Gabriels Tickets

Gabriels are Compton gospel singer Jacob Lusk, Sunderland-born producer and keyboardist Ryan Hope, and LA-native producer-composer and violinist Ari Balouzian.

The embryonic stages of Gabriels were initially sewn a few years back, film director Ryan Hope had just signed a deal with Roman Coppola's Directors Bureau and moved from Sunderland to Los Angeles, where he stumbled across producer-composer Balouzian's scoring work. Intrigued, Hope got in touch and the pair began working together out of Balouzian's apartment studio.

Their work brought them to Jacob Lusk and his church choir, but when additional parts were required, the choir returned minus their lead. Never the type to settle, Hope and Balouzian popped down to a church service in a Leimert Park middle school and set up a remote studio where Lusk laid key vocals and harmonies for them.

All who listen to Gabriels' (their group name comes from St. Gabriels Avenue, the street Hope grew up on in England) two-part debut album Angels & Queens, can hear their synergy. They'll also certainly fall for Lusk's rich, far-reaching vocal range.

His powerful voice took a bit of work to master, but with practice and a church upbringing, Lusk clearly learned to use his gifts. Before long, he was building his music industry CV as a background singer for icons like Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, Beck, St. Vincent, and Nate Dogg.

Gabriels' initial breakthrough came via Milan fashion house Prada's 2018 three-part vignette series The Delivery Man, directed by Hope himself. Their sultry cut "Loyalty" played as Academy Award-winning actor JK Simmons delivered Cahier handbags. The placement showcased their ability to create music as pleasing to the ears as couture pieces are to the touch and resulted in a bevy of record labels inquiring if Gabriels had any more music to offer. At the time, they did not.

Energised by the rising interest, the R&B-soul-rock hybrid collective crafted a slew of rough cuts, signed a major label deal, and unveiled a pair of critically acclaimed EPs in 2021 (Bloodline and Love and Hate in a Different Time). Producing standout tracks "Blame" and the latter's title track, the group quickly found fans in the likes of Elton John (who called "Love and Hate In A Different Time" "probably one of the most seminal records I've heard in the last 10 years"), David Byrne, Celeste, among others. The band announced and subsequently sold out a series of debut headline shows in London, with punters packing rooms for some of the most extraordinary debut shows they'd have ever seen. Following a rousing debut performance at Glastonbury back in June, Gabriels returned to LA to develop Angels & Queens.

The record is introduced today via future-funk lead single and album title track, Angels & Queens. With a memorable, light-hearted opening set of lyrics, the Trojan Horse of a track swirls into a poignant cut where Lusk realises just how deeply one can be affected by the person holding their heart--all while his voice soars to euphoria.

It's a scintillating introduction to a genuinely enthralling debut record.