Gabriella Bongo began making music on GarageBand at nine, growing up in South London with drum and bass as a lasting influence. She has named Rudimental, Chase & Status and DJ Fresh among the artists who drew her towards the genre as it reached wider audiences in London. A self-taught pianist, Bongo later studied sound engineering at ICMP London and graduated. As a songwriter, producer and DJ, she brings soul and pop influences to melodic, vocal-led drum and bass.
Her first single came out in December 2020, followed by a second in February 2021. Before signing to Hospital Records, Bongo released the EP Unsettled Rhythms, featuring Liam Bailey. Her track “All Or Nothing”, also featuring Bailey, was named BBC Music Introducing’s Track of the Week in June 2024. In the same year, she was selected for Hospital Records’ Women in Drum & Bass scheme. Bongo said the programme helped build her confidence, offered insight into the music industry and created opportunities to work with artists on the label.
Bongo signed to Hospital Records in March 2025. That year she released the single “Deep End” with Nu:Tone and MISSLOULOU, and the single “Lights Out” with Shayla Marie. Her collaborative work also includes “Spacesuit” with Degs and “Doesn’t Hurt” with Dogger. Bongo said she wrote “Breathe” during a period when she was experiencing panic attacks; the song grew out of a studio session with singer-songwriter Sienna. She has described her DJ sets as melodic, using mixing in key to shape their progression for listeners.
In 2026, Bongo released the singles “Like That” with Alex Fay and Voltage, and “Better Days” with Blocksberg, Makoto and Purple Velvet Curtains. She has also contributed a mix for Radio 1’s Charlie Tee. Her work remains rooted in soulful, melodic drum and bass, with vocal-led writing and influences from soul, R&B and pop.