Gabriella Bongo is a writer, producer, and DJ from South London blending melodic depth with the soulful edges of drum & bass. A self-taught pianist who began producing at age nine using GarageBand, she honed her technical skills while studying sound engineering at ICMP London, where she recently graduated.
Influenced by artists like Dogger, Hybrid Minds, Rudimental, and Chase & Status, Gabriella’s music pairs sharp production with honest, lived experience. Since her debut in 2020, she’s gained early recognition through BBC 1Xtra and was selected as Hospital Records’ Women In Drum & Bass mentee in 2024. Her progress and production style stood out so strongly that Hospital offered her a full signing in March 2025.
Following her feature on Degs’ album (Spacesuit), she now makes her solo debut on the label with Breathe — the first of three upcoming singles exploring the more soulful and liquid side of the genre. With past performances at O2 Academy Islington and Hospitality In The Woods, and an appearance at Hospitality On The Beach in Croatia slated for July, Gabriella is proudly flying the flag for a new generation of drum & bass artists.
What’s the story behind your new single – ‘Breathe’ out on Hospital Records?
I think for a lot of musicians, music is an outlet - you end up expressing yourself unconsciously. Breathe was written at a time in my life where I was in a bit of a rough patch. I was having lots of panic attacks and the only way you’re taught to get through them is to breathe. I didn’t go into the session with the intention of writing about that - it just happened. I was in the studio with this amazing singer-songwriter called Sienna and without her I don’t think I’d have tapped into that.
Drum & bass rose from underground roots to a global audience, and lately we’ve seen a surge in vocal-led and more soulful cuts gaining traction. Why do you think it’s striking a chord? How do you see your own sound contributing to that evolution?
I think people want to feel a bit more. The world is currently very fast paced and a lot of music today feels quite disposable to be honest. I think people want lyrics they can relate to and chords that make them feel sad or happy. I think my sound is for listeners across a multitude of genres.
As someone who started producing from a very young age and now studies sound engineering, what’s one production trick or tool that totally changed the game for you?
Probably auxiliary sends. I love sidechaining my delay on vocals, doing some weird stuff to my parallel drum bus or even using a vocoder. I like how creative you can get with auxiliary channels/sends all whilst having the ability to keep a dry or less interesting version.
What’s your approach to collaborating with singers across different genres, and how do you make those pairings feel authentic?
I have to be a fan of their voice and they have to be up for trying something new - that’s the only criteria! These pairings often work and feel authentic because all they need to do is bring themselves and just do what they do best.
I never use reference tracks or try to alter their sound too much because I want it to be as original as possible - a piece of music that we’re both proud of.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the work behind the scenes as a DnB producer?
I think all producers can relate to this but the session isn’t over for us once we leave the studio. I’ve been putting vocals through Melodyne in bed before, sending revisions of mixes while I’m on the go - the work is constant and sometimes not the most convenient.
What’s your favorite/least favorite thing about making music?
My favourite thing would probably be that moment in a session where you think this is the best song you’ve ever made and you’ve outdone yourself.
My least favourite thing would be writer's block.
3 things you can’t live without in your bag.
Chewing Gum
Candy Kittens or Honey Roasted Peanuts
Water
What are you listening to at the moment?
Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of Florence + The Machine and Post Malone, very different artists.
Gabriella Bongo x TJ - Breathe (feat. Jo) - Artwork
