San Gabriel Confronts FOMO on New Track "Alone In My Room"

On August 15, San Gabriel will release their debut album Nights and Weekends on Seattle-based non-profit label Share It Music. In support of Share It Music’s mission, a portion of proceeds from the album will be donated to San Gabriel’s chosen charity, HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians), a nonprofit providing access to affordable healthcare for Austin's working musicians.

Today San Gabriel is excited to release their latest single "Alone In My Room" and an accompanying live video. The song debuted today at Flood Magazine and is available now on all streaming platforms. James Bookert of San Gabriel reflects on the song’s origins:

“‘Alone In My Room’ was written just after I left my former band, Whiskey Shivers. We had a record deal offer and a summer EU/UK tour lined up, but by then, the touring lifestyle had become more about wild partying and chaos than music—and it no longer felt safe or healthy for me.

To make ends meet, I took a job at a liquor store in East Austin. Luckily, my boss was supportive, letting me write and record music during my shifts—as long as the shelves stayed stocked—and even come in on Sundays when the store was closed to work on my songs.

The song captures the difficult transition from full-time touring to a 9-to-5 routine, and the flood of emotions that come with it. It’s about confronting the fear of making the ‘wrong’ career choice while trusting my gut to follow my own musical path.

In short, ‘Alone In My Room’ is me facing FOMO head-on—grappling with uncertainty and the unknown future, all while stocking shelves, helping customers, and fulfilling Uber Eats orders.”

Last month San Gabriel shared the album's lead single "Running Out of Time" and its accompanying music video. The song debuted at Magnet Magazine and is on all digital platforms for playlist shares.

San Gabriel is the solo project of James Bookert, known for his past work with Whiskey Shivers, and collaborations with artists like Harvey Mason Jr., Ester Dean, Trinidad James, DJ Khaled, and Anna Kendrick on the Pitch Perfect 3 soundtrack. After stepping away from Whiskey Shivers and enduring personal health challenges, Bookert began recording the deeply personal debut album —written and produced entirely during off-hours while working at a liquor store in East Austin.

Affectionately named after his shifts in the liquor store, San Gabriel’s debut record, Nights and Weekends, is a collection of synth forward optimistically melancholic songs, chronicling Bookert’s tackling of lost love, grief, and grappling with an uncertain future both musically and professionally.

After a chance meeting with Griff Washburn of Goth Babe at Austin City Limits, Bookert was offered a position in Goth Babe’s touring band as a keyboardist, singer and guitarist which he still holds.

In 2024 he was selected as winner of Hyundai’s ‘Your Journey, Your Track’ contest and was most recently awarded 2024’s ‘PNW Music Awards’ ‘Best Synth Pop Song’ for his song "Over My Shoulder."