabby's World traverses paths of the unknown in a surrender to open arms and open hearts, carried forth on "33" that takes personal inventory of the things that shift and what still remains along the avenues of aging and growth that is found in the throngs of one's thirties. Meditations on progressions of the personal are delivered in the punchy electro, arboreal metaphors heard and felt on "Fabby", to the ode of renewal and self-centering that reverberates throughout "Restore".

"Mussel" swims through the rocky tide pools of life along the turbulent seas of self-discovery and the routes of interdependence, angling the electronics in hand with wife Barrie that bloom in harmonious balladry on songs "Just for You to Hear" and "Powerful" that edify understated production in precise economies that soar high up into the sky. Previous allusions to closures are juxtaposed with the portals to new beginnings and possibilities on "Open the Door", as solemn keys of "Face" reaches out for an endearing connection with confessions of vulnerability. "Magnify" enlarges those exhibitions of unlimited expressions from the expanses of the heart as Gabby Sword closes the curtain on the current album with the magnificent "Theme from Gabby's World" that simultaneously opens the red velvet curtain to the places and spaces of unlimited hope and beauty that nods towards the lands, seas, valleys, mountains and metropolises to be found in the future expanded universes known as Gabby's World.

Following jump, Gabrielle Smith returns to Week in Pop with a very special and exclusive feature:

Profile of pop icon Gabrielle Smith; photographed by Sang Moon.

Fever to tell—Gabrielle Smith’s Fever Ray fascinations

The realm & reign of Gabby’s World; photographed by Sang Moon.

Yesterday, I caught myself trying to establish an inside joke with Siri about how much Fever Ray I was listening to. I’ve been hugely inspired by Karin Dreijer’s work for over a decade now, so I figured I would pay them tribute with this list of my favorite songs and videos.

Polymath pop icon Gabrielle Smith; photographed by Sang Moon.

Fever Ray, Live 2023, All Points East

I started listening to Fever Ray back in 2009 when their self-titled album came out and had an absolute love affair with it. It was everything I was into at the timeI had a long break from Fever Ray for some years. It’s been a few years since they last put out an album, and I thought about them sometimes, mostly as a reference point for one of my own recordings. I was scrolling on TikTok one day and a quick clip of this performance came up. I immediately went straight to their page and watched every video they’d posted yet.

I cannot get enough of this performance. It’s so hot and raw and scary and exciting. The unison, the movement. What is that instrument? Some kind of wind synth? This is number one because I think about this performance pretty much every day.

Gabrielle Smith entering their icon era, draped in Junya Watanabe, Comme Des Garçons; photographed by Sang Moon.

Fever Ray, “Even It Out”

This is the catchiest song ever.

The universes of Gabby’s World; photographed by Sang Moon, sporting a Moncler vest.

Fever Ray, “If I Had A Heart”

THIS SONG!!! This song really messed me up when it came out. I’ve always been into drones, so when this song came on, the first song on the album, I was hooked. I listened to it on repeat a lot…I’m sure it drove my roommate nuts, hearing it come out of my awful little laptop speakers over and over and over. My problem is it took me a while to get past this song because I loved it so much.

The privy pop arts of Gabrielle Smith; photographed by Sang Moon, clad in a Moncler vest.

Fever Ray, “When I Grow Up”

When I did finally get past “If I Had A Heart,” I got to listen to this amazing song. Such incredible lyrics, “When I grow up / I want to be a forester / Run through the moss on high heels.”

The classic, modern and futurist chic of Gabby’s World; photographed by Sang Moon, wearing Issey Miyake.

Fever Ray, “To The Moon And Back”

I remember hearing this song in 2017 when it came out and it was too dangerous for me. I wasn’t out yet and this song was too hot. Glad that’s over and I get to enjoy this amazing song on this amazing album!

Gabby Sword is available now via Carrot All Records.

The grace, glamor, growth & grandeur of Gabby's World