Recently, Gigi Perez entered a Brooklyn restaurant with a toothpick in her mouth, occasionally swapping it for another during her meal. Her eyes often drifted to a clear container of toothpicks on the table, as if seeking reassurance. Throughout the two-hour dinner, she mostly avoided direct eye contact while discussing the theme of mortality—a subject she frequently contemplates.
“As I grow older and witness my family aging, it feels like I’m on an unstoppable conveyor belt heading toward an inevitable conclusion,” Perez reflected.
At just 25, Perez carries a maturity and weariness beyond her years. She was dining at a favored Japanese restaurant in Williamsburg, near her former residence, mere days before releasing her debut album and less than half a day away from an early morning appearance on a national television show.
Like many emerging artists, Perez is learning how to navigate the aftermath of viral success. Her gentle, guitar-driven songs have captured widespread attention on TikTok, gaining millions of streams and cultivating a dedicated audience. “Sailor Song,” a ballad inspired by a woman who reminded her of Anne Hathaway, achieved platinum status and ranked among Spotify’s most-streamed songs in the United States for months, topping the charts in the United Kingdom last fall. Yet, Perez’s musical journey is deeply rooted in personal loss rather than celebration.
One of her earliest tracks to gain recognition on SoundCloud, “Sometimes (Backwood),” rose in popularity six months after the sudden passing of her older sister, Celene, in 2020. Her debut album, “At the Beach, in Every Life,” released less than a week ago, serves as both a tribute to her sister and a means to make sense of the turbulent and uncertain years she has endured.
