For Singer-Songwriter Mimi Gilbert, Each Song Is Its Own Universe

On Oct. 3, Mimi Gilbert, an indie-folk singer-songwriter, brought her soulful music to the Booker T. Bradshaw Jr. Stage in Werner Centennial Center as part of the Graham Gund ’59 Performing Artists series. 

 

Gilbert’s evocative songs have been described as timeless reflections on love, loss and a life deeply lived. Many of her lyrics reflect a sense of vulnerability, uncertainty and heartache that resonated with students and faculty members in the all-school assembly.

 

She spoke about her own journey toward becoming a songwriter. “I didn’t have a wonderful time in high school,” said Gilbert, who was born and raised in California. “I went to a strictly religious school and there were some wonderful things about that; we had mostly nuns as teachers. But I always felt like I was bad. Not like in a cool, bad boy way, but bound for some bad reality. And I had to do a lot of work to weed that out of my system.”

 

Writing became her way of processing her world, and particularly her hardships. Instead of paying attention in her Spanish class, she would write poetry that she would later craft into lyrics. She first learned how to play guitar and bass in church but largely taught herself.

 

At 15, Gilbert began busking with her brother on the streets of Santa Barbara, Calif. Eventually, she moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she immersed herself in the vibrant city’s bustling music scene. A troubadour of sorts, she has played nationwide in the United States and toured throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Her fourth album “Undrowning” will be released later this month. 

 

“I view songwriting as not just about being a good listener and being aware, it has also taught me how to become a better human, it expanded my world,” she said.

 

Following her performance, Gilbert met with members of the Chorale and Chorus to discuss her approach to songwriting.

 

“I view each song as its own universe. And that realization was helpful to me when I was starting out and it applies to any type of creative expression. You’re capturing a moment, not just a moment, but an emotional world,” she said. “What is true in that moment might not be true in ten minutes, so you have to sit in that moment.”

 

When you start out songwriting, it’s important to let your feelings freely flow and do the editing later, she said.

 

“Let it rip. Take risks. Be bold. Allow yourself to go 100 % with what you are feeling,” she said. “I grew up in a society where you weren’t supposed to cry. You scrape your knees. You’re supposed to be tough. But songwriting taught me to acknowledge my feelings.”

 

So, when her life becomes too hard or even too beautiful, she pours those feelings into lyrics and into memorable melodies that have become her hallmark style.