CAITLIN "GABBY" CRISOSTOMO

Music Brand Ambassador for thevividvida

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TVV : Hey there!! Introduce yo 'self

My name is Caitlin Gabrielle Crisostomo, but most people call me Gabby. I am 20 years old, and I was born and raised on the island of Guam. I am a full-time college student, but my passion is in the arts. My favorite art form is music, and I play ukulele and sing for the local Guam band Friends with Instruments (FWI). When I am not studying or playing music, I also dabble in theatre as a member of the Breaking Wave Theatre Company. I hope to use the arts to make a positive impact on those around me. - Gabby

TVV : You're no stranger to the music scene on Guam, was it always like that? Tell us about your story and how you got into music.

My journey with music began when I was the kid singing karaoke at all the family parties. I started with singing lessons, and eventually I began teaching myself the ukulele at age 12. Music became a good creative outlet for me, but it was not until I turned 15 that music became a serious part of my life. At age 15, I banded together with my sister, CJ Ochoco, and my best friend, Joyce Torres, to start Friends with Instruments. It was a whirlwind of a journey, but in the five years since we started, FWI was able to play dozens of gigs and release an album of original music. Music truly changed my life. It has helped me become confident and comfortable with who I am. Some of my closest friends are people that I have met through music and the arts. I am grateful for the experiences I have had so far with music, and am excited to continue pursuing music. - Gabby

TVV : Wait - you were self taught? That's so cool!

Yeah! I started playing the ukulele when I was 12 years old. Youtube was just getting popular around that time, and so were artists like A.J. Rafael and Jeremy Passion. I loved their music, and I really wanted to learn how to make music like them. I was gifted a pink ukulele, and I just started teaching myself through Youtube. I never really had formal lessons with the uke, so I was mostly just self-taught! From there, a lot of my musical development came from gigging and performing. - Gabby

TVV : Wow - that's amazing! The process for being a musician is something that some would say is a never ending road because you keep learning and growing. What's the most important thing a musician - or anybody really - should never forget while pursuing their dreams?

Passion is probably the most important thing when it comes to pursuing the arts. There is no quick and easy way so be prepared to dedicate a lot of time and energy into what you’re passionate about. Another thing is not to get discouraged. There will be times when you are unable to create or perform as well as you’d like, but the key is to stick to it and never give up. Don’t let the bad days stop your passion. - Gabby

TVV : You're only 20 and you've always grown so much in your music. What future plans do you have in your music career?

I have grown as a musician, constantly learning and developing my own style and voice, both as a singer and as an instrumentalist. I plan on continuing this growth by honing my talent and finding new ways to be a better player and singer. As a member of FWI, I have also had the opportunity to grow and develop my own voice. FWI started out as a cover band, and that allowed me to learn many different playing and singing styles. From doing covers, we eventually moved on to creating original music that we wrote and composed. This growth has really shown us what we can do with our talents, and we hope to continue to develop as artists by producing more original content. - Gabby

TVV : If you are someone who wants to become a musician but does not know where to start, what advice would you give them?

I would recommend Youtube! Choose your instrument, and you will be able to find so many resources online that can teach you how to play. Music lessons may be pricey but they can also be a worthwhile investment. If you are already a musician and want to start performing, my advice is that you connect with other local musicians. I have found that the local Guam music scene is so welcoming. When FWI first started, we were able to find support with other more seasoned musicians that helped us get our start. I am always willing to talk to a fellow musician and help where I can! - Gabby

TVV : Being a musician means that there's a lot of interaction with other artists and those who listen to your craft. By you making music, you're putting yourself out there for others to judge. How do you handle harsh criticism?

I know that not everyone out there will like my music, and I am okay with that. I understand that people have different tastes and things that they like, so if I hear any harsh criticism, I let it roll off my back and not bother me. I pay more attention to constructive criticism, since I am always looking to improve myself and become a better person and musician. When I get constructive criticism, I use it to build myself and my music up. - Gabby

TVV : When you hit a bump in the road, in life or in your music, what do you say to yourself to get out of that funk?

My mantra is “Make today better than yesterday.” This applies to my personal life, music, school, and anything really. I try to remind myself that I should try every day to improve and make this day better than yesterday. - Gabby

TVV : EVERYBODY deserves a break - especially you! How do you wind down from your hectic life?

I also love watching "New Girl" - my guilty pleasure TV show. I think it is so funny, and I love following the lives of the characters. It is not necessarily the most serious or deepest show out there, but such it is fun, easy show to watch. - Gabby

TVV : Who inspired you to play and what continues to push you to play music?

As I mentioned above, my first inspirations for learning how to play were Youtube artists like A.J. Rafael and Jeremy Passion. However, I was also inspired by my older sister, CJ, who had been playing the bass and the guitar since she was 12 years old. I started because I was inspired by them, but I continued because I found my own love and passion for music. I continue to play music because it is the best way for me to channel my creativity and to express my emotions. I have also seen how music can impact others and change lives, so I push myself to keep sharing the love of music in order to help others. - Gabby

TVV : What's the biggest lesson you've learned from being a musician?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned from being a musician is that music transcends cultures, genres, and even language. Music can connect people across the world in ways that very few things are able to. Music is more than just the words, it the feeling and the sound, and the emotions that get carried across the waves to people, and even if they don’t understand what the words are saying, they can understand the feeling behind a good song. - Gabby

TVV : If you got to collab with any artist, who would it be and why?

If I could collab with any artist, it would be A.J. Rafael. FWI was blessed with the opportunity to open for him when he did a concert on Guam in 2015. He is an amazing writer and musician. Because so much of my musical journey and music style is inspired by him, I think it would be amazing to do an actual song collab with him one day! - Gabby

TVV : How does music help you in life? mentally? socially?

Music has been very important in my life. I wasn’t always comfortable talking to people and interacting with them. After becoming a musician, I have learned to become more social, and now I have no problem working my way through a crowded room greeting and talking to almost everyone in that room. Music has also been proven to help mentally in many situations. Sometimes, if I’m feeling sad, I’ll listen to something that is in sync with what I’m feeling, or play something that helps to work through thoughts and emotions that I have. Music also helps to highlight some great times and gives me a stronger connection to memories. As a songwriter, I found that putting my own experiences into a song can be a great help to put things into perspective while getting those emotions off my chest and sharing them with the rest of the world. - Gabby

TVV : What do you think the Guam music scene will look like in 5 years?

In five years, I think the Guam music scene will be booming with original content. From the greats like J.D. Crutch, Johnny Sablan, Flora Baza Quan, and more, Guam has always produced quality original music. Lately, the love for original music has been making a come back with bands like For Peace Band and the John Dank Show, who have taken the music scene to a higher level. As the wave of new music continues to grow on Guam, I think we can expect a flourishing music scene in 5 years with new artists and old coming together to promote our island. - Gabby

TVV : Are there any changes you'd want to make to music on Guam?

I think the Guam music scene is doing great so far. However, if there is anything I could change about music on Guam, it would be that I would like to see more female musicians take the stage. The Guam music scene is fairly diverse, but I believe there is definitely room for more girl power! - Gabby

TVV : BEFORE WE END - If you could send a world wide message and have EVERYBODY in the world receive it what would you say?

If I could send a world wide message and have everybody in the world receive it, I would say “love always.” It sounds so cliche, but I truly believe that love is the answer to a lot of the hurt we see in the world today. Love the people around you. Love yourself. Love what you do. Love every day and the world will be a better place for everyone. - Gabby