British Virgin Islands artiste Gabrielle Hoyte – also known as Gabrielle Denae – has been nominated for eight awards in the 2016 Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards Ceremony to be held in Nassau, Bahamas.
She launched her album titled Through the Storm in November 2015.
Gabrielle Denae is nominated for Album of the Year, as well as Calypso/Soca Vocal Performance of the Year (female) with her song You Never Fail.
The other categories in which she has been nominated are: Inspirational Recording of the Year with the song Pave the Way, Song of the Year as well as Pop Recording of the Year with Grain of Sand, New Artiste of the Year, and Traditional Recording of the Year as well as Traditional Vocal Performance of the Year with the song Let Him In.
Organizers of The Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards – on their website –said the award is considered the highest honour in Caribbean Gospel Music. It was founded in 1996 by music and media executive Kevin ‘Minister K’ Harris.
Gabrielle Denae said she feels very blessed to have been considered among such great music and artistry.
“I’m excited by the thought of winning one or more awards, but even more excited about the opportunity to network and meet artistes I consider as role models, and those who I now know exist.”
Gabrielle Denae added: “If the gospel message is going to spread, connections are going to be important. So I’m looking forward to that.”
Gabrielle Denae – the daughter of Reverend Wayne R Hoyte and Pastor Joycelyn Hoyte – has been singing for over 16 years, starting with her first solo in church at the age of 9.
“In my high school years, I developed a love for writing poetry. At age 17, I wrote my first song by accident. It was supposed to be a poem, but if wasn’t flowing right, so I tried to put a tune to it and How Can I Be Me (my first song) was born. Since that time, I would just write songs as a way to express what was going on in my life and around me,” Gabrielle Denae continued.
“As my relationship with God grew during my teen years, it became natural to express my questions, concerns, desires and thoughts to God in song.”
In terms of her vision for her music ministry, Gabrielle Denae considers herself one of the voices chosen to make God’s messages plain and simple.
Her advice to young Gospel artistes is: “You can do nothing without the Lord; your success is tied up in your relationship with God. Stay humble and listen out for his instructions. He will speak to you. Move only when He says move. He is the God of the Possible…”
Gabrielle Denae, in the meantime, has expressed gratitude to her entire family circle for the support being given.
For the album, the backup vocals were provided by her cousin Jovan Cline and her fiancé Timothy Baird. The album was produced by Gabrielle Denae’s brother Brent Hoyte.