sista spotlight: Gavin Turek

Imagine a young woman with a deep-bellied laugh, curly hair cascading down her back, and the cutest voice that you've ever heard, greeting you as you nervously play with the cord on your cell phone. Her sense of humor is quirky; her modesty, inspiring. Now of course I was absolutely entranced by the hair, but there's more to her than just her fierce mane. Multi-talented actress and singer Gavin Turek is definitely catching the surf on the next wave of fabulous to hit this year's music scene. A gorgeous mix of African American and Czechoslovakian, Gavin is one of the most beautiful people we've ever seen. And the girl's got talent! She wrote her first song when she was six years old, rode a camel in a desert of India, can make a mean cappuccino, and has perfected what she calls "the spastic dance" which can be seen in her videos.

Basically, she's awesome and her style is unmistakably unique. If I could name it, it would be like indie L.A. style electronica pop with hints of jazz. The kind of music that you can listen to at the beach, bump in your car on a road trip or even clean your house to on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Think J*Davey meets Ella Fitzgerald who then meets Lykke Li. Makes no sense right? Well, of course it doesn't! Because trying to categorize Gavin would be like trying to squeeze a peach. It serves no purpose.  Her voice is light, playful and enchantingly addictive. It's almost impossible to get her songs unstuck from your head. From "So Cool" to "Ring It", Gavin's sound is organic, super chill, and fun. So needless to say, we were ecstatic that Gavin honored us with an EXCLUSIVE interview :)

                                        

Luna: Hi Gavin, thanks for joining us here at Nappy Like Yo' Pappy. Can I just say that your hair is amazing! How long have you been natural?

Gavin: Since out the womb girl. I've been wearing this natural since out the womb. No seriously, I've been natural since I can remember. I've always worn my hair in an afro. I could not be contained as a child; it just fit my personality to have ridiculously large hair. It was never combed. It was always crazy and untamed. 

Luna: Well I mean, I couldn't help but to stare at your hair, I know, I know. Have you had anyone that you didn't know touch it?

Gavin: Yes! I like it when people ask, though. If people ask, I'm usually like "Yeah" while laughing hysterically. It happens almost everyday. It's uncomfortable and it's weird but I let it happen because I don't want to be mean to anybody. But it does happen too often and it's always awkward. I sometimes feel like a science project or something. I feel like I'm a museum exhibit, like they're not to supposed to touch it, and there's a sign that says "Do Not Touch" but they do anyway.

Luna: Tell us about some of your favorite products? 

Gavin: My favorite products are definitely Infusium 23 Leave-In Conditioner (original), I have been using that stuff since I was a little girl, hasn't failed me yet so I will continue to use it. I only use it when I wash my hair and it's not daily. 

Luna: So how often do you wash it then?
Gavin: On average like 3 times a week.

Luna: So then, what is your typical hair routine?
Gavin: My typical routine is to shake it, put some Infusium in it, and brush it, and make it crazy, and go. Make it loose and wild and leave the house. I think it looks better when it's bigger. I used to make it like a natural jherri-curl. I used to rock the wet curls like it was cute, but I realized it wasn't cute so I stopped doing that. I used to want to contain my nappiness, now I own my nappiness. It's not contained now. Any part of the nappies. 

Luna: Well, your hair looks to be almost all the way down your back! Do you straighten it ever?

Gavin: NO. Never. The last time I straightened it was like 4 years ago. It takes forever and I don't like the straight look. It makes me look like Pocahantas or Cher. A mixture, actually. 

Luna: You have a new video out for your song, "Good As Gold." What was the inspiration behind the song? I love the scenery and how natural you look in the video as well.

Gavin: Thank you! Well, I wrote the song about two years ago. I was in a very good relationship at the time, it was going well, I was happy and I wrote that song which is about a breakup. I wasn't writing about myself but I felt like I needed to get it out of my system. After the actual breakup, I feel like I was predicting the breakup through that song. I don't think that's a coincidence. My subconscious knew that was going to happen and I got it out through my art. That's why I make music. It's how I get all of this craziness out of my head in the most productive way possible.

Luna: And how did the video happen?

Gavin: This is so funny because it was so random. I go to Trader Joe's weekly and a guy that works there wanted to do a video for me. So he sent me some videos that he shot and they were amazing and so we got together and we just filmed it around L.A. It was painless and fun. He edited it in like a few hours because he's a genius. 

Luna: Gavin, I think your music is AMAZING and I still play the songs from the first set. Do you have any new music coming out? What are some fun projects that you are working on now?

Gavin: I have a new single out called "Ring It". That song and the B sides will be coming out the 15th on iTunes. The full new album will probably come out towards the end of this year. The remixes featuring Kenan Bell, who is an amazing rapper and Res, are coming out as well, so you're going to get a lot for your money. Trust me! I'm also working on getting my live show together because I want to tour this summer and play a lot more gigs around L.A. 

Luna: I've keeping up with you, as you know, I heard about your new project with Rimmel London. Congratulations on that!

Gavin: Thank you! I just did a video for them.

Luna: Great, well tell us about it!

Gavin: Basically, Rimmel London wants to launch its products and make more of presence in the U.S. They picked 10 girls across the U.S. that they thought personified the London style to try their products and talk about what we like and what we don't like and so we are basically representatives of the company. It's really cool because they just want us to be ourselves and talk about what we like about makeup. We had one fun challenge which was to not wear makeup for a week.

Luna: And how was that?

Gavin: That was really fun. I did a little video blurb to start fresh-faced and new this year. In L.A. so many girls wear makeup, so I stood out more, I thought, by not wearing any. But now I'm back to wearing make-up and I just did a little video about what Rimmel London makeup I love, like their mascara and blush. 

Luna: That's awesome. You know if you ever need an extra in one of your videos...

Gavin: *uncontrollable laughter*

 Luna: No, but on a more serious note. Tell us more about your album.

 Gavin: Well, to be honest, it's not a happy album at all. It was a very hard time that I was going through when I was putting it together but it all needed to happen. It was a healing process, but it was definitely a rocky healing process. Even though when you first play it, it may sound like it's upbeat and happy. But it isn't. And I think that's cool because it's very honest and I was trying to be very honest with myself while making it.

 

Luna: That's good. Personally, I don't like all of my music to be happy-go-lucky. I go through thangs and I want my music to go through thangs, too. But here's one last question. In this business, people tend to compare artists with one another and it's often hard to stand out. What do you want the world to know about you as an artist?

Gavin: Well, I've never been comfortable trying to fit someone's image and style in music. I don't feel like I have to be a rebel but I don't want to follow anyone's rules for music. I don't want to be straight up mainstream. But not just as like a gimmick, because I really like what I do. And if people don't like my music, I won't be offended. I just want to continue making music that I'm passionate about; music that makes me angry, or sad, or happy. I hate music that you listen to that doesn't make you feel anything. I want people to feel something. 

Luna: That was beautiful. Thank you Gavin for being with us.

Gavin: Thank you!

Check out Gavin's video. I highly endorse it:

For more information on Gavin's awesomeness, 

listen to her music on her myspace,

become a fan on Facebook,

follow her on twitter,

or check out her blog!

Over and out my afroBELLAs. Keep the faith. I'm still alive.