Gabriels release rousing new single ‘One And Only’
The LA soul trio said the new song is about "relationships that are built on a trauma bond"
Gabriels have shared new single ‘One And Only’, their first new music of the year – listen below.
The song features a lively instrumental arrangement with samba piano chords and funky off-beat percussion, performed against soulful lyrics that explore love and loss.
Speaking about the meaning behind the song, Gabriels said: ‘One And Only’ is about relationships that are built on a trauma bond. As much as you can love someone and want to help each other, ultimately change and peace come from inside and the only one who can save you is yourself.
“The cover art is by our close friend Chuco Moreno, an artist from California we’ve been working with on a film for the past six years.”
Listen to the track below.
Speaking about the artwork, artist and tattooist Moreno said: “I was with the band Gabriels and its members pushing art and open mind as a brother and artist pushing to be heard from the beginning. In this small group of friends from all spectrum of life and different sides of the world I found a brotherhood and a family. The art that was being made was true, pure and from the heart something that I’m drawn to at my core.”
‘One And Only’ follows 2020 EP ‘Love & Hate in a Different Time’ and 2021’s ‘Bloodline’. Elton John described the former as “one of the most seminal records I’ve heard in the past 10 years”.
Gabriels will headline a sold-out London show at Lafayette on May 5, followed by KOKO on June 21. They will also play a number of festivals including Glastonbury and All Points East.
Earlier this year, vocalist Jacob Lusk spoke to Rolling Stone UK about singing Billie Holiday’s seminal civil rights anthem ‘Strange Fruit’ at a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Los Angeles. The moment features at the end of the short film music video for ‘Love and Hate in a Different Time’.
“I hadn’t participated in any protests or said anything up until that point, but I was working a job with predominantly white co-workers and they were participating,” Lusk said. “I hadn’t and just thought, ‘What the fuck is wrong with you?’”
It was the leaked video of Ahmaud Arbery’s murder while jogging through a predominantly white neighbourhood that prompted Lusk to step up to the megaphone.
“I just got up during a heated moment during the protest and performed. But it’s sad that a song written so many years ago is still relevant today,” he said.