The Opener: Gabriel Jacoby is bringing his earthy Southern soul to the world

The Opener is The FADER’s short-form profile series of casual conversations with exciting new artists.

In the lineage of deeply felt, soulful music, Gabriel Jacoby counts D’Angelo and Michael Jackson as his forebears. You can hear the former’s influence all over the Southern crooner’s 2025 album gutta child, his voice sounding of warm molasses rapping, scatting, but mostly, melodically running over skittering keys, horns, and the dirtiest of instrumentation.

The most prominent quality of Jacoby’s funky soul music is a vivid sense of place. gutta child is indebted to his roots growing up in North Carolina and Florida. He carries his Southern heritage proudly on songs like “dirty south baby,” a glorification of the facial features and culture often overlooked by the mainstream, and his breakout song “baby,” a workshop on the romantic treatment that only a real Southern lover boy can deliver.

Jacoby’s spotlight is only getting bigger. He just wrapped up a headlining tour in the U.S. Ahead, see exclusive photos from that trek and read about his favorite Outkast album, what he was watching on tour, and the best thing the "big thrift guy" has bought for less than $100.

What’s the coolest thing to do in your hometown?
Where I’m from is just real country. Being around the love of my family and in the peace and quiet is the best part.

Tell us about the first album you bought and why.
The first album I bought was the Stankonia CD. Outkast are my favorite rappers ever, and cover art was so magnetizing. It also had some of their best songs on it.

What was the last movie you watched?
It’s not necessarily a movie but while on the road I’ve been watching Ser Duncan The Tall [the protagonist of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a Game of Thrones spinoff]. I just love a good genesis story, and how he is a gentle giant underdog type of figure that’s going up against the world.

When you’re not making music, how do you spend your free time?
Observing the universe.

Explain a lyric of yours that people misunderstand.
A lot of people think my song “be careful” is on some ‘end of the world’ energy because I’m saying “this world ain’t goin’ be here long”. But really it just means that you as a person only have a limited amount of time on this earth, so be careful and do right by yourself and those around you.

What’s a motto you think everyone should live by?
Be careful, love one another, take care of each other.

Tell us about your favorite tattoo or your favorite accessory.
My grill, and my cowboy tattoo.

What’s a song you’d want to cover?
D’Angelo “Another Life”. It was the first song of his I heard, it just blew me away.

What’s the best thing you’ve bought for $100 or less?
I’m a big thrift guy so this is tough, probably a used MPC.

What’s the ideal level of fame and why?
I want to be as big as I can be, Michael Jackson level.

Describe the best concert you’ve attended.
Honestly, I’m from the sticks so I really haven’t been to many concerts. I went to Coachella recently but that was a bit overwhelming.

What’s the last thing you wrote in your notes app?
Lyrics to a song I hope to share with you one day.

Photos courtesy of Gabriel Jacoby.