Gabriella Valdes is a name that you will want to familiarize yourself with, as she is sure to blossom into an all out star in 2021. The 17-year-old powerhouse singer originally hails from Tampa, FL and she is the latest star to go viral on TikTok.
After posting her cover of “I See Red” on TikTok, Gabriella quickly grew a strong fan base and was being watched by millions. That very same cover that Gabriella posted only a couple of months ago, now has over 30 million views on TikTok alone and it’s about to hit one million views on YouTube.
We caught up with the budding recording artist to discuss how she is handling her newfound popularity, her undeniable talent, and all of the music she is currently working on!
In addition — just in time for the holidays — Valdes is sharing her own rendition of the Christmas classic “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” which you can watch below. The 17-year-old showcases her strong and raspy vocals in the cover, proving that while she may be young, her voice and sassy stage presence are wise beyond her years. We expect big things from Valdes real soon.
Keep scrolling to read our full Q&A and don’t forget to let us know what you think of Gabriella’s music by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
You can also keep up with Gabriella by following her on TikTok at @gabriellavaldesss and Instagram at @gabriellavaldess.
Celeb Secrets: Thanks for chatting with us! Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about yourself?
Gabriella Valdes: “Hi! My name is Gabriella Valdes, I’m 17 years old, I’m from Tampa FL, and I’m a Blues/Rock Singer!”
CS: Your sound is truly that of an old-soul. Growing up, what kind of music did you listen to? What artists would you say inspired your music?
GV: “I listened to a bunch of old music. As a kid I never liked new music so I leaned towards old music. I would listen to Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Elton John, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, James Brown and plenty of more. But the 2 people that truly inspired me were both Janis Joplin and Amy Winehouse.”
CS: Your cover of “I See Red” is currently going viral on TikTok. Do you remember when it first started to gain traction? What was it like watching more and more people discover you?
GV: “Yes! I was sitting outside just checking my phone and i see that my TikTok was blowing up like crazy. I was freaking out! It honestly feels amazing that people are discovering me more and I’m excited to share my music!”
CS: How did your friends and family react to your newfound attention?
GV: “They just couldn’t believe it, some of them weren’t surprised though cuz they knew this was going to happen. I would’ve never thought it though!”
CS: What can we expect from your original music? Will it sound like “I See Red,” or is that just one side of you?
GV: “Definitely! My music will sound more like my ‘I See Red’ cover!”
CS: If you could collaborate with any living artist right now, who would it be and why?
GV: “I can only think of dead artist LOL. But if I had to pick a person to collab with it would be Stevie Nicks! The reason why is I’ve idolized her for while and it would be a dream come true to do something with her!”
CS: Lastly, this is Celeb Secrets. What is one secret talent you have that people may be surprised to discover?
GV: “I can do this weird thing with my eyes where I flip my eyelids lol!”
