- Words Notion Staff
- Photographer Julian Buchan
LA pop princess Gia Woods gets electronic with her Pride anthem "Lesbionic". Ahead of the release, Gia chats to Notion about her musical firsts.
Growing up in a strict Persian household in LA, Gia Wood’s passion for music wasn’t always taken seriously. Gia turned to her violin and guitar as an outlet and kept mainly to herself, filling her time listening to Björk, Green Day and Madonna. Cut to high school, Gia penned her first track “Only A Girl”, a move that simultaneously kicked off her career as well as serving as a way to come out to her friends and family.
Since then, “Only A Girl” has raked in 11 million views and solidified her transformation into a fully-fledged queer pop princess. After the success of her debut EP ‘Heartbreak County, Vol. 1’, Gia announces its follow-up ‘Heartbreak County, Vol. 2’ created with the help of The Orphanage who has worked with Kehlani, Bebe Rexha and Carly Rae Jepsen.
Next week, Gia is set to drop another song from her EP. “Lesbionic” is a vibrating, kaleidoscopic bop that channels the pop veterans that came before her (think Madonna and Britney Spears). With its mesmerising synths and hypnotic hi-hats, “Lesbionic” provides the perfect sultry dance-floor-filler vibes to celebrate Pride Month.
Notion catches up with Gia to delve into her musical firsts. Dive in!
First song you ever made?
I wrote a song called “Bored” when I was seven, it’s about being bored on the weekends because I didn’t have that many friends lol. I was obsessed with alternative/punk music so it was inspired by Green Day.
First song you released officially?
My first song I ever released was “Only A Girl” and it’s also how I came out to the world as a lesbian. If the song wasn’t obvious enough, the video definitely was!
First CD or record you owned?
First CD I ever owned was Dookie by Green Day. Told you I was obsessed..
First time you realised you wanted to be an artist?
Probably when I was in high school thinking about applying to colleges and studying something I wasn’t in love with. Growing up I always knew music was the only thing that made me happy. When I was scouted in high school, everything just fell into place and I knew it was either now or never.
First festival you went to and the first one you played at?
The first festival I ever went to was Coachella 2011! And the first one I played was LA Pride 2016 which was so fun!
First time you faced an obstacle in your career?
I think getting comfortable in front of a camera, especially for my first music video, was the first obstacle I had to get through. I practiced in the mirror for a bit and since then have come a long way.
First instrument you owned?
I got my first guitar when I was seven!
First time you felt like giving up?
I think during the pandemic I really felt defeated, I started to lose a lot of hope and my sense of purpose.
First time you felt starstruck?
When I was in middle school I was at my friend’s house and we ran into Naomi Campbell on the hiking trail by her house. She talked to us and gave me advice about music, it was crazy and so surreal!
First time you ticked off a bucket list goal?
I was obsessed with Calvin Klein growing up and always wanted to work with the brand, so to be a part of the 2020 Pride campaign felt like a bucket list goal!
