first two studio albums were inspired by "classic soul connotations" such as Marvin Gaye, Barry White and Bobby Womack. However, the albums also contained influence "by early-'80s British pop" Soul II Soul, Lisa Stansfield and Mantronix. Gabrielle's third album Rise spoke of "optimism, romanticism, devotion, and a keen survival instinct". "Play to Win" incorporated a mix of genres. Gabrielle spoke on the album's influences saying "There's also a couple of songs which lean more to Country, so there will be a couple of surprises for them." She also talks about the genres on the album, saying, "There's nothing wrong with Country. Yeah, I'm a black woman, but I'd like to think that I can just sing 'songs'. This album is diverse but people buying my music can expect diverse music; it's about love, life and optimism." Gabrielle cited her high school teacher as one influence, saying that she was "inspired the moment her teacher asked her to construct her first poem. Her poetry began to develop into songs, and then she began to sing." Other inspirations came through in an eclectic collection of 1980s pop. "Madonna, Culture Club, Haircut One Hundred, Duran Duran, Adam and the Ants and Wham!. "You know, it was all pop, and at the same time I was a huge Michael Jackson fan, so I had a big picture of him, you know, when he looked really beautiful, and he was dark chocolate and you just wanted to lick him, although they were innocent thoughts those days, when I was younger." Personal life Gabrielle has a son, born in 1995, and a daughter, born in 2003. Discography Studio albums Find Your Way (1993) Gabrielle (1996) Rise (1999) Play to Win (2004) Always (2007) Under My Skin (2018) Do It Again (2021) Compilation albums Rise Underground (2000) Dreams Can Come True, Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (2001) Now and Always: 20 Years of Dreaming (2013) Dreams: The Best Of (2016) Awards BRIT Awards |- | rowspan="2" | 1994 | rowspan="4" | Herself | Best British Breakthrough | |- | rowspan="3" | Best British Female | |- | 1997 | |- | 2000 | Black Music Awards |- | 1994 | Herself | Best R&B Newcomer | Ivor Novello Awards |- | 1994 | "Dreams" | Best Selling Song | |- | 1997 | "Give Me a Little More Time" | Most Performed Song | |- | 2000 |