Feature 002: Marissa Gamble
For many artists, stepping away from creativity can feel like losing a piece of themselves. For singer-songwriter Marissa Gamble, returning to music meant facing fear, uncertainty, and the challenge of beginning again. Through vulnerability, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose, she found her way back to the art that has always been a part of who she is.
In this conversation, Marissa opens up about what it truly means to start over, the lessons she's learned through growth and self-discovery, and how embracing imperfection has shaped her creative journey. Her story is a reminder that it's never too late to return to what you love and that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is begin again.
" I'd rather do things that scare me than live in fear and never try at all."
The Fresh Start Interview: Marissa Gamble
Q: What did “starting over” look and feel like for you when you decided to return to music?
Marissa: I was petrified to start over and in denial about it. I grew up as a musical theatre performer, but decided to pursue a career in entertainment marketing after getting rejected from various theatre programs. It felt like the universe was telling me to move on and follow the “smart path”. After moving to NYC in 2021, I revisited voice lessons strictly as a hobby. When I realized I was growing as a singer in ways I hadn’t expected as an adult, I knew I had to pursue it further. I felt embarrassed comparing myself to peers who had never taken a break and got their degrees in the arts, it took years for me to introduce myself as an artist. Even now, I sometimes struggle to say I’m a singer. But I OBVIOUSLY am!
Q: Was there a specific moment or realization that pushed you to choose your passion again despite the fear?
Marissa: Over 3 years since I had performed, I did a small showcase in Hells Kitchen. I sang two songs on stage in front of literally ten people in the audience. I was quaking nervous. After I got off stage, I couldn’t stop crying. It went great, but I felt like a band-aid had been ripped off. Like it was something I couldn’t deny. I could get better at this, I could do this, it doesn’t have to be the last time. That was 4 years ago now.
Q: You mentioned having a past with anxiety spirals, what did those look like for you, and how have you learned to work through them?
Marissa: I was so conditioned to think that I “didn’t have what it takes”, so of course doubts still creep up. It’s the highs of feeling a deep calling like I’m meant to create something, combined with the lows of “no one cares, this is stupid, you’re embarrassing yourself”. These negative thoughts are heightened during big moments like right before a song is being released or worse, when I’m about to go on stage. I’ve gotten better at reminding myself that these are lies in my head to try to hold myself back and stay “safe”. I can only grow if I do the things that scare me! I still have ups and downs, but I’ve come to accept it as long as I’m progressing towards my goals as an artist!
Marissa: Bike Ride was the launchpad for ‘Exhibit M’, where I realized I have no choice but to create this larger project that speaks to living in the now and creating a voice for myself as an artist. It’s been two years since I wrote that song, and it’s still highly relevant. I doubted myself then and decided to take the leap to begin writing, but there’s always a next level or new challenge. For example, now that the EP is out, there are new challenges of “Will anyone listen or resonate with this?” or “will I actually be able to perform to the level I’ve always dreamed of?”. When I doubt myself like that, I play “Bike Ride” and remind myself why I decided to take the leap in the first place.
Q: “Bike Ride” was the first song you ever wrote. How does that song represent itself to you now, both personally and as an artist releasing your debut EP?
Q: Looking back, how do you view the time you spent away from music? Do you see it as something lost, or something that shaped your artistry?
Marissa: The message behind my music, living in the now, wouldn’t be what it was if I hadn’t stepped away. Also, my entire trajectory was being a musical theatre performer, so I may not have even written music in the first place if I didn’t feel this desperation to create something for myself. I also fully self-funded my project through my stable income job, so who knows if the quality of the project would’ve been to the level I envisioned otherwise. I could wallow in time lost, but I choose to revel in what I learned and apply it to my art.
Marissa: I think everyone is craving joy, positivity, and fulfillment in today’s world. My music is honest, fun, and all about living life how you want to right now. Finding joy in little everyday moments, saying yes to plans, not caring what anyone else thinks….these are the core values of Exhibit M that I think we all need a reminder of.
Q: As you step into this new chapter with your debut EP, how do you hope listeners connect with your story and growth?
Q: If your journey of starting over could be captured in one sentence or a quote, what would you want readers to carry with them?
Marissa: I’d rather do things that scare me than live in fear and never try at all.
Marissa’s story reminds us that starting over isn’t a sign of failure, it’s often the beginning of something even more meaningful. Her journey shows that fear and uncertainty can exist alongside courage, and that growth happens when we choose to keep going despite not having all the answers. If there’s one thing to take away from her story, it’s this: your next chapter doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Sometimes all it takes is believing that you’re worthy of beginning again.
Stream Marissa Gamble’s latest album and support her journey as she continues creating music that speaks from the heart!
