Sailor Song: The unexpected success of Gigi Perez

Gigi Perez, an American singer-songwriter, has recently experienced an unexpected surge in her music career, particularly with her hit song Sailor Song. The story begins in April when a devoted fan approached Gigi after one of her performances, proudly displaying a tattoo that read 'Gigi I 🖤 U. ' Gigi was taken aback and humorously thought, 'Please don't regret that. ' It was a surreal moment for her, realizing that her music had such a profound impact on someone that they would permanently ink her name on their skin. This moment was especially poignant considering that just six months prior, Gigi had been dropped by her record label during a promotional trip to London. After this setback, she found herself moving back in with her parents in Florida, leading her to reevaluate her life and career. 'I was free falling,' she admitted, reflecting on the uncertainty she felt at that time. With no income and a return to her childhood home, Gigi decided to take a year to learn how to record and produce her own music. Little did she know, this decision would lead to a remarkable turnaround in her career. In June, Gigi's song Sailor Song, a heartfelt ballad about falling in love with someone who resembles actress Anne Hathaway, unexpectedly became a global sensation. The song quickly climbed the charts, reaching number one in the UK and also topping the charts in Ireland and Latvia, while making its way into the top ten in countries as far-flung as New Zealand and Belgium. Gigi expressed her disbelief at the song's success, stating, 'I knew the song was special to me, but I just didn't know it was going to be special to so many other people. ' When she learned that Sailor Song had reached number one, she recalled, 'I got out of the shower and just started crying. ' This success marked a significant turning point for Gigi, especially after the challenges she had faced. Gigi's journey began in New Jersey, where she was born, before moving to Florida. She was a passionate drama student who eventually turned to music when she realized she was unlikely to land leading roles in plays. Self-taught in both piano and guitar, Gigi made waves in the music industry in 2021 with her self-released debut single, Sometimes (Backwood). This song garnered her a record deal with Interscope Records, and she even had the opportunity to support Coldplay on their Music of the Spheres tour before she had performed a headline show of her own. However, this initial success brought with it a sense of pressure to rapidly expand her career. Gigi often felt 'stuck and limited' by her lack of progress, experiencing a cognitive dissonance where she would receive great opportunities but was unsure of who her audience was. By the time she performed in London last November, Gigi felt she had reached a breaking point. She prayed for guidance, asking, 'Open the doors that need to be opened and close the doors that need to be shut. ' Just two days later, Interscope released her from her contract. Instead of feeling defeated, Gigi found a renewed sense of energy and purpose. She began writing more songs and taught herself how to produce them by watching tutorials on YouTube. In February, she experienced a burst of inspiration that led to the creation of Sailor Song. 'I was on my bed, my door was open, and I was just messing around, jamming,' Gigi recalled. Her little sister walked by and asked, 'Gigi, what was that? ' Gigi responded, 'I have no idea, but I think it's really cool. ' This spontaneous moment of creativity led to a song that would change her life. Gigi teased the song on TikTok in April and officially released it in July. As of November 20, the song has been streamed an astonishing 340 million times on Spotify alone. Sailor Song is somewhat of an unlikely hit, featuring low-tech production and Gigi's androgynous vocals, which surprised many listeners who initially thought the song was about a heterosexual relationship. The catchy chorus, with lines like 'Kiss me on the mouth and love me like a sailor,' resonated with audiences. However, not all feedback was positive. In the United States, some evangelical Christians criticized the song for its line, 'I don't believe in God, but you're my saviour. ' Gigi responded to the criticism on TikTok, stating, 'My songwriting is not a democracy,' emphasizing that every artist has the right to express themselves freely. Following the success of Sailor Song, Gigi signed a new record deal with Island Records, marking a new chapter in her career. Gigi's struggles with faith and identity run deep. Her parents became born-again Christians when she was in elementary school, and they worked hard to send Gigi and her sisters to a private religious school in Florida. This upbringing was not without its challenges, particularly for Gigi, who identified as gay. The experience of growing up in a restrictive environment was taxing for her. The most profound loss in her life came when her older sister Celene passed away unexpectedly at the age of 22 in early 2020. This tragedy shook the very foundations of Gigi's world, leaving her grappling with unimaginable pain. In her music, she has sought to articulate the inexpressible grief she felt. In a song titled Celene, she poignantly sings, 'The other day, I thought of something funny/ But no one would've laughed but you,' capturing the essence of her loss. Gigi's latest release, Fable, continues to explore her grief, addressing the hollow words of 'thoughts and prayers' offered by those who did not truly understand her pain. She reflects on how disconnecting from faith makes her 'skin start to burn. ' Gigi expressed, 'One of the hardest parts about my grief is that I didn't have any music that touched on my life, on my situation, to get me through it,' which motivated her to create music that resonates with her experiences. 'I've written tons of grief songs, but finally, in Fable, I said it in the way I always felt, from the very day I lost her, and I was so just relieved by the expression of it. ' This cathartic process serves as a form of self-healing for Gigi, and she hopes her music can reach others who are navigating their own struggles. 'One of my biggest wishes is to not let this experience that is so dark and isolating stay that way,' she said. 'My hope is that there can be some way this [music] can help. ' Gigi has already witnessed the healing power of her music, and with her ability to connect with people during their most vulnerable moments, it is likely that she will see her name tattooed on many more fans in the future.