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Born and raised in the Cayman Islands, 23-year-old Caymanian Gweneth Stabler is no stranger to some of the challenges local singers and budding actors face. These dilemmas include securing lucrative gigs and obtaining consistent work on Cayman creatives and artists’ scenes. In this Small Business Saturday review, Stabler shared some of her experiences with these issues with Loop News, including what led to her becoming a singer.
Starting with her initial interest in music, Stabler explained: “Music has always been a major passion throughout my life.”
She added:
Where most kids had fantastical dreams of growing up to be an astronaut, zookeeper, or doctor, I have always had the same dream… to perform.
I was exposed to music at a very young age, my mum is a professional musician and my childhood was built on a deep understanding and appreciation of music as a result.
Regarding this deep understanding and appreciation, Stabler said she “grew up listening” to whatever her “parents were listening to.”
She explained:
Many of my Friday evenings were spent sat with my dad at our Kitchen table, watching Queen’s Live Aid concert over and over again on YouTube.
Alongside Queen there would be Billy Joel, Tracy Chapman, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder – to name a few of the greats.
She continued: “All of these artists have influence on my style and sound today, which I would describe as pretty eclectic. Recently, I have been really inspired by Sabrina Carpenter’s music, who’s songs are an easy blend of R&B, acoustic and country, which isn’t a wild departure from my own style.”
However, growing up in Cayman, her family saw limited opportunities available for musical education that could help her expand her interest and pursue her dream as a singer.
Elaborating on this, she said:
In 2001, my mum founded Musicians Ltd. after noticing a lack of quality music tuition on Island.
I began taking piano and singing lessons at the school at the age of six and took my first formal examinations that same year, finishing my Grade 8 by the time I was thirteen.
Although I have completed all my formal singing exams, I continue to train my voice every day to maintain the fundamental techniques required for Classical singing.
Turning to a discussion of her specific genre, she said her “goal is to create a unique style that blends different genres together to create something fresh and exciting.”
These blends include “R&B, Soul, and acoustic versions of Pop songs,” which she says work “hand in hand” to express her style of “storytelling” through music.
Going from these initial concepts to stage performances, she said:
I performed locally in the NCFA, Musicians Ltd Productions, Cayman Drama Society Productions and at Walt Disney World, Orlando multiple times.
In 2016, my passion for the arts took me to the UK, where I studied at a prestigious Performing Arts school.
During my first year at boarding school, I had the privilege of performing at St. Paul’s Cathedral, a historical British landmark whose origins can be traced back to 604AD.
I felt immensely honoured to have been grated this rare opportunity and I have never experienced acoustics like it since!
With these experiences under her belt, she explained how she moved back home to Cayman and was “just starting out in the Cayman music scene.”
She explained:
In the lead up to returning home, I made the conscious decision to embrace every opportunity that came my way.
Being a new face in Cayman’s live music scene definitely comes with its challenges, not to mention the additional factor of insecurity that can make you question yourself and your ability.
However, I am people person by nature and, above all else, proactive.
I understand that opportunities don’t just present themselves, you must go chasing them – which is what I am actively doing.
Her persistence appears to have paid off as she recently performed at the Breast Cancer Foundation Gala singing “Isn’t She Lovely,” among other songs.
Gweneth seen here performing the Breast Cancer Gala
That event was a success, raising over $500,000 for breast cancer.
Hundreds of people were also reportedly present.
Regarding what events she has planned next, she shared:
As of right now, I am channelling my focus into my Event Singing career in the hopes I will secure ample work at local hotels, wedding venues and corporate events to gain exposure and experience.
Hotels or other venues wishing to contact Gweneth can contact her by email at gwenethstabler@outlook.com.
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