In the wake of Gabriels’ attention grabbing 2020 debut EP, Love & Hate In A Different Time, the breakout trio have signed a worldwide deal with Atlas Artists / Parlophone—which includes Elektra in the U.S.—setting the stage for more music to come this fall.
Furthermore, Gabriels will make their U.S. television debut on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” August 16.
Gabriels is acclaimed gospel singer and choir director Jacob Lusk and co-producers Ryan Hope and Ari Balouzian who are, respectively, also an established film director and classically trained musician/soundtrack artist. Their music initially garnered attention abroad, leading to a record deal with Atlas Artists / Parlophone and support from Gilles Peterson, Celeste, Paul Weller, Benji B, Virgil Abloh and Elton John, who branded their title track “one of the most seminal records I’ve heard in the last ten years.” Gabriels made their U.K. late night debut performing the track “Love & Hate In A Different Time” on “Later...With Jools Holland” last month.
The group first came together in 2016 when Hope and Balouzian were working on a film together. In search of a choir for the project, they met Lusk in the casting sessions and instantly clicked. The trio spent the next five years cohesively redefining their sound while co-writing what ended up becoming Gabriels’ debut EP, Love & Hate In A Different Time.
Well established in the Los Angeles gospel community, Lusk has been singing since he was a child. Raised in an apostolic church, he wasn’t permitted to listen to secular music but on weekends his father would school him in jazz while learning about artists such as Nat King Cole. In 2006, Lusk responded to a Craigslist advertisement looking for background singers to work with an unnamed rap artist and subsequently found himself in the studio with hip-hop icon Nate Dogg. Though that project was never released, Lusk continued to break ground as an artist, singing with Diana Ross at the Hollywood Bowl, collaborating with the likes of Beck and St. Vincent and appearing on American Idol where he worked with producers Rodney Jerkins and Tricky Stewart.
For additional information on Gabriels, see the group’s bio/artist notes HERE.
