Gabby Rivers (no relation to me, I swear) is a grunge-pop artist based in Suffolk, U.K. who has been making a name for herself in her local scene and, following her first play on BBC Radio 1 in 2023, has been gaining a foothold in the national music scene. With her five-piece band, she’s been featured at festivals such as Latitude, Reading, and Leeds, Secret Garden Party, and Wildpaths Music Festival, and opened for artists such as Vistas, Coach Party, Tiny Umbrellas, and Ellie Dixon.
Today, Rivers is debuting her latest single “Lipstick Karma,” which is out everywhere tomorrow. The track is pure grunge-pop perfection, like if early Garbage had a bluesier vocalist. The use of what sounds like a steel drum adds an unusual element to the mix that strangely works. It’s catchy enough to become a pop hit, but punchy enough to satisfy the rock crowd.
“The single Lipstick Karma comes from a time when I was pouring everything into a relationship,” Rivers explains. “I truly felt like I helped that person grow—I was there through it all. But when my mental health declined, they used that against me. It turned toxic, and I eventually walked away.
“After the breakup, it felt like karma hit them hard,” she continues. “I got this weird, validating feeling, like my conscience was saying, ‘Told you so.’”
“The writing process was easygoing. We’d already finished the EP, and one evening at home, Stan and I had time to write. No pressure—just a song about something we both understood. ‘Monsters crept in, let you slip by’ is my favourite lyric. The “monsters: are mental health struggles, and how I let that person’s mistakes slide. Once we had that line, we added creepy vocal effects, and the rest of the track came together in under an hour. We were buzzing—listening to the demo while making dinner.
“Most of the song was made in the house, which felt perfect. The same kitchen I cried in became the place I wrote about it. That full-circle moment was so satisfying.”
Check out the track below.
Upcoming Live Dates:
12 June – Voodoo Daddy’s showroom Norwich
15 August – Rock N Roll circus festival supporting Courteeners
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