Spencer leaving mark with new song ‘Mr. Anxiety’ Former student speaks on experiences navigating music career

Gabby Spencer, an aspiring artist, emphasizes the need for acceptance and kindness in the music industry. Her new EP will be released February 11 on all platforms

Gabby Spencer

Gabby Spencer, an aspiring artist, emphasizes the need for acceptance and kindness in the music industry. Her new EP will be released February 11 on all platforms

CAROLINE BARQUIN, Reporter

     “I’m not ‘the girl with the thing on her face’, I’m Gabby Mark, a girl who’s not afraid to talk about differences,” said the former NH student.  Spencer,  also known by her stage name Gabby Mark, said she is bringing acceptance and being “unapologetically” herself in the music industry.

     After the recent release of her new single ‘Mr. Anxiety’ , a new extended play (EP) which is longer than a single but shorter than an album, was released everywhere on February 11. The EP ‘We Are the Authors’ is based on “poems that my friends wrote or something that a friend has said to me. I write about what I feel, hear, and see,” explained Spencer. Her music is usually based on “my thoughts and anxieties that I struggle with everyday” or in the case of her new EP, based on poems.

     Spencer’s stage name is in reference to a birthmark on the left side of her face that she used to hate and be bullied for. But during high school she has been “learning every day to love myself for who I am…. I want people to recognize my mark and connect it to what I stand for, acceptance.”  Her music career first started in elementary school when she would write songs for fun. During high school Spencer recalled, “I recorded my first song ‘Words’ in my parents’ closet and released it on my 16th birthday.”

     The goal of her music is to create an outlet for people to connect with others, “I’ve never had fame or money as an inspiration or a goal.” Spencer continued that she has “always wanted to stand on a stage singing and look to see everyone in the venue singing my song.” Although the final project is rewarding there are a handful of challenges that come through the process of creating music. Including the process of mixing each song which, “it’s very time consuming, we can be in the studio for three hours and only have a small snippet edited.”

     During her time at North Harford, Ms. Angie Jones, the former chorus teacher, was one of her favorite things about school. “She always saw the best in her students and always pushed them to succeed,” explained Spencer. The teachings in her class contributed to Spencer’s daily life and production of music.

     Some guidance Spencer wants to share with aspiring musicians is that the music business is hard. “You’re most likely not going to blow up in an afternoon so be ready and give it time.” In her personal experience with music she said “I still have so much to learn and so much to accomplish in my career.”  She believes it’s very important for her to support others and they will support her, since “no good deed goes unnoticed.”

     Follow Gabby Mark on Instagram @imgabbymark to keep updated with her music career.