Carousel: the first album by Gab Ferreira

After years of experimenting with mixtapes and EPs, the artist now transforms new experiences into sound, developing an album that talks about self-knowledge, persistence, and the freedom to explore new musical languages. Each track reflects her creative process, where melodies, lyrics, and experiments arise from a constant observation of the world around her.

With influences ranging from electronic music to the world of mixtapes, Gab does not confine herself to genres or external expectations. In this project, music and visual aesthetics go hand in hand, symbolizing a new stage in her journey as an artist. And, in this project, she emphasizes that she hopes people see themselves in it in some way, through special moments that accompanied her, and hopes they accompany others as well. Check it out below:

NOTTHESAMO: Was your contact with music encouraged since childhood, or did it develop during your journey?

Gab Ferreira: I think that, like most people, music has always been present in my childhood and adolescence. Over time, this passion naturally evolved into the act of creating and composing. It is an art that requires practice, dedication, and, above all, persistence. Each new project brings me a little closer to the creative place I seek, to realize my artistic vision.

NTS: Which artists or movements inspire you the most when creating?

G: I see my references as extensions of the universe I want to create. Some artists were very important for the development of this album, but generally speaking, when I am in the creative process, I like to listen to as much as possible. Mixing these elements allows me to reach a result that not only reflects my passions but also helps to consolidate a truly personal vision.

NTS: How does your creative process work? And how do the melodies, lyrics, or sound experiments come about?

G: The central point of my creation is to constantly jot down ideas — any thought, melody, or phrase that comes up, I record. This way, when I get to the studio, I already have a repertoire of my references to guide me. This means I don’t have to waste time deciding everything on the spot: the overall vision is already built, and at the moment of execution, I can let the intuitive part speak louder.

NTS: This is your first studio album; what inspired you to create it?

G: I didn’t know exactly how I wanted my first album to sound, but I knew what moment in my process I wanted to be in to realize it. My previous mixtapes and EPs were experiments that prepared me for this point. Carrossel was born from a clear desire to talk about journeys of self-knowledge and the very act of making music. To me, it is a metaphor for a creative cycle that never ends. It was also a challenge for me to put myself in a new language, especially singing in Portuguese, but it was precisely that discomfort that led me to the final result.

NTS: What was the biggest difference you felt when composing in English versus now in Portuguese?

G: In earlier moments, when I was still building my language, English allowed me, in a way, to soften the words and impact through sound. In Portuguese, I confronted my emotions more directly and rawly. It was a very enriching process that taught me to embrace this discomfort and feel ready for each person to interpret my songs in their own way.

NTS: To what extent has your musical training shaped this new album? Do you feel that your inspirations have changed over the years?

G: My musical training undoubtedly plays a central role in this process. I’ve been in the music space for over 10 years, and today I can connect with it beyond genres or formats, seeing beauty in almost everything I hear.

I believe my inspirations don’t change; they just evolve. Part of the sound of this album reflects not only what I wanted to do at that moment, but also the possibilities of what I can create today. My previous projects have always been DIY, in home studios, just making music, something I love and don’t think I will ever change. In this album, despite maintaining that spirit, I had the opportunity to collaborate with other musicians, gather people I admire, and expand the project collectively. Therefore, I see that the final sound has more to do with the means and access I have around me now than merely with direct references.

NTS: In recent years, your sound has expanded into electronic music. Does this new album reflect that sound?

G: I have always been fascinated by electronic music and love creating in that universe. But in this album, I wanted to explore other languages, even returning to some references I loved years ago. I think everything we create, even in other genres, ends up influencing what comes next.

Today, I no longer feel the need to confine myself to a bubble or a single style. I see that artists can go through various phases and explore different paths. Before, I thought I had to limit myself to a single aesthetic narrative, but today I know my process is guided by what I believe and what I want to do — and not by what is expected of me.

NTS: Fashion and music go hand in hand in your work. How do these areas connect for you?

G: For me, fashion is an extension of the aesthetic I build in music. The image has always been an essential part of my creative process. In this album, the visual concept arose even before the first song: before thinking about how everything would sound, I was already clear about how I wanted the project to be presented.

Working on this visual dimension helps me develop the sound, because I have a clear image in my mind and think about how to transform it into sound, as a natural extension of what I see.

NTS: What has surprised you the most regarding the international reach of your music?

G: It has been very special to see the reception of my music internationally and to realize how Brazilian music is progressively gaining attention outside the country. Brazil has always been a cultural hub, and it’s incredible to see that perception expanding globally. While the musical scene here still has many limitations, I try to view that as an opportunity: restrictions force us to think outside the box and alter the perspective of creation.

NTS: Do you feel that your journey influences other independent artists in Brazil?

G: I hope so. I have always been very committed to my vision, even if that doesn’t follow a logic that would be natural for others. For me, the greatest satisfaction is when my work resonates with people not for the numbers or results, but for the genuine commitment to music.

Making music is a deeply personal process. I create from what I feel like doing and, when I share, the music stops being just mine — it belongs to those who listen, and I have no control over that. Thinking this way helps me maintain curiosity and the desire to always explore new things, trying to create each time as if it were the first time.

NTS: What can the audience expect from your next album?

G: This album represents a new chapter in my journey as an artist, and I hope that people see themselves in it in some way, and that it accompanies special moments in their lives, just as it accompanied mine.

Photos by Gabriel Ortiz