Interview: Gabby B – the “Brazilian Barbie”

Only 19-years-old, Gabby B, aka “the Brazilian Barbie,” recently released the music video for “Loot,” a song echoing the Golden Rule: treat others the way you’d like to be treated.

Born in Goiana, Brazil, Gabby B lived in France prior to moving to the U.S. and is fluent in three languages, Portuguese, French, and English. The ‘B’ in Gabby B stands for Bueno, “good,” and her music reflects the meaning of the word.

The single/music video features the splendid voice of Atlanta rapper Londynn B, a finalist on Netflix’s Rhythm and Flow last year. Together, these two dynamic rhyme slingers invest the music and the visuals with electrifying energy.

The video, directed by DC Coles, narrates the tale of a minimum wage employee, Gabby B, helping an arrogant rich woman, who is rude and condescending. In the end, the employee attains success and wealth, while the wealthy woman falls from a high peak. After trading places, Gabby B proves to be kind and gracious.

Because Gabby B definitely has it going on, Rhyme Junkie sat down with the diva to find out more about her influences and what’s next for her.

How did you get started in music? What’s the backstory there?

I grew up watching my parents perform and work in the entertainment industry. My mom was a samba teacher and professional dancer/singer and my dad a Brazilian martial arts master in Capoeira. I also grew up watching DVDs from Britney Spears concerts, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, and Hannah Montana on Disney. I always had a passion for music and entertainment, but I never really knew that this would happen. I give a lot of credit and thanks to my manager/Godfather who gave me the ability to make this dream a reality.

What’s your favorite song to belt out in the car or the shower?

There are many songs I like to sing; I love belting to Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, and Beyoncé’s songs! It’s very fun because I always learn different ranges and abilities in my voice with these artists’ music.

What singers/musicians influenced you the most?

My biggest influences came from Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, and Beyoncé because of their amazing performances in their early years. Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey because of their vocals and different abilities. I love a challenge when it comes to singing and dancing!

What are you listening to right now?

I’ve been on repeat with a few songs, “This Could Be Us by Rae Sremmurd,” “Do Somethin” by Britney Spears, and “All I want by Olivia Rodrigo.” I have a very diverse playlist!

What’s the story behind the name Gabby B?

Gabby B is just short for my name Gabriela Bueno. My nickname “Brazilian Barbie” has come from my strong love for Barbies and the fact that I have a whole collection of them in my room. I’m also Brazilian so people started putting 2 and 2 together and that’s how “Brazilian Barbie” came about!

Hip-hop is by far the most popular music genre in the world. How do you keep your sound fresh and avoid coming across in a derivative tone?

When I record music, I don’t really think about trends. I do what I feel when I sing and if I like a certain sound, I put my own flair into it. I’m very me when I sing and open-minded to different sounds. My music tends to come out with styles that are unique and less mainstream.

What was the inspiration for your new single/music video “Loot?”

“Loot” was directed by DC Coles, he came up with many of the ideas for the video such as the beginning and end role reversal scenes. One part that I came up with was the naked money scene. I told him I really wanted to do that and I’d be comfortable doing it because in my head I knew it would turn out really cool! The storyline is about women celebrating their paychecks that they earned and celebrating being independent.

What do you want viewers to take away from the video?

The real story behind the video is shown in the beginning and end. I start off as a minimum wage working woman who is treated poorly by a rich lady picking up her clothes. By the end of the video, we switch places but the difference is that I’m nice and understanding of her, and my driver tips her a lot of money. The lesson is to be careful how you treat others because one day the roles might reverse!

How did you hook up with Londynn B?

I was watching Rhythm and Flow on Netflix when the show first came out. I saw Londynn in the show and she really stood out to me because she was extremely talented and had an outgoing personality. I looked her up on IG and I just loved her content and music. Her overall style was something I could really relate to, so I told my management team to reach out to her. We really hit it off from the get-go and I knew she would be a great fit for my song “Loot” I was working on. The rest is history.

What’s next for you musically?

I have much more music coming out, already lined up for the year. I have more music videos, live performances, and I’ll be traveling to new opportunities! Also, I just released my first EP, Therapy, recently and there’s a second one coming soon this year! Ultimately, I want to keep putting out great content for everybody to listen to and enjoy, making their day a great one!

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