Gabriel Jacoby is on a mission to bring joy back to the dance floor.
The rising R&B artist’s new single “the one” (PULSE Records) is a funk-inspired homage to the South’s roller disco era. With sharp horns, rhythmic guitars, and an irresistibly groovy vibe, it proves that feel-good music still has a place in 2025.
“I wanted to write something happy for everyone to feel good about and love,” Jacoby shared. “Seems like lately no one feels comfortable to groove, so I created this to give the people what they need, a reason to be themselves, no matter who’s watchin’.”
The track combines a gritty electric guitar and pounding bassline with Jacoby’s raspy falsetto vocals and soulful background singers riffing and harmonizing to the beat. The lyrics are a confident declaration of admiration for an unnamed lover, but more than that, it’s a reminder that love songs don’t always have to be brooding or understated.
The first verse sets the tone right away that this is old-school R&B beggin’ music and he’s okay with that.
“I'm hangin' onto you, baby
Can't lie I'm used to lettin' go baby
Don't stand too far from me now, come get invasive
I need you right here with to me to you show you my love for you, girl”
Jacoby’s bold lyrics work to resonate and make you move. That intention spills over into the track’s visualizer, filmed at United Skates, a local Tampa, Florida roller rink.
Between shots of Jacoby delivering his lyrics straight into the camera, the video captures carefree moments of him performing skate tricks, hanging with friends, and the energy of community. It’s simple but effective and proves (along with the stacked instrumental and vocalists) that Southern soul music is as much about people as it is about sound.
Born in Anderson, South Carolina, and raised in Tampa, Florida, the 26-year-old multi-instrumentalist has carved his own lane through experimentation. Jacoby's sound is a blend of R&B, soul, and alternative elements infused with funk, blues, hip-hop, folk, and hints of Southern country.
Jacoby plays guitar, bass, and drums, while also writing, producing, and mixing his tracks. Even his visuals are often self-directed and edited, giving his artistry a cohesiveness that feels both DIY and intentional.
Since his breakout 2022 track “reptile,” Jacoby has collected co-signs from peers like Shaboozey and Leon Thomas, while steadily expanding his fan base with each release.
In 2025, Jacoby was named one of Shazam’s Fast Forward Artists, sat down with Travis Mills on Apple Music, co-wrote Shaboozey’s “Chrome (Bonus),” and opened for DWLLRS at their sold-out show at The Echo in Los Angeles. He’s been featured on the cover of Spotify’s Vanguard, highlighted on Tidal’s R&B: Rising, and landed the #1 spot on multiple Apple Music playlists.
With over 4.3 million streams across his catalog, Jacoby is quickly becoming a voice impossible to ignore.
Jacoby's “the one” works to solidify his place in the industry among a mosh pit of listeners looking for something fresh, imaginative, and authentic. If the past year is any indication, Jacoby’s upward trajectory is only just beginning.
In the meantime, he keeps proving that when it comes to making people move, he just might be the one.
