R&B sensation Gallant strides towards stardom, with a little help from Elton John
Debut album showcases booming falsetto voice and lays bare the depth of soul singer’s insecurities and his pursuit of optimism
When Elton John said last year that R&B singer Gallant was “going to be huge”, the 24-year-old felt unworthy of the praise.
“It was very strange,” Gallant says. “It was so undeserving of me getting that type of attention. I was surprised that he was even listening to my music. He’s a legend. To hear him speak with so much enthusiasm about me, it was surreal.”
John’s endorsement of Gallant’s single Weight in Gold affirmed Gallant’s inclination to stay true to himself musically.
The extra vote of confidence seems to be working for Gallant, who released his debut studio album Ology this month. In the past several months, Gallant has garnered fans from Moby to DJ Zane Lowe. Earlier this month, he shared the stage with Seal at Coachella.
“It made me ask myself more questions,” he says. “It makes me want to open up even more. [Ology] is purely just me not letting my inner voice get away with avoiding any answers to whatever questions I might have. Why am I acting this way? Why do I feel this way? Where am I going? I really want to just grow and evolve as a human being. It motivates me in that respect.”
The album details the depth of his insecurities and his pursuit of optimism, showcasing the soul singer’s booming falsetto voice. He was initially nervous about how the album would be received.