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Gayle: 10 Things You Didn't Know About the TikTok Star

Gayle's Discography Includes Way More Than "ABCDEFU"

Jun 9 2022

At 17 years old, Gayle has gone from serenading millions of people on TikTok with her breakup hit "ABCDEFU" to rocking out in packed venues with fans who know every lyric to her biggest hit. Since the song first took off in November, it's raked in over 85 million streams on Spotify and 148 millions views on YouTube. As Gayle gears up to release her second EP, "A Study of the Human Experience: Volume Two," we can't help but wonder, who is the badass pop-rock star behind one of the most popular breakup anthems of 2022?

In an interview with POPSUGAR, Gayle opens up about how she was discovered, her tattoos, her '60-inspired style, and more. Read ahead to find out more about the singer, including her dream collabs and her best songs beyond "ABCDEFU."

Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison

1. She Was Discovered by an "American Idol" Judge

Gayle is originally from Texas, but she grew up making frequent road trips to Nashville with her family to pursue her musical dreams. At 14, the young singer was discovered by former "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi, who mentored her and encouraged her to be more vulnerable with her song lyrics. Thanks to DioGuardi's coaching, Gayle was able to tap into her emotions and produce hits like "ABCDEFU," nab a No. 1 spot on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart, and sign with Atlantic Records.

Image Source: Getty / Frederick Breedon

2. Her Real Name Isn't Gayle . . . Well, Not Exactly

Like Halsey taking inspiration from their birth name, Ashley, to come up with a memorable stage name, and H.E.R. performing under an acronym (Having Everything Revealed) instead of her legal name, Gabriella, Gayle is actually the singer's middle name. Her real name is Taylor Gayle Rutherfurd, but her friends usually call her Gollipop or Goll, a play on Gayle and the word "lollipop."

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Hahne

3. She Has a Ton of Songs That Aren't "ABCDEFU"

Gayle's biggest hit by far is "ABCDEFU," a tune that took off thanks to TikTok's ASL community signing along to the song. While the song is catchy, Gayle has a ton of other tracks on her debut EP, "A Study of the Human Experience: Volume One." Some of her most popular songs include "Luv Starved," "Kiddie Pool," "Z," "Orange Peel," "Ur Just Horny," "Dumbass," and "Sleeping With My Friends."

4. Her Early Influences Include Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald

When Gayle was around 7 years old, a teacher introduced her to scatting and played videos of Ella Fitzgerald in her element. Gayle instantly fell in love and brought her newfound passion for music home, where her mom doubled up on her music knowledge by feeding her the sultry sounds of Joss Stone and Nina Simone.

Eventually, Gayle discovered the works of Aretha Franklin, who remains her biggest musical inspiration to this day. "Aretha has this soul and intensity that I find really inspiring and impactful, and in that moment, I felt this thing that I could honestly live in forever," she tells POPSUGAR. "I was like, 'That's it. That's what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to be making music the way that Aretha Franklin is.'"

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5. Her Style Is Heavily Inspired by the '60s and '70s

At first glance, Gayle's punk-rock ensembles spur memories of 2003 Avril Lavigne mixed with vintage thrift finds. Speaking with the singer about her personal fashion influences, she points out that she doesn't have any specific style icons. Instead, she replicates pieces from iconic fashion eras to create an eclectic style that's uniquely hers.

"I've been really inspired by eras of time," she says. "Like, I really love '60s patterns." Gayle adds that she likes to mix in bell-bottoms from the '70s and oversize pieces from the '80s to make her feel like a badass rocker. "I know I'm going to regret it when I'm like 30 — like I know it's going to happen. I'm going to look back at pictures of me at 17 and think, 'Dear God, what was I thinking?' And I honestly can't wait, it's going to be a great time."

6. Her Collaboration History Is Wild

After rising to TikTok fame, Gayle landed shows across the country, performing alongside Charlie Puth, AJR, Florence + The Machine, Snoh Aalegra, My Chemical Romance, and more. Remi Wolf and Yungblud are still on her list of artists she'd like to collaborate with. In the meantime, she keeps the music juices flowing with songs like "Breakfast at a Funeral" by Wens and Sean Kennedy and "Never Be Like You" by Flume and Kai, her go-to shower song.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Jennings

7. She Has a Growing Tattoo Collection

At 17, Gayle already has a growing tattoo collection, including a "little orange slice" just above her right elbow that she got as a tribute to her first tour. "I was just being very, very sentimental," she says, adding that she took a similarly affectionate approach when she got her second tattoo, an "ABC" in honour of her hit song, which she cowrote with Dave Pittenger and her best friend, Sara Davis. "The A is in my handwriting, the B is in Sara Davis's handwriting, and the C is in Dave Pittenger's handwriting. So I have their handwriting permanently inked on my body forever . . . Who knows, maybe when I'm like 30 I'll hate it, but in this moment, I'm appreciative of it."

With her 18th birthday fast approaching, Gayle already has plans to add to her collection. "When I'm 18, I want to get my mom to draw a heart," she says. "I'm going to get it tattooed, and then I'd do the same and she does the same, so we have matching heart tattoos. So whenever she's away from me, she's still with me, you know, that mother-daughter bullsh*t."

Image Source: Getty / Steve Jennings

8. Her Ideal Weekend Involves Great Food and Good Friends

When she's not rocking out on stage or creating videos on her TikTok page, Gayle likes to watch "The Vampire Diaries" and hang out with her best friends and her older brother, Trace. When describing her ideal weekend with the crew, she adds that she'd love to get into costume — Chewbacca slippers are a must — and drive around in golf carts all night long before waking up the next morning to have breakfast at Waffle House.

9. She Dyes Her Own Hair

Part of Gayle's edgy look — which often includes ripped tights, combat boots, and some form of a rock 'n' roll T-shirt — is her two-toned hair, black on the right and auburn on the left. Speaking with POPSUGAR, Gayle revealed that she prefers the DIY approach to going to the salon. "I did dye my hair right before quarantine started, and then I dyed it pink and purple and did all these crazy colours because nobody was going to see me," she says.

Image Source: Getty / David Livingston

10. She Loves Dogs

When asked what brings her the most joy, Gayle said that — beyond her family, friends, and a delicious meal — nothing beats a cuddle with a four-legged friend. "I saw a golden retriever the other day at a radio station, and I was like, 'Oh my God — dog!' I literally stop everything I'm doing and I'm just like, 'dog.'"

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