A Chat with Black Note Graffiti (17.07.25)
The dynamic quintet Black Note Graffiti has carved their niche in the modern rock scene with a sound that blends metal, melodic modern rock, and heavy rock with rhythmic textures of bands like Turnstile and Deftones. We had a chance to speak with vocalist Gabrielle Gloria about their new album, Resist The Divide, influential performances, future plans and more.
OSR: Your new album, Resist The Divide, blends melodic modern rock and metal with emotional depth. What was the core message or personal experience that inspired this record?
Gloria: For Resist The Divide, the core message is about refusing to let your inner world be split by outside forces: politics, pain, addiction, grief. It’s about reclaiming unity within yourself, even when everything else is falling apart.
OSR: Songs like ‘The Source’ and ‘Place You Lie’ have resonated with fans. Can you walk us through the creative process behind one of those tracks?
Gloria: ‘Place You Lie’ came from a really raw space. It started instrumental, the lyrics were added in the studio. The song became this, not falling back into past habits or behaviors in the dark.
OSR: You’ve worked with Josh Schroeder, known for his intense, high-impact productions. What did he bring to the table that pushed the band creatively or sonically?
Gloria: Josh doesn’t let you hide. He pulls performances out of you that you didn’t know were in there, he’s hands on in the best way. He helped us refine our sound and focus on our raw sound, making it shine. Sonically, he gave Resist The Divide this sense of urgency and polish without stripping it of its grit.
OSR: The album touches on heavy themes, addiction, trauma, and self-redemption. How do you balance the darkness with hope in your songwriting?
Gloria: We write from personal experience. Even in our darkest songs, there’s a thread of resilience and of climbing out. Hope doesn’t always sound like a sunrise; sometimes it’s the sound of someone still screaming back at the void. That balance is everything.
OSR: You’ve shared the stage with bands like Bring Me The Horizon and Lamb of God. How have those experiences influenced your live energy or approach to performance?
Gloria: Playing on bills with other artists that have such commanding live presence really pushed us to level up. There’s a discipline to bringing intensity and it taught us how to channel emotion without burning out.
OSR: What can fans expect from your upcoming sets at the Mile of Music Festival this August? Any surprises or new arrangements in the works?
Gloria: We plan to bring what we always bring, energy and a good time. There’s new music from the last time we played M.o.M, but we will still bring the same energy.
OSR: The vinyl release of Resist The Divide feels like a love letter to your fans. Why was it important to put this record out in that physical format?
Gloria: Vinyl feels sacred. It slows things down and makes you listen. Putting this album on vinyl was about giving our fans a way to hold the music. It’s also a thank you to the ones who’ve stayed with us through every evolution.
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OSR: Your sound blends elements of Deftones, Turnstile, and your own unmistakable identity. How do you maintain that balance between influence and originality?
Gloria: We respect our influences deeply, but we’re never trying to recreate them. Instead, we take what speaks to us like the textures and the energy and filter it through our own lens.
OSR: Black Note Graffiti is known for addressing mental health and personal struggles. How do you hope your music supports fans going through similar battles?
Gloria: We want our listeners to feel seen, especially in their hardest moments. Music has always been a lifeline for us, so we pour that same intention into every lyric and riffs. If one person feels a little less alone because of a song we wrote, then we’ve done our job.
OSR: With four studio albums under your belt and growing national exposure, what’s next for Black Note Graffiti in late 2025 and beyond?
Gloria: For the rest of the year we are focusing on writing and pre-producing new material.
Many thanks to Gabrielle Gloria for speaking with us. Find out more about Black Note Graffiti on their Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
