We were lucky to catch up with Gabi Grella recently and have shared our conversation below.
Gabi, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Thank you so much for having me! From what I’ve experienced and from speaking to people who are much further in their career than I am, I am not sure that imposter syndrome is something that ever really goes away. It seems that no matter what level of success you reach, there is always a part of you that is comparing yourself to others or is questioning how deserving you are of your opportunities. When I feel imposter syndrome coming on I always identify it, so I know where these feelings of anxiety and self-doubt are stemming from. Then I will ground myself and remind myself of how hard I have worked to get where I am and look at where I am now versus where I was when I first started. Journaling also helps me to make sense of what I’m feeling. But if anything, I think we can all find comfort in the fact that we are not alone in dealing with imposter syndrome, even though it may feel that way at times.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Gabi Grella and I am a 25 year old mastering engineer from Morristown, New Jersey. I attended New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, where I was taught a very holistic music curriculum. I applied to the program as a songwriting major but during my freshman year I discovered my love of engineering with the guidance and mentorship of industry legends like Bob Power and Jim Anderson. The specialty that I decided to pursue is called mastering – it is the last step in the creation of a song before it is distributed to radio stations and streaming platforms. One of the most important aspects of our job is to make sure that the songs we work on are competitive with other releases – specifically in terms of level. We are a fresh pair of ears that come in and make any final adjustments; we don’t change any of the fundamental elements or foundation of the song, we just enhance what is already there. Throughout college I interned at Sterling Sound, where I was able to see the ins and outs of a professional mastering business. With my education and work experience, I found myself in a position to be able to distinguish myself from other engineers. I understand the perspective of making a song from both the artistic and engineering side because I have been both the artist and the engineer. Engineering in general is a very male dominated sector in the music industry, but I am extremely proud to be a woman in engineering and to be able to shed light on what mastering is. Running my own business for the past 4 years, Gabi Grella Mastering, has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my life. I am in control of my destiny and am writing a narrative that I am extremely proud of; I want to make every future woman’s engineering path easier and more accessible than mine was.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back I think that my passion, desire to learn, and positivity are the three qualities that allowed me to thrive in this industry. I did and still do consider myself a sponge; I knew nothing about this industry when I first started and wanted to learn every single part of it; I still do! I feel as though I am always learning and always looking to learn, which allows you to become indispensable. My passion and love of music is what keeps me going on my hardest days. And being positive has allowed me to attract other positive people into my life and formed friendships that are so special to me. Being nice in this industry, and any industry really, is so important. A lot of times, someone will throw you work or be much more willing because they like you. I like being the energy that I am trying to attract. For people just starting out I would suggest trying to be as much as a sponge as possible; you never know what doors may open for you and when opportunity might strike. Be a sponge and allow yourself to accept any and all opportunities that come your way (if they feel like a good fit of course).
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always looking for new clients and would love to work with anyone who may come across this article! I offer student discounts as well as bundle deals for larger projects. I will try my best to accommodate each and every client that I speak with; I genuinely love developing relationships with everyone I work with and am excited to produce the best product possible, one that we can both be proud of. You can email me at gabigrellamusic@gmail.com or fill out my intake form via my website gabigrellamastering.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gabigrellamastering.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabigrella/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GabiGrellaMastering
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabigrella
- Other: https://engineears.com/gabigrella
