AT A GLANCE
A music artist who’s breaking into the scene but experienced nonetheless, plus armed with a background in theater and musicals, she is leaning into the message of her song “Calm” to get a particular message across.
One is never really alone. That much, at least, is at the heart of who and what Gabri Panlilio is all about. A music artist who’s breaking into the scene but experienced nonetheless, plus armed with a background in theater and musicals, she is leaning into the message of her song “Calm” to get a particular message across.
But let’s dive into her song first. Released midyear in 2024, “Calm” sounds like it's been plucked from a libretto. It's a melancholic hymn rising with delicate-sounding harmonies of Gabri’s vocals as it ripples, stacked one on top of the other. Listening to Gabri does conjure an image of an actress on center stage, with a lone spotlight on her, elucidating a key issue of her story. Think Fantine on Les Miserables or any Disney animated heroine, for that matter.
And then there’s the theme. As Gabri almost quavers with emotion, singing, “open my eyes / how I fall in this nightmare / help me see everything that is real.” Later, she trills, “crashing down now rushing in sadness / oh it’s just my mind / when I’m down I’ll stand my ground / so that I come back strong.” It gets better somewhat as the song progresses, but it’s evident that just below the surface, anxiety is bubbling underneath.
“Calm” is about the unbelievable pressures people sometimes heap upon themselves. Women especially face unrealistic beauty standards and expectations. A personality like oneself is hard work as it is; what more one is liked by everyone else is even more challenging. Oftentimes, while maintaining an image liked by all, it becomes an unrelenting loop of personal discontent.
Gabri concurs, “Especially with society now, we want to be a certain someone in a world that compares. Which we shouldn’t because we all have our individuality,” intones Gabri. She adds, “It’s become a cliche because, let’s be real, it’s hard. It’s a process to be a better version of yourself.”
The resulting depression, mental health, and eating disorders are just some of the issues that arise from peer and societal pressures. And Gabri has been through it all herself. Which is what eventually led her to write “Calm.” “I realized that sharing my struggles can resonate with others and create connections. It reminded me that my experiences can inspire those who feel similarly, no matter how challenging.”
This brings us to the present with the just-released music video of “Calm,” which is now on YouTube for every person who’s going through the same struggles to see. In it, we see Gabri navigating dysfunction and pressure: a family that doesn’t see eye to eye, pressure from a looming parental figure, her see-saw personal struggles, and the inevitable crash in the end. It’s tragic, but it does have a silver lining.
“The trigger for ‘Calm’ came from my own experiences with anxiety and from observing the pressures that many face. I wanted to convey a personal message. This song reflects the exploration of my mental health journey and the realization that vulnerability can be a source of strength,” Gabri expounded.
She goes further, “Celebrating our own individuality is essential. Also, take time to recharge. It’s about embracing imperfections and understanding that true beauty comes from within.”
“Redundant as it may be, we all go through these obstacles. But we are never alone.”
“Calm” is written and recorded by Gabri Panlilio, produced by Patricia Lasaten, and mixed and mastered by Boggie Manipon. Check out the official music video on Gabri Panlilio’s official YT channel.
