After two EPs, a song going viral on TikTok, and touring with some of your favorite bands, Los Angeles-based Daffo released their highly anticipated debut studio album Where the Earth Bends last September.
Daffo, the project of Philadelphia-area native Gabi Gamberg, made their return to Detroit last month at The Lager House in Corktown after opening for Wednesday at the Majestic Theatre back in November. Daffo were wrapping up their first-ever headlining tour when we sat down with Gamberg to talk about Where the Earth Bends, working with acclaimed producer Rob Schnapf, how posting on social media has now become a job and more.
Listen: Daffo talks ‘Where the Earth Bends,’ social media burnout + more
One of Gamberg’s musical influences is the late Elliot Smith, so it seems like it was fate that Daffo would partner with longtime Smith collaborator Rob Schnapf. The duo quickly bonded as they recorded Where the Earth Bends. Gamberg even used one of Smith’s guitars for the album.
“We get along super easily. We’re both Pisces,” Daffo joked about their friendship with Schnapf. “And he’s just like a goofy guy and we’re just both weird. I don’t know, we just are compatible in that way and it was just easy to talk to him…hang out and have fun. We just had a really great time making music together and that’s not always the case.
“I’ve worked with people in my past — who I love and I love being around them — and then when you start making music together, it’s a whole different story. So it’s hard to find somebody that you get along with, but you can also make music with, and Rob is a great guy for that.”
“As soon as I don’t have to be an ‘influencer,’ I won’t.” – Daffo on social media.
Daffo’s profile was significantly raised when their song “Poor Madeline” blew up on TikTok in 2023. Gamberg maximized that social media exposure as much as possible, but what was once a creative outlet to share their music has now turned into more of an obligation.
“It’s so exhausting. The video takes me like maybe ten minutes but I’m like ‘Oh god, I have to make this video, I have to do this,’ Daffo shares. “Also, putting yourself in front of people is also exhausting. I don’t necessarily want to have eyes on me all the time. But then I think about how little work it is compared to…working at a coffee shop or having a regular day job. I mean, tour definitely I think makes up for that idea of work, and recording makes up for that idea — like, this is a hard job to have. But in those spaces between when I do have to make videos, I’m at a point where I just kind of phone it in a little bit.
“But I make the videos that they ask me to make,” continued Daffo. “I send them to the person that posts it for me and as soon as I don’t have to be an ‘influencer,’ I won’t. Sometimes I like to post a video of a song I’m working on or I like to connect with people. But when it’s like ‘I need three videos a week,’ it kind of cheapens what I put out there.”
@daffoband have any of u read those madeline childrens books, i love those #folk #bigthief #behindthesong #indie #elliottsmith ♬ original sound – daffo
Daffo admits the strain from trying to consistently create social media content has affected the quality of their videos, which the analytics seem to confirm.
“I used to just post whenever I wanted to and post songs I was working on or like do random shit,” Daffo said. “Now it’s like I just have to constantly be making stuff and…I don’t really care about it and I feel like that also comes through in the videos because I’m not getting as much attention on them — it’s kind of fizzled out.”
Listen to the whole interview using the media player above, where Daffo also talks about reuniting with Rob Schnapf for an Arthur Russell cover, moving from New York to Los Angeles, and more.
Daffo’s debut studio album Where the Earth Bends is available now on Concord Records.
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